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VOLUME 27, ISSUE 46 (1346)
- ?Legitimate President- 2008? Calls For The Resignation Of PM Serzh Sarkisian
- United States Proposes To Sponsor Exit Poll During Presidential
Elections In Armenia
- World Bank Watchdog Group Pressured To Investigate Armenia
Infrastructure Funds Cover-up
- US House Approves $58.5 MILLION In Assistance For Armenia And
Reinstates Military Parity
- Narek Galstyan: "I Remain Steadfast In Continued Active Public Life"
- Dr. Richard Hovannisian In Argentina
- ?The Fatal Night" And ?Ayashi Pandç? Part II
--------------------------
- ?Legitimate President- 2008? Calls For The Resignation Of PM Serzh Sarkisian
YEREVAN -- The newly formed ?Legitimate President- 2008? movement
held its first public gathering in Armeni-Marriott Hotel on December
14, 2007. ?Legitimate President-2008? movement was launched in an
effort to publicize political awareness and enforce democratic process
within the populace of the Republic of Armenia for the upcoming
presidential elections. The movement is primarily made up of
opposition political parties, political organization, and NGOs.
Political parties taking part in the gathering included the Social
Democrat Hunchakian Party (S.D.H.P), ?Republic? Party, Armenian
National Movement (H.H.Sh), the ?Alternative Movement,? New Times
Party, ?Heritage? Party.
The primary focus of the meeting was to gather an understanding on the
methods that all the participating bodies would take to educate the
voting populace of their voting rights, and to ensure a democratic
process. The participants also stress the need for Serzh Sarkisian,
current Prime Minister, and candidate in the upcoming presidential
elections to resign. The authorities, and governmental entities loyal
to the current regime are doing whatever is possible to hinder a
legitimate election, at the helm of which is the Prime Minister. With
the current state of affairs, the democratic nature of the
Presidential elections appear to be grim.
The consensus of the participants was to establish a united front
against those elements who wish to falsify the upcoming elections. The
unity should be established from the beginning, and all bodies should
publicize electoral irregularities, not just on February 19 but
immediately. As S.D. Hunchakian party chairwoman Ludmila Sarksyan
stressed ?the vote rigging does not start on election day, rather it
is a long drawn out process that has already started.? She also
expressed the need to not only educate the electoral populace of the
methods of vote rigging already taking place through intimidation and
harassment by the present regime, but conveyed that every documented
instance will also be reported to all relevant international political
and social bodies. Major infringements of human rights violations such
as the harassment and closure of independent media outlet Gala TV, the
bombing of ?Chorort Ishkhanouytoun? newspaper office, and the arrest
and severe beating of S.D. Hunchakian ?Sarkis Dkhrouni? student union
chairmen Narek Galstyan in November, have already been reported to the
international bodies.
- United States Proposes To Sponsor Exit Poll During Presidential
Elections In Armenia
The United States has proposed to sponsor a first-ever exit poll in
Armenia as part of its efforts to facilitate the proper conduct of
next February?s presidential election, the U.S. charge d?affaires in
Yerevan said on Monday.
Joseph Pennington confirmed reports that he floated the idea at a
December 4 meeting with Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian and that the
latter approved it. ?We presented that idea to the prime minister and
the prime minister was very enthusiastic, as he said so publicly,? he
said. ?We were very pleased t the prime minister?s very positive
response and we hope to be able to do this.? But the diplomat
cautioned that despite Sarkisian?s support for the idea the Armenian
authorities have yet to make the ?final decision? on the U.S. offer.
Speaking at a news conference, Pennington argued that exit polls
?enhance the credibility? of election results all over the world and
that Armenia would be no exception to that rule. ?They give people
more confidence that the election was fair,? he said. ?The second
benefit that they have is that they give a lot of information on who
it was that voted in an election, the demographic segments of the
population that took part and also try to get to the question of why
the people voted the way they did.?
Pennington argued that the U.S. government would commission the U.S.
