Hunger strikes have become a fact of life as of late – nobody seems to pay any attention to them any more. People go in an out of hunger-strikes every day. However, this one story carried by RFE/RL is certainly one of special interest – a 51-year-old citizen of Belgium, Luc Vandevale, who is married to an Armenian and is based in Armenia – working in the construction industry, has gone on an open-ended hunger strike in Yerevan, protesting ‘the presence of political prisoners’ in the country. According to RFE/RL, the Armenian wife of the Belgian hunger-striker is not affiliated with any political party or organization in Armenia. The Belgian himself claims he is a ‘pacifist’ and is not campaigning for any particular force in Armenia, but simply wants to see Armenia as a democratic country.
Luc Vandevale, a 51-year-old builder currently based in Armenia, told RFE/RL he meant his hunger strike in the Armenian capital’s central Northern Avenue as a demand for the release of political prisoners in Armenia.
“It is not acceptable to have political prisoners in a democratic country. It means it is not a democracy,” Vandevale said to RFE/RL in French. “Armenia that represents the Council of Europe must release political prisoners.”
The Belgian said he could not plan for how long he would continue his action, but added that it depended on “the state of democracy in Armenia.”
Clearly this is moral-rising for us – the people concerned with the state of democracy in Armenia. On the other hand, I hope no political dirt comes out of this story, although given the fact, that the state-propaganda have chosen to keep silent, comes to assert, that the Belgian and his wife are indeed genuinely concerned with democracy and are not affiliated with any political force in the country.
You can be affiliated to a political force and still be genuinely concerned.
Personally I am not affiliated but I know many who are and are genuinely concerned.
Payqar.org
I fully agree, that a person may be affiliated to a political force and be genuinely concerned. However, what adds value to this particular case, is that a Belgian national, who is NOT affiliated to a political force, has found the problems grave enough, to go on a hunger strike. This is a genuine pro-democracy effort and it is in a way a call for Armenians to join him, because if a Belgian Non-Affiliated person is concerned about Political Prisoners in Armenia, then how much more should Armenians be concerned!?!
On the other hand – I don’t think I’m brave enough or concerned enough to go on a hunger strike myself… Not yet.
“that the Belgian and his wife are indeed genuinely concerned with democracy and are not affiliated with any political force in the country”.
WOW!!!! I am crying:)
may be I will go to Belgina embassy to have hunger-strike for Independance of Flandry:))))
“The Belgian said he could not plan for how long he would continue his action”-as long as soon his visa will expire:)))
> as long as soon his visa will expire:)))
boc :)))))))))))))))))))))))))
Freedom for Flandry!!!!
Belgium is a Federal Republic and the Flemish are 60% of the population if they wish to become independent they surly will. They are just not interested and anyway that’s their busness.
Luc’s business is to create an environment where his family can live freely and honestly. With no effort they can pack and leave but instead this man goes to hunger strike.
Nothing more is needed to be said.
By the way there is no such country or region as “Flandry”.