The voice that read the Declaration of Independence of democratic Armenia, Aram Manukyan, forced to hide
I talked with Aram on a bench on the North Boulevard, during the daily protest march. I knew he wouldn't miss this event. It is a moment when those who believe in change meet and become a single voice against a system that tries to lock up their ideals. It is a breath of fresh air for the political prisoners, who know that society hasn't abandoned them in prison. It is the hope that gives the young a reason to fight for a democratic Armenia. During our conversation, the protesters had surrounded the police forces, popping inflated condoms and chanting for the release of the political prisoners, for liberty and for changing the government. Aram was very good-humored and made jokes with those who came to him to salute him. That day he had his wedding anniversary and he had left his guests back at home for two hours in order to attend the protest march. Aram Manukyan spent three months in the woods and in all this time he only met one friend.
I remained hidden for six months, until August 23rd, the day I first read the Armenian Declaration of Independence in the Parliament. As one of the co-authors of the Declaration of Independence, I couldn't miss this celebration day. Knowing that representatives of the Monitoring Commission would also be present that day and that there wouldn't be any arrests, I decided to show up in public. I had also received the information that the National Security Service had ended my legal pursuit. And I was already tired.
In 1990, when I wrote the Declaration of Independence, I was the youngest deputy in the Parliament (33 years old) representing the Panarmenian Movement. Given the current political situation, my family and my friends are like a second test to me. Besides God, freedom, my country and its independence are the most important things for me.
What does it mean living now in Armenia for you? How is your life?
Aram Manukyan: My life in Armenia is very risky, very interesting and very hard. My children always distract me from the activities I would like to have, because I'm responsible for their safety. They are in my way. But my goal is far more important than other things and than the elements that distract me, they somehow come on the second place. Many of those who take part in the daily march on the North Boulevard take a great risk and expose their families.
Why do you think the government chose "to keep" the political prisoners in jail?
Aram Manukyan: This proves that it is a very weak government. A strong one wouldn't do such a thing. And because of their mistake, by keeping the political leaders imprisoned, the Movement grows stronger and stronger. And even if the ruling power is trying to put more pressure on us by various means, this only increases the number of those who join the Movement. Even if they make use of army and police forces to intimidate us, they are essentially very weak and that motivates us even more.
What determines you to fight for justice, for the things you believe in, for freedom?
Aram Manukyan: I've always felt I had to fight for the things I believe in. And before Armenia declared its independence, I swore to my friends, to my family and to those who died during the war that I would fight until the last day of my life for the freedom and independence of Armenia.
How do you see the future?
Aram Manukyan: Unfortunately, the fight seems to be blocked. As a diplomat, I think that in order to get positive results, in order to have democracy and a civil society, the Opposition's actions, of those who want to see a change should be more frequent and obvious. As well as the external pressure. I'm convinced that if our people managed to keep up the fight for seven months, they would still do, and this would force the government make more mistakes and would attract the international community's attention on the political situation in Armenia even more. The will of the society plays the greatest part in this fight. All successful revolutions depend on the masses, on the number of people who embrace the idea of change and time, on the timing, on its length of time, on the degree of involvement from the international institutions and on the mistakes made by the ruling power as a result of the pressure we hope for.