International Republican Institute (IRI) to organize the proposed exit
poll. He did not specify if the IRI would also do the necessary
fieldwork for the poll or outsource the job to Armenian polling
organizations.
The IRI has until now relied on one such organization, the Armenian
Sociological Association (ASA), in handling U.S.-funded opinion polls
held in Armenia. The ASA chairman, Gevorg Poghosian, is reputed to
have close ties to the government. Hence, widespread opposition
distrust in the findings of those polls relating to the approval
ratings of the country?s leading politicians and political parties.
Pennington also said that Washington expects the Armenian presidential
ballot to be ?an improvement? over last May?s parliamentary elections.
He said an objective and unbiased media coverage of the vote is
essential for its freedom and fairness.
?This is also one reason why we are such a strong supporter of Radio
Liberty,? he said. ?Radio Liberty was cited by the OSCE as one of the
positive examples in which an electronic media outlet gave voice to
opposition and served as a platform for all kinds of different voices
in Armenia.?
- World Bank Watchdog Group Pressured To Investigate Armenia
Infrastructure Funds Cover-up
A petition is being garnered via the internet in an ongoing effort to
persuade the World Bank?s watchdog organization, the Department of
Institutional Integrity (INT), for a full investigation of the alleged
World Bank cover up of gross misuse of funds, wide-ranging and
high-level fraud, corruption and embezzlement of World Bank allotted
funds meant to upgrade Armenia?s battered infrastructure.
In 2004, the Armenian authorities established a Parliamentary
Commission headed by Armenia?s Deputy Speaker of Parliament, and
current ARF Presidential candidate Mr. Vahan Hovhanissian. The
Commission spent the year studying the World Bank financed Municipal
Development Project and the Government?s Integrated Finance
Rehabilitation Plan, which was supported by the World Bank and under
the ?Surveillance? of the International Monetary Fund.
The study into the Municipal Development Project exposed wide ranging
fraud, corruption and embezzlement, to a value of considerably more
than the 35 Million Dollar cost of the project. The study into the
Government?s Integrated Finance Rehabilitation Plan exposed
embezzlement scams valued at many tens of millions of dollars. The
report also deplored the fact that 27 percent of the World Bank funds
have been spent on project management, overheads and logistics.
In 2004, the Commission reported the fraud, corruption and
embezzlement to the World Bank Armenia Country Manager and to the
Department of Institutional Integrity, but by the end of 2006, the
issue seemed to have been the subject of a cover up by the Armenian
authorities and the World Bank which at the time insisting that the
project?s implementation has been success.
Earlier this year the World Bank along with the Armenian authorities
were once again put on the defensive by Bruce Tasker, a Yerevan-based
British engineer who had participated in the 2003-2004 parliamentary
inquiry as an expert, and reported in detail the alleged corruption
through his website. Mr. Tasker alleges Mr. Hovhanissian struck a deal
with Armenia?s ?Political Powerhouses? and failed to implement his
pledge of government accountability, as well as his promise to
publicize the full and final findings of his Commission studies to the
people of Armenia.
The irregularities, as well as allegations of a cover up were picked
up by the Government Accountability Project (GAP), a Washington-based
group that specializes in whistleblower protection and scrutinizes
World Bank projects around the world. It urged the bank?s
Institutional Integrity Department (INT) to launch an official
investigation.
The petition to persuade for a full investigation by World Bank?s
watchdog organization, the Department of Institutional Integrity
(INT), of the alleged World Bank cover up can be found at
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/FightingWorldB ankCorruption. Mr.
Bruce Tasker?s website can be found at
http://better-not-wb-thewb.blogspot.com.
- US House Approves $58.5 MILLION In Assistance For Armenia And
Reinstates Military Parity
WASHINGTON, DC?The House of Representatives has approved the Fiscal
Year (FY) 2008 Omnibus Spending Bill, reinstating military aid parity
to Armenia and Azerbaijan by allocating $3 million in Foreign Military
Financing (FMF) to both countries. Despite Azerbaijan?s continued war
rhetoric throughout the year and exponential increase of its military
budget, the Administration had proposed to provide Baku with $2
million more in military assistance (FMF and International Military
Education Training).
