CALL FOR SOLIDARITY

OUR OFFICE WAS SET ON FIRE.

In the early morning of Friday, 14th of March 2003, the premises of the "Helsinki Citizens' Assembly - Vanadzor office (HCAV)" were set on fire in an act of political terrorism and oppression against an organisation that has been among the active protestors about the results of the recent presidential elections in Armenia. The vandals broke a window of the front door and destroyed the main part of the office with firebombs, representing the peak of a series of violent actions to force our office refrain from its activities around the elections and our intention to organize protest meetings.

HCAV is part of the "Helsinki Citizens' Assembly" network in the South Caucasus and has engaged in sensitive issues such as a joint project with hCa in Azerbaijan and human rights protection of their fellow citizens in Vanadzor
and the northern region (Lori) of Armenia. During the presidential elections, our NGO participated with an observing mission of about 35 persons, whereas in
the forefront of its activities, one member had to resign from his job and another was set under pressure by local police - for their involvement in the monitoring action. HCAV could observe a number of violations during the two
rounds of elections (bribing, unequal press coverage, suppression of opposition candidates and supporters, pressurizing of electoral commission representatives, falsification of votes etc.) and was planning to organize a meeting on it on the 15th of March in Vanadzor. After we had been informed that the mayor of the city did not "allow" this meeting - thereby violating articles 26
and 33 of the Constitution of Armenia - and we still did not cancel the event, a window of our office in the center of Vanadzor was broken by force and activists set further under pressure by local authorities to not participate in
protests.

Today's stroke has to be seen as a final attempt of certain circles to pressurize HCAV and to set an example for all protestors that want to express their widespread discontent about the elections and are refusing to recognize the results that would make Robert Kocharian president of Armenia for a second term. Although the OSCE and the CoE have expressed their dissatisfaction about
the conduct of the elections, the international community should not delay putting political pressure on responsible authorities to guarantee a real democratic outcome of the elections. Protestors and lead organizations such as
HCAV should be guaranteed our very right for freedom of expression and any acts of oppression or violence against that have to be stopped immediately.

We ask you to closely follow the situation in Armenia and its regions especially, urging local state authorities and international organisations to stand up for the above, and make sure that acts of aggression such as against us do not occur any further. We count on the support and solidarity of our colleagues and friends in Europe in those hard times and want to re-confirm that we will have the public meeting about the elections on Monday, 17th of March 2003, in Vanadzor.


The activists of the "Helsinki Citizens' Assembly - Vanadzor office"
Siegfried Woeber (hCa - Caucasus, Interchurch Peace Council IKV)

HCAV
c/o Dr. Arthur Sakunts
59 Tigran Metsi str.
Vanadzor, 377200
Republic of Armenia
Tel. (374 51) 4 22 68
E-mail:  hcav@hcav.am
www.hcav.am

14th of March 2003




To see news from Armenia:  http://www.a1plus.am and  http://www.internews.am


---------------

Stichting Falkor I.C.Y.
P.O. Box 1649
9701 BP Groningen
Netherlands
www.falkor.org