An Armenian National Congress (ANC) member thinks that Levon Ter-Petrossian Should Have Been With the People on March 1
“I have heard different opinions. A representative of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) also criticized Levon Ter-Petrossian lately with regard to the victims. He said the following, ‘A person who had urged the people to take to the streets, but didn’t know what his next step would be.’ Excuse me, that accusation can be made, but it doesn’t mean that people should be killed. The one who gave the order is to blame, not Levon Ter-Petrossian,” Sos Gimishyan, a member of the ANC, said during a conversation with www.aravot.am when we asked him to comment on Hrant Bagratyan’s remark, hinting at Levon Ter-Petrossian’s behavior on March 1.
Let us remind that Hrant Bagratyan said to the villagers of Verin Artashat: “If I win, let me be in the front row of the marchers. I don’t care what they will do want; I will march in the front row. If they say Bagratyan is not among those in the front row, don’t join that march so that they don’t shoot at you, OK?”
According to Sos Gimishyan, “I wasn’t there, I didn’t hear him say that, but I have a conviction with regard to March 1. The political elite, the political leadership of the ANC led by Levon Ter-Petrossian wasn’t able to turn that victory into a de jure victory. This is the main thing that I am displeased with, and I wish it had been otherwise.”
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It is known that many people blame Levon Ter-Petrossian for not being with the people on March 1. In this regard, Mr. Gimishyan said: “I don’t know all the information in what situation he was when he was taken to his house. Certainly, I can assume that there was danger. I think that it would have been dangerous, if he had come, but I also think that he should have come. The people who were standing were also risking their lives.”
In response to our question whether he ought to come from the moral perspective, Sos Gimishyan said: “From all perspectives. Anyone could be injured, could be shot in the head
there… as it happened. So this was dangerous. Isn’t it dangerous today? I have come here and say things that the government may not like and someone on the way home… we are all in danger every day. Someone may be more, someone else may be less. That is why I cannot judge, I cannot afford to judge, not having all the information. However, the general approach is the following; if it is dangerous, certainly, we should do everything we can to avoid dangers, but I think that those people, those 200 thousand people, a few hundred thousand people who were standing near the Myasnikyan
Statue and had actually won. The government made a few attempts to use force. I was there; they tried to bring those people to their knees and failed. The people won a victory on March 1 too. One just needed political management; the organizers should have used that victory to come to power and serve the same people. It didn’t happen; they failed. I am sorry. The same applies to February 26. You know, it was a sign from God when 200 thousand of us were outside the Opera, and Serzh Sargsyan brought 300 thousand people to the Republic Square. 15 minutes later, those people dropped the posters, came and joined us. God gave a sign. I am quite aware of God’s mightiness. His role is very big. If He wishes, you will surely come to power. He gave a sign that the king was naked. The people, His most loyal supporters have come to the square and joined you. Everything should have been over that day. It should have been over without clashes.”
In response to our observation that it had been a once in a lifetime chance, as the saying goes, Sos Gimishyan said: “There had been a few other chances before March 1. There have been chances afterwards too. They were not so obvious, but they were serious chances, anyway. Hundreds of thousands of people came to the square. I think that it should have been resolved at that time.”
Hripsime JEBEJYAN
