“LIBERATION MOVEMENT CONTINUES”
Support A1+!The Government’s sitting hall was overcrowded today. Those who couldn’t “penetrate” into the hall, crowded in corridors to watch the second congress of the Popular Movement on large monitors. People were eager to listen to first President Levon Ter-Petrossian who was finally given a chance to meet his proponents after the disputed March 1 events.
The participants of the second congress welcomed Ter-Petrossian with warm applauses. On entering the hall he greeted the young delegates of the congress and the spouses of the political prisoners. Then he embraced with a Vanatur veteran Arshavir Bozinian who had been on a hunger-strike in defence of Armenian detained parliamentarian Sasun Mikaelian.
The first President took a seat between the leaders of HZhK and Hanrapetutiun parties.
The HZhK leader was the first to make a speech. He said that the post-election developments in the country were caused by mass violations and tough policy of the authorities. As a result, most people have appeared in wretchedness and delusion.
Stepan Demirchian considers the March 1 events a crime against humanity. He demanded to conduct a fair investigation and to disclose people firing shots at peaceful demonstrators. He added that the recommendations of the PACE resolution are compliant with their demands.
At the same time Stepan Demirchian thinks that the Armenian leadership will not carry out the recommendations unless people are consistent.
“The current crisis can only be surmounted through a free and fair national election. Today's large-scale meeting testifies that we shall be able to change a lot in the country,” Demirchian said.
Member of the HHSh political board Ashot Sarkissian compared today's movement with that of 1988 saying that this one is a step forward.
Leader of the Marxist Party David Hakobian named March 1 “a bloody Saturday.” He says Mach 1 marked the fall of the third republic. He suggested dissolving the “criminal and infantile parliament and calling an extraordinary election.”
To note, the political prisoners’ photos were exhibited in the entrance hall.
