Dear Mr. President,
The time has come… Not to disrespect your people, not to punish them for their demands, not to humiliate, not to kill, not to arrest, not to crush but listen…
The time has come to embrace the youth that is passionate and determined to live in a country that represents democracy and freedom, where values of humanity are taught in schools and where no one is punished for speaking out…
Azerbaijan is rich- its history, its culture, its arts, its music, its people… Azerbaijan is also rich with bright minds, golden hands, and creative souls… This is the richness and the gold that should be cherished. Yes, Azerbaijan is also rich in oil and gas, but this treasure means nothing for these very bright minds, golden hands, and creative souls.
It doesn’t mean anything for a retired teacher- Huseyn, who can barely afford his medicine. It doesn’t mean anything, for a little girl- Melek, whose family is struggling with affording schoolbooks and other appliances. It doesn’t mean anything, for a medical student- Sevinc, who is crippled by her very own professors just for the sake of extra 50 or 100 dollars (or manats) if not more. It doesn’t mean anything, for a young boy- Sanan, living in a village in Lenkoran, who doesn’t know that girls too have a right to education, work and an independent life or that he cannot decide for the faith of his younger sister.
Look around yourself Mr. President. Look at how many lives you have ruined by not reaching out, refusing to listen and shutting up.
Forget about all those fake smiles, applauds, praises that greet you at places you go. They are not there because they adore you. They are there because they are told to be there. They are there because they were threatened to be there. You think, an 80-year-old woman, shaking your hand at an opening ceremony of yet another Olympic center, and praising all that you have done for her and her family is out of love? At best, its out of hope, that maybe, you will indeed help, that maybe, behind those elegant suites, stands a man, who truly cares for his people…
Dear Mr. President, you are capable of many things- with one phone call, a man or a woman can get arrested, with one stroke of an eye, someone can lose their life, with one gesture, someone could get lucky or not. Why can’t you treat your people well instead? Why do you keep your people in fear, anger and pain?
True, there is an army behind you- thousands if not more of people who have nothing more but an empty soul, brainwashed, re-programmed and ready to serve you- your personal army of thugs- men in plain cloths or animals who do not fear anything. It is true, that with just that one order, you could unleash them but why? You would not need them if you treated your countrymen well!
Isn’t it enough? The money and the greed have gotten everyone surrounding you rich and capable of doing anything they want. They own mansions, cars, bank accounts abroad; their wives only wear couture and their children live lives that would only be a dream for all those children living across the country in poor households. Where is justice in this? Why do some need to suffer while others only get to live better at the expense of those very pensioners, or teachers, or doctors, or students?
Dear Mr. President- you can arrest/torture/kill/belittle all of the Azerbaijani youth (of course, except those who are loyal to you and only) but greed will eventually end in destruction… All that we – the youth- want is what you speak of all too often in your televised addresses- equal and sustainable development, democracy, respect for human rights and freedom of expression- but not in just empty words and non- existent examples…
No longer can Azerbaijan hide behind the facades that are carefully built to hide lies, secrets, shady businesses, corruption, bribes, and much more… How many more people's lives you plan on ruining? Haven't you had enough?! You have made a tyrant out of yourself and the regime that is ruling this country. No point in dismissing international reports just because they propagate truth. Its not a secret anymore so no need to fool anyone with silly statements and baseless arguments...
Great post, Arzu.
ReplyDeleteThank you Araz.
ReplyDeleteThe tone of the post is particularly good. I hope this reaches the addressee. Maybe to communicate in simple language is what we need.
ReplyDeleteVery respectful letter to president
ReplyDeleteTebrik edirem, ugurlar.
ReplyDeleteWow. Very brave words. Congratulations for having so much courage to speak up. I was wondering what are the Azerbaijani people thinking about in the context of the current world events. I hope you will see the change you yearn for.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! brave statements made with friendly (more or less) tone, very good!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments and the support! I appreciate it!
ReplyDelete:) Great letter. Often critics of the Aliyev regime focus solely on the harm done to human rights and the free press. I am glad that you also portray the failures of this government in social and economic policies as well. Education, healthcare and welfare provision in Azerbaijan have to be seriously considered as areas of debate when challenging the legitimacy of the state.
ReplyDeleteI hope the president will heed to these plainly-worded requests. And I hope he will realize that this situation is no more sustainable. Congratulations, well-said.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, it is very easy to sit outside of Azerbaijan and to bombard the internet with your ideas. To me you are one of the last people who have right to say anything about Azerbaijan and to get involved in Azerbaijan's matters from outside. you have made your choice, you live outside and you are requested to keep out for God's sake. Get and do your pro-armenian lobbying and advoacy service instead of writing empty words and bombarding Azerbaijani people with your advice. Azerbaijani people know whom to get advice from and you are not in that list. If you don't want to harm and equate the credibility of the youth movement, you and ali novruz, the rest of such creatures are requested to remain outside. Many thanks in advance.
ReplyDeleteDear Ramil M.,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment but I think it is not up to you to tell me what to do, in fact, you simply cannot tell someone what to do. Nor it is up to you to decide for me and for people like me. You do your own thing, I do mine. And you don't know me, so you have technically no right to judge me or my decision- making.
Though, I do appreciate the thought, thank you for even reading this blog, and bothering to leave a comment here, even though you would prefer to silence my voice. Tell me then, how are you different from those who are forcing people to shut up?! Isn't this what you are telling me right now?! To shut up and stay away?!
You see, there are plenty of people in Azerbaijan, who don't give a damn, and there are those who do, including those Azerbaijanis who live abroad. I might as well stay silent, thats what you are asking me to do but I wont. And will continue writing. Just dont read my blog. It will make you feel much better in this case.
Well written and keep writing, despite what gov't agents reply to you.
ReplyDelete!
ReplyDeleteI read changes in this letter, changes, which are on the way, but still are not yet close.
ReplyDeleteAs Ramil says, it is easy to stay out of the country and write things about it in the internet...Here in Armenia, we sometimes also say the same thing...but if a person has enough brains to think, than he/she would know, that it is not that easy to sit inside a country and speak about things, that are taboo inside that country...so sometimes it is better to speak out of the country, than not to speak at all...that's first, and second,,, I am addressing to Ramil and all other young people, who keep their eyes and ears closed to reality...in the letter to the president I didn't read a single word about Armenia...so maybe you should read it once more and then start thinking not about hatred towards Armenia and Armenians, but about the indifference of you president to you PEOPLE..who suffer...as they do in our country as well. ENOUGH is ENOUGH...Stop this hatred..open your eyes and see that you became marionettes in the hands of politics and those people, who use you for their own interest...