The Omnibus spending package, which combines 11 of the 12 annual
appropriations bills into one measure, provides some $516 billion in
federal funding, including $58.5 million in assistance to Armenia, an
increase of $23.5 million over the Administration?s proposal, but less
than the nearly $75 million approved in FY 2007. Armenia?s neighbors,
Azerbaijan and Georgia, are slated to receive $19 million and $50.5
million respectively.
The bill also includes renewed funding confidence building measures
for the parties to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict: ??funds made
available for the Southern Caucasus region may be used,
notwithstanding any other provision of law, for confidence-building
measures and other activities in furtherance of the peaceful
resolution of regional conflicts, especially those in the vicinity of
Abkhazia and Nagorno?Karabagh.?
In addition, the final measure provides continued funding for the
Millennium Challenge Account program (MCA), although reduced from $1.8
billion to $1.5 billion. Armenia, based on its record of performance
in key indicators, is a recipient of MCA with a five-year $235.65
million compact to reduce rural poverty and increase agricultural
productivity.
The agreement on the Omnibus Bill was reached late last week and
finalized over the weekend. The Senate is expected to begin
consideration of the bill today. Once passed by both chambers, the
bill will be sent to President Bush for his expected signature.
- Narek Galstyan: "I Remain Steadfast In Continued Active Public Life"
The Social Democrat Hunchakian party?s ?Sarkis Dkhrouni? student union
Chairman Narek Galstyan was the special guest at the ?Hayask? public
forum center. Galstyan was the subject of arrest and severe beating in
November to hinder his public and political activity expressing
displeasure of the current authorities of the Republic of Armenia.
During his interview Galstyan conveyed his steadfastness and strong
resolve in continued active public life. He also stated his hope that
the case regarding his severe beating would culminate in full
investigation, disclosure, and punishment of those who were involved.
Narek Galstyan also expressed his desire for change not only in the
present governmental authorities but the way all government
institutions interact with the youth of the Republic. Galstyan
stressed that approximately 70-80 percent of the youth believe that
they do not have a role or a voice in the political life of the
Republic. Yet if the youth desire they can have a real presence in the
country. They must act and organize for their rights. As for the
government, this high figure of neglect is due to the authorities
unwillingness to eintrust the youth with significance responsibilities
in the Republics present or future decisions. In order to rectify the
reality of impassiveness of the youth the authorities must engage them
with crucial decision making processes, not just insignificant banter.
As for the Social Democrat Hunchakian party, along with the paty?s
?Sarkis Dkhrouni? student union are actively supporting and
participating in the election prospects of the first President of the
Republic of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrosian. in February, Galstyan hopes
that a Ter-Petrosian win will result in the government of Armenian to
address the wishes and needs of the youth of Armenia.
- Dr. Richard Hovannisian In Argentina
By Dr. Nelida Boulgourdjian-Tufekjian
Professor Richard Hovannisian was in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from
November 20 to 25 to participate in an international conference on
genocide and to give a public lecture to the Armenian community. The
conference was organized by the Universidad Nacional de Tres de
Febrero (UNTREF) on the social aspects of genocide. Invited as a
distinguished speaker during the plenary session, Dr. Hovannisian
focused on the social and economic causes and consequences of the
Armenian Genocide.
During his presentation, he noted the progress in the study of the
Armenian Genocide since his first publication on the subject, The
Armenian Genocide in Perspective, an outgrowth of a conference held in
Tel Aviv in 1982, which the Turkish government tried to prevent in
many ways, including political blackmail. The authors in that volume
were mostly Armenian, whereas in the subsequent volumes edited and
published by Richard Hovannisian, there has been an increasing number
of non-Armenian scholars, and the contents have shifted from primarily
description of the genocidal process to analysis and interpretation.
