Error 404 Posted February 28, 2007 Report Share Posted February 28, 2007 http://www.armenialiberty.org/images/photo/immolation1.jpg By Irina Hovannisian A man from a village in southern Armenia died after burning himself near the main government building in Yerevan under uncertain circumstances on Tuesday. Eyewitnesses said the man, identified as Jivan Hakobian, poured petrol all over his body and set himself ablaze before being rushed to a hospital early in the afternoon. A senior doctor there told RFE/RL that he died of severe injuries about eight hours later. The doctor, Hovannes Aslanian, said earlier in the day that Hakobian’s chances of survival are slim. “His condition is extremely grave and, I would say, incompatible with life,” he said. “Eighty percent of his body surface is covered by deep burns. On top of that, he has respiratory burns.” Hakobian was said to have chanted anti-government slogans moments before the self-immolation. “Some people tried to put out the fire, but he got totally burned,” said one witness. It was not immediately clear what prompted the 44-year-old father of four to take the extreme and desperate action. His wife and other relatives declined a comment as they arrived at the Yerevan clinic specializing in treatment of burns. Hakobian and his family reside in the village of Dalarik in the southern Armavir region. He reportedly worked in Russia for several years before returning to Armenia recently. The Dalarik mayor, Pargev Saghatelian, said Hakobian has never approached him with any complaints or grievances. “He never lodged any complaints,” Saghatelian told RFE/RL. “He just said once that he wants to borrow a loan.” Prime Minister Andranik Markarian’s office, meanwhile, revealed that it received a letter from Hakobian on February 20 demanding that the government grant him a 10-year interest-free loan in compensation for his bank savings that had been wiped out by the hyperinflation of the early 1990s. According to a government spokeswoman, he complained that his similar letters to President Robert Kocharian and the National Assembly remained unanswered. The official said Hakobian also asked the government to help him get an audience with business tycoon Gagik Tsarukian or opposition leader Stepan Demirchian. He was informed by phone that the government can not deal with such matters, she added. This is the second case of public self-immolation registered in Armenia in less than three months. An elderly woman and her three grandsons set themselves on fire outside Kocharian’s official residence in early December, in protest against an alleged cover-up of the killing of a family member. All of them stayed alive after hospitalization. (Photolur photo: Ambulance doctors provide first medical assistance to Hakobian.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zartonk Posted February 28, 2007 Report Share Posted February 28, 2007 How unfortunate. And this after the Yezidi protest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantom22 Posted February 28, 2007 Report Share Posted February 28, 2007 MEKH. He must have been at his wits end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irlandahay Posted March 8, 2007 Report Share Posted March 8, 2007 How unfortunate. And this after the Yezidi protest. thisl sound dumb but...what yezidi protest? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Takoush Posted March 8, 2007 Report Share Posted March 8, 2007 How terribly awful. Just as terrible now for his wife and his 4 children. Gagik Tsarukian could very well help these suffering souls rather than making himself richer and richer. What is the government doing for the poeple? Rather than stealing 9 hectars from the Armenian people's energy sources and filling their own greedy pockets, shouldn't they try to help the people? Shame on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zartonk Posted March 8, 2007 Report Share Posted March 8, 2007 thisl sound dumb but...what yezidi protest? A Yezidi family recently self-immolated in protest against a government cover-up of a family murder. http://www.armeniadiaspora.com/ADC/news.asp?id=1850 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Takoush Posted March 11, 2007 Report Share Posted March 11, 2007 Mosjan; what do you say we collect money and send it directly to his family. I feel that it would at least lessen their burden a bit after their dear father died in a horrible way like that. What do you say Movses jan? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alby Posted March 12, 2007 Report Share Posted March 12, 2007 This is yet another tragedy in a country that has no leadership. All the top so called elite (what a laugh) are too busy milking the people from everything they have. Tsarukyan and the likes of him are at least creating something, factories or what have you, and maybe he would have helped him if he knew. I am not defending Gagik by any means, without a doubt he’s got his share of bad deeds as I’m sure many know, what I get really angry at is the complete and total corruption and lack of leadership, starting from the top which causes people like this poor soul or the Yezidis to attempt such desperate acts in hope that someone would listen to them. For someone like Kocharyan, this is a non-issue that will be forgotten soon and I bet anything that he won’t do anything for the family of this poor guy, nor would any other leader. They are very quick in giving promises and not fulfilling them, why should this be any different. Armenia is like a cancer patient whose disease has spread and is very difficult to control, let’s hope it will be cured one day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Takoush Posted March 12, 2007 Report Share Posted March 12, 2007 This is yet another tragedy in a country that has no leadership. All the top so called elite (what a laugh) are too busy milking the people from everything they have. Tsarukyan and the likes of him are at least creating something, factories or what have you, and maybe he would have helped him if he knew. I am not defending Gagik by any means, without a doubt he’s got his share of bad deeds as I’m sure many know, what I get really angry at is the complete and total corruption and lack of leadership, starting from the top which causes people like this poor soul or the Yezidis to attempt such desperate acts in hope that someone would listen to them. For someone like Kocharyan, this is a non-issue that will be forgotten soon and I bet anything that he won’t do anything for the family of this poor guy, nor would any other leader. They are very quick in giving promises and not fulfilling them, why should this be any different. Armenia is like a cancer patient whose disease has spread and is very difficult to control, let’s hope it will be cured one day. Alby: I know that you're upset as I am in regards to the corruption in there but let's not go to the extreme and say that Armenia is like a cancer patient. Things can be controlled with scutinizing guidance and interest from the diaspora, instilling in the elite to control their appetites and think about their country first and utmost. Trying to get a president who continuously cares about his country and puts his country's interests above all else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dianjan Posted March 12, 2007 Report Share Posted March 12, 2007 How horrible... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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