“THEY CANNOT BE BLAMED FOR STAYING ALIVE”
Support A1+!The freedom fighters (hereinafter azatamartiks) of Shirak Marz made an appeal to His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos and Supreme Patriarch of All Armenians.
“Patriarch of Armenians, we do not want to storm your soul and tranquility by reminding you of the tragic events of March 1. We do not want to remind you of the slaughter of Armenian people who, with the name of God on their lips, like those looking for the flower brabion, were seeking justice at the Square of Freedom for 10 days. Ten days which were followed by political persecution and arrests,” runs the appeal of the Gyumri office of the Yerkrapah Union of Volunteers.
As a result, hundreds of honest, free and law-abiding citizens, political activists, azatamartiks and commanders of the liberation war were appeared in jails. By the way, some of the arrestees are members of the National Church Council, Ashot Zakarian, Sasun Mikayelian, Hakob Hakobian, Miasnik Malkhassian, and many others. They are all worth mentioning as on October 27, 1999, they elected you but today they are imprisoned with put-up charges based on false evidence of people who have sold their conscience to Mammon.
Trials resemble judgments of the era of the inquisition, and it would be like committing a sin if we used the word justice. And all this happens in Armenia, with your silent indifference. Thus, if we commit a sin with our unawareness and ignorance, it means the fault lies either with the pro-government media or with the silence of the Holy See for confidence in the authorities and the government has vanished. The country’s reputation is soiled, which will result in unpredictable consequences. If this tense and heated climate of intolerance continues, the state will considerably weaken, and eventually faith in the person of the catholicos of all Armenians will be shattered.
We hereby appeal to you. It is time you used the power of your patriarchal seat and supported the devout and faithful children of the Armenian Apostolic Church who sacrificed everything for our faith, independent state and are not to be blamed for having stayed alive by God’s mercy. So do make a patriarchal appeal to the government to listen to your authoritative voice and restore the rights and freedoms of people set by the Constitution. Set free all the political prisoners because the Armenians worldwide will never tolerate tyranny in Armenia with its inhuman expressions, and if people believe the void and bombastic promises and forgive them, God will not forgive those who ignore God’s commandments, including you. Do prove that you are the person chosen by God’s will and you are the patriarch of all Armenians.”