For example, his fifth volume on the subject, The Armenian Genocide:
Cultural and Ethica Legacies (released in November 2007), includes
chapters on art, music, cinema, philosophy, literature, and even an
essay on historiography by a Turkish scholar. A positive development
is that a growing number of post-nationalist Turkish writers feel the
need to confront their history, delving into difficult subjects such
as the treatment of the native Armenian population in the Ottoman
Empire.
During his presentation, Dr. Hovannisian noted that other participants
spoke of events that had occurred during their lifetime (Argentine
under the military dictatorship; the Balkan conflict and Bosnian
massacres; Guatemala; the Holocaust) and therefore spoke with deep
feeling, but he explained that the trauma and emotions connected with
genocide do not stop with the immediate victims; rather, they are
passed down through subsequent generations as in the case of the
Armenian Genocide. This trauma is compounded by denial or self-imposed
amnesia as manifested for decades by Western governments that had
failed to fulfill their pledges regarding the punishment of the
perpetrators and rehabilitation of the survivors.
Professor Hovannisian reflected on the endeavors to gain worldwide
recognition of the Armenian Genocide, recent developments in the
United States Congress, and continued efforts of the perpetrator side
and deniers to suppress both truth and memory. He also drew attention
to popular misconceptions about tolerance in the Ottoman Empire, as
the structure of the Ottoman ruling system was based on
institutionalized inequality and second-class citizenship.
This was reflected both in official and unofficial ways, including
collective popular prejudice and aspersions directed toward the
Armenian Christian population. Armenian attempts to achieve equality
were perceived as a threat to traditional society and therefore as
treachery that had to be punished, as demonstrated during the reign of
Sultan Abdul Hamid II.
The policies initiated by the Young Turks after 1908 can be seen as a
case of social engineering. Their perception was that the greatest
threat to the creation of a Turkish nation-state and eastward
expansion was the existence of a large Armenian population still
living in their historic homeland. The Turkish rulers resolved to
eliminate this major obstacle and ultimately all non-Muslims such as
the Yezidis, Assyrians, and Greeks and at the same time to Turkify all
non-Turkish Muslim elements such as the Laz and Kurds.
These policies continued during the Kemalist era, as Alawis of the
Dersim region and elsewhere were massacred and suppressed. The Turkish
government?s social engineering continues to this day throughout then
Kurdish-populated regions of the country.
Dr. Hovannisian also referred to the economic aspects of genocide that
entail the transfer of enormous personal and collective wealth from
the victim group to the perpetrator side. The Young Turks were
determined to create a Muslim bourgeoisie at the expense of Greek,
Armenian, and Jewish traders and merchants. Once again this policy was
continued into the Republican period in the discriminatory economic
policies imposed on the minority elements, especially during World War
II.
Consequently, the Armenian Genocide may be considered a prototype of
the evolution of modern ultranationalistic regimes, particularly those
driven by an ideology that can rationalize or justify the use of
extreme violence in order to defend against a real or imagined enemy
or can facilitate the implementation of xenophobic agendas. The
conference participants and audience expressed their strong
appreciation of Hovannisian?s presentation. Professor Richard
Hovannisian?s second lecture was organized by the Free Chair of
Armenian Studies at the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters of the
University of Buenos Aires and the Armenian Center (Centro Armenio)
and held in the Tekeyan Cultural Center.
Before an overflow audience, Hovannisian spoke in Armenian about the
current situation of Turkey?s Armenian provinces, which he recently
visited with his wife, Dr. Vartiter Kotcholosian Hovannisian, who also
attended the Buenos Aires conference. He presented a realistic picture
of the conditions in these areas and their inhabitants and the pitiful
state of neglect and destruction of the marvelous monuments of
Armenian architecture, either because of neglect or by malicious acts
at the hand of man.
During their visit to Argentina, Richard and Vartiter Hovannisian,
together with other conference participants, were honored at a
reception hosted in the Armenian Embassy by Ambassador and Mrs.
Vladimir Karmirshalyan.
- ?The Fatal Night" And ?Ayashi Pandç? Part II
Mikayel Shamdanjian?s book, ?The Fatal Night?
