A protest action was held by a group of NGO-s in the city center where a huge construction pit has emerged. Authorities so far have claimed not knowing who was responsible for this pit and were even forced to declare the construction works illegal. Around one or two hundred people collected for an action which involved symbolic dropping of earth into the pit in an attempt to “bury” it.
The issue of destruction of green zones has for several years been a pressing one, after multiple cafes were and are continued to be built in parks, pushing back green areas and and filling them with concrete. This last incident was however outrageous by the scale of the construction and forced action by the civil society.
Artur Papyan
Journalist, blogger, digital security and media consultant
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I am just wondering when the people or individuals in society will start whit more violent resistance of some sort. If there is a construction which is being done illegal is it morally wrong to more actively sabotage the project ? You just sneak and lunch a Molotov cocktail and this will cost the same person committing the crime severe financial loses or setbacks which will eventually be too much and not worth the crime. I just feel that there is not bite in just protesting, off course in a more civil society and in democracy politicians are more attentive off the public opinion and act accordantly if they what to sit next year in the office. But in Armenian what is the point to protest when there is nobody that cares? Just look at USA whit the LA riots, the politicians ignored the demands from the black community and look what happened? I am not for violent but for struggle for justice.
Although I was there only for the first 20 mins, perhaps, it was more like less than 100 although I suppose it might have increased later. However, Anush at the TOL Armenian blog also reckons it to be about that number as well and points out that about 15 percent (my estimate) of that number were journalists 😉
http://blogs.tol.org/armpatch/2007/07/26/246/
Still, nice idea, but amazing that even NGOs which boast membership figures of how many can’t gather more than this. More concerning, nobody really seems to care about the environmental destruction in Yerevan. For local and, from my own experience of talking with them, particularly Diasporans, this is progress.
Such a shame. Really such a shame.
Anyway, there’s other coverage of the event at the following URLs:
http://dr4m4qu33n.blogspot.com/2007/07/photos-from-todays-environmental-action.html
http://lifearoundme.wordpress.com/2007/07/26/the-hole-to-be-filled-with-hopes/
Yep, I took some photos too, but a post is going to have to wait. Maybe later today, let’s see. As for sabotaging the project, my take is this, if the hole is illegal and the municipality acknowledge that, someone needs to hire a bulldozer and really fill it in for them. I’d be interested in that case to see if the red beret’s weren’t immediately called in to protect the business interests of yet another lawbreaking big shot.
Probably you could also submit a bill to whoever is doing the digging. On that, who is doing the digging? I think I saw someone write it might be Kocharian, but the site looks far too humble and small for him. What are the other rumors (although we should always bear in mind that as we have a municipality which doesn’t practice the transparency it is meant to be law they are only that — rumors)?
>Onnik
The number changed a lot with people coming and going, so I really can’t give a good estimate. Probably under a hundred might be correct.
Anyway, there are obviously more pressing issues in the country and ones that don’t get the coverage they ought to. Political processes still mobilize more people than environmental issues and that’s perfectly reasonable.
As to the people responsible for this mess. Afaik the territory under question (if you remember there was a cafe there) belonged to Kocharian’s niece. Whether or not she is behind this particular pit, or she sold the place, I don’t know.
There’s more over at my blog. as well: http://armenianodar.blogspot.com/2007/07/environmental-protest-in-yerevan.html
There’s also some video of the event at the E-channel.am and my Youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/ditord , feel free to embed on your website or link to.
[…] scene was out in force for this event and Zarchka at Life Around Me also posts an account as does The Armenian Observer and Tesaket. Tirami Su posts some more images from what must be one of the smallest but most […]
Ah, ok, so they say it’s Kocharian’s niece. Maybe it’s “humble” enough… 😉
After reading the article, I feel that I need more info. Could you share some more resources ?