Save Armenia - Call to Action
Dear friends,
Most of you are probably aware of the grave challenge posed today to the democratic development of Armenia. The current government has exposed its authoritarian nature by reverting to oppressive tactics in silencing the opposition, and in the process demonstrated its callous disregard for the rule of law and human rights. We ask each and every one of you to TAKE ACTION! It is our duty to make sure that the White House and the State Department are very well informed of where we stand. Specifically, we ask you to do two things.
First, call BOTH the State Department and White House, and express your concern about the recent developments in Armenia.
* You should be able to leave a message at both locations. You can reach the White House at 202-456-1111 or 202-456-1414.
* When calling the State Department, ask for Secretary of State Rice or Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Mathew Bryza. You should be able to leave a message for them, as well. The State Department can be reached at 202-647-4000.
Second, please take a moment to also email both the White House and State Department.
* You can email the White House at comments@whitehouse.gov.
* You can email the State Department by visiting . You will be able to submit your email from there.
Below are the points that should be stressed in your phone calls and emails. Please take a minute to look over them. For emails, once you have indicated the reason for your email, you can simply copy-paste the points below into the body of your email.
1. The current situation in Armenia is no longer about a presidential campaign, nor is it about any opposition party. It is not about stuffed ballots or miscounted votes. It is about violence perpetrated by a government against its own people.
2. Contrary to official reports, countless eye witness reports and international human rights organizations have established that it was the authorities that began the carnage on March 1.
3. There is no rule of law in Armenia, and has not been for some years. The recent protests brought about by the presidential elections were a manifestation of years of frustration with the corruption in government and fear of the authorities. Citizens live in constant terror and are intimidated routinely. They are beaten, fired from their jobs and witness the arrest of their family members on a daily basis.
4. The recent efforts by Mr. Matthew Bryza are most welcome by the American-Armenian community. But his calls to establish a political dialogue in Armenia have fallen on deaf ears. Continuing arrests, terror and intimidation cannot be the precursors to a political dialogue.
5. Mr. Bryza has called for a roundtable discussion between the major political leaders in Armenia. With almost all of the opposition leadership in prison, in hiding or in the hospital, and with the former President Levon Ter Petrosyan under de facto house arrest, however, there is no opposition left with whom the Armenian federal government can have a discussion.
6. Time is of the essence. Human rights organizations around the world, including ones in the United States, have appealed for the immediate lifting of the so-called state of emergency and freeing of all political prisoners, but the results have been minimal. It is time for sterner measures to be taken by the United States and Europe in order to have any significant positive impact on the government of Armenia
7. Europe and the US should ask: is it expedient to support the current government or recognize the one to be formed by the president-elect? Will he be able to govern a people who have made it clear that they do not accept him as their legitimate leader even before his inauguration? He can do so only through ongoing oppression and a state of terror.
8. The current government of Armenia is taking advantage of the state of emergency to eliminate any and all opposition and to subjugate a vast majority of the population into submission. The repercussions of such a regime will not be limited to Armenia but will most certainly radiate into the southern Caucasus and create regional unrest. It is in the interest of the United States to promote stability in the region by urging the current government of Armenia to end the state of emergency and curb corruption on all levels of government.
Together, let us Save Armenia!
Save Armenia Action Group