Chankiri is a town located eighty miles northeast of Ankara. This city
is remembered as the second slaughter house of Armenian Intellectuals.
The group of 150 deportees were sent to Chankiri, after the 71 persons
were sent to Ayash prison as stated above. In the group sent to
Chankiri there was Mikayel Shamdanjian of Istanbul. He was an
intellectual, a newspaper publisher and a teacher. He some-how
survived , and after the war, he published in 1919 in Istanbul, his
ordeal in a book, titled ,?Hay mdkin harge yeghernin?.It was reprinted
in 1965 in Antilias, Lebanon.
This year, we are fortunate that this book has been published , for
the first time in English, by the H. and K. Manjikian Publications, in
Studio city, California. It is translated from Armenian by Ishkhan
Jinbashian, under the title,?The Fatal Night:An eyewitness account of
the Extermination of Armenian Intellectuals in 1915?. This is the
second volume of Manjikian publication devoted to the Genocide. This
book is specially useful to the new generation of Armenians, who are
interested about the events of the genocide, but who do not know
enough Armenian to read an Armenian . book. It is also useful to any
foreigner who is interested in the Genocide committed by the Turks.
Shamdanjian?s story starts, like Nakashian?s, on April 24, 1915, by
being arrested in Istanbul and deported with other intellectuals by
train to Ankara. He describes the condition in the train, ?with the
coming of day light, our armed guards become more and more strict,
forbidding us to open the windows, get out of the train at station
stops, or talk to people outside. We are now in a mobile jail, with
our special train spiriting us away to newer and newer horizons and
further weighing down on our souls, which only two days ago within the
four walls of the gloomy prison, had known how to give wings to our
thoughts. (emphasis is mine, S.K.).
When the group of 71 deportees left the train, and went to Ayash,
Shamdanjian poses this question to God. ? O God, since it is your
finger that determines everyone?s way, tell us which road our friends
are being made to take. Do you really wish the roads of Anatolia to be
so treacherous for your Armenian sons?.
Shamdanjian?s group continues to Ankara, by train, and from there to
Chankiri on 42 horse drawn carriages that took about 5 days. This
group consisted of 150 deportees. They were not put in any prison, but
were told to go and rent homes, and report daily to the local Turkish
police. Even though they were not imprisoned, the anxiety of
uncertainty of what the future holds for them would easily drive any
sane person crazy, specially that news started to filter about the
massacres from Ayash prison and general deportation of the Armenians
all over Turkey and the hanging of innocent Hnchag leaders in Istanbul.
The group in Chankiri were not allowed even to speak with any Armenian
of the city. The local people hearing about the newcomers to Chankiri,
brought some bedding , and Shamdanjian says that they were not allowed
to say even a ?thank you? to them. Of these 150 deportees, 44 persons
survived . The rest deported and massacred with the Armenian
population of Chankiri.. Of the remaining 106, five persons, including
the poet Taniel Varoujan and writer Rupen Sevag were murdered on Oct.
12, 1915 on the road from Chankiri to Ankara, near the village called
Tuney. Of the group in Chankiri,
88 Armenian professors, intellectuals , writers were ruthlessly
massacred near Beynam , a village located ten miles south of Ankara.
Here I may add that Gomitas Vartabed was first sent to Ayash, and
later to Chankiri.Shamdanjian states that they were allowed to have
Armenian religious services once a week.
Gomitas Vartabed was set free on May 7, 1915, and returned to
Istanbul. A few years ago, in 1995, the Turkish government published
an official book, ?Armenians in Ottoman Empire, 1915-1920?, the book
mentioned above. The telegram signed by Tala?at Pasha to set free
Gomitas reads as follows in this book. ? Of those Armenians deported
to Kengiri, inform the following that they have been granted
permission to return to Der-sa?adet: Doctor Vahram Torkumian, Hagop
Nergilejian, Garabed Keropian, Zareh Bardizbanian, Puzant Kechian,
Yervant Toloyan, Rafael Karagozian and Gomitas Vartabed effendis?. As
it is well known, Gomitas Vartabed had a mental breakdown, due to the
stress of the deportation, and from which he never recovered
completely. Dar-sa?adet mentioned in the telegram is
Istanbul.Literally ?house of happiness?. What a name for such a city!!!
Shamdanjian was released from Chankiri on June 12, 1915. He wanted to
settle in Izmir, but his request was refused, even though his new
passport said that he can live anywhere in Turkey. So he settled in
the town of Ushak on the advice of an Armenian employThe town of Ushak
is located about 60 miles west of Afion Karahisar. In 1914, it had an
Armenian community of 120 families. This community was not deported
during the War, At present, Ushak has a Turkish population of about
8,000 persons.
I do not think there are any Armenians now living here. ( The
communities of Istanbul, Kutahya and Izmir were largely free of
deportation also). Shamdanjian lived in Ushak, and worked as a teacher
for Armenian students until the end of the war in 1918. He departed to
Istanbul in 1919. He wrote his ordeal during deportation in a book
titled ?Hay mdkin Harge Yeghernin? in the same year, and this book was
translated into English this year by Ishkhan Jinbashian, with the
title ?The Fatal Night?. Shamdanjian?s book gives a list of the
Armenian intellectuals, civic leaders and priests martyred during the
genocide. Of course, it is only a partial list of those massacred.
Peter Balakian, the author of the ?The Burning Tigris:The Armenian
Genocide and the America?s Response? page 216, concludes, as follows,
his chapter on the ruthless massacre of Armenians that started on
April 24, 1915 with the deportation and elimination of Armenian
intellectuals. I quote: ?The Young Turk government?s extermination of
Armenian intellectuals in 1915 was the most extensive episode of its
kind in the twentieth century. In many ways it became a paradigm for
the silencing of writers by totalitarian governments in the ensuing
decades of the century. After April 24 it would be easier to carry out
the genocidal program , for many of the most gifted voices of
resistance were gone?.
Henry Ford considered the study of history bunk or nonsense. The late
British historian A.J.P. Taylor, who taught history all his life,
considered that knowing history is of no use. I do not think Hitler
would agree with Ford or professor Taylor. Hitler was a good student
of the Young Turks? methods of disposing of people considered
undesirable. The way Hitler got rid of Polish intelligentsia is a
cat-copy of methods of Young Turks. Although Hitler?s criminal record
is out of my current article, I will give one example to prove what
Balakian was stating in the above quotation. Germany attacked Poland
on Sept.1, 1939.
The German SS troops lost no time in eliminating the majority of
Polish intellectuals. In November 1939, they arrested almost 200
professors and fellows of the Jagiellonian University in the Polish
city of Cracow- one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in
Europeand of the Polytechnic, and sent them to Sachsenhausen
concentration camp, near Berlin. Many of them died there. None of
these professors, like the arrested Armenian intellectuals in 1915.
Were accused of any crimes. After a few months, in spring of 1940, the
Germans launched a massive program ? named
AB-Ausserordentliche-Befriedungsaktion (extraordinary pacification
action) to exterminate the majority of the Polish intelligentsia.
On another occasion, I will dwell on the elimination of Polish
intelligentsia in more detail. Returning to the book under
consideration, ?The Fatal Night?, Jinbashian?s translation reveals
that he is a master of the English language and the book can be read
and understood easily.
My single objection to the text is that Jinbashian spelled the city
that Shamdanjian was deported as ?Cankiri?. The correct spelling is
:Chankiri, or Chankçrç [ Ch as in Chechnia, ç as u in Armenian. On
modern maps, it is put as Turks spell it ? Çankýrý? [Ç in Turkish is
read as Ch in English]. To conclude, I consider the two books reviewed
in this article as a ?must read? books for anyone who is interested in
the Armenian genocide.
--
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VOLUME 27, ISSUE 46 (1346)
- ?Legitimate President- 2008? Calls For