“It’s not the end of the world if the constitutional amendments don’t pass,” said Robert Kocharyan during his meeting with students of the Jurisprudence faculty of Yerevan State University. According to the residents of the Kotayk Marz, the world will come to an end if their problems are not solved and if they continue to be neglected by the authorities. As for others, they think that the constitution is some kind of political party and the authorities are going to change it.
While the “yes” and “no” propagandists are carrying out their mission in different Marzes, explaining why the people should “yes” or “no”, we decided to simply visit one of the Marzes and see how the people look at the constitutional amendments without any propaganda. The majority of people did not even know that the Armenian authorities are getting ready to organize a referendum for the constitution. It turns out that the 500,000 booklets published by the government have not made their way to the Kotayk Marz.
In response to the question “Are you familiar with the proposed constitutional amendments?” herdsman from Yeghvard Ghukas Ghukasyan asked us: “What is a constitution?” and “What about our money?” He was referring to the reimbursement of deposits, but when he found out that he is a 70 year-old man that receives subsidy from the state, he lost all hope. “What if I die? Will it be all gone? What about my children?”
Sculptor from Lusakert Arsen Panosyan said that despite the fact that he has his own constitution written deep inside his soul, he will take part in the referendum and vote “yes”. “I am against reducing the power of our president. The president of our country must be strong, independent and he must be the one who decides that the future holds for us. Generally speaking, I would like to see a king rule Armenia as it has always been. But that king must be loved, adored and respected by the people….”says Arsen.
Paruyr Paruyryan, a historian who has studied law and who is currently busy with construction, was the only person familiar with the amendments. “I have read the booklet, I liked it and will vote “yes”,” he said.
Resident of Nor Gegh, constructor Mkhitar Hovakimyan was also clueless of what was going on with the constitution. “We see nobody around here, we don’t have television or radio. We don’t know anything. We don’t even know what the constitution is. Who cares about the “yes” or the “no”? If we vote “yes”, nothing will change; the same if we vote “no”. They are selling everything to companies, including oxygen to breathe. They are all cheaters and liars.” In response to the question “What if the European Council excludes Armenia?” he said: “What do I care about the European Council? I have four children and I haven’t received one penny from the state. The school keeps asking for money again and again. What they should do is write how much is needed for tuition so we can know whether or not to take our children to school.”
Head of Karashamb village Zorik Khlghatyan is certain that all the villagers will vote “yes”. “We are in the process of explaining to the people what the constitutional amendments are really about. The majority is for it and there are others against it. But it is not based on ideas,” says Zorik who informed us that out of the 756 villagers only 480 are voters.
Resident of the same village Vachagan Sargsyan was disappointed that nobody had informed him about the constitutional amendments and complained that his television worked “every other day”. “Why bother coming all the way here just to explain to people like me what the amendments mean? I don’t get involved in anything. The authorities should be thinking about the people. The people’s living standards are poor.” His wife Anahit Sargsyan was complaining about the taxes levied on the villagers and the price of wheat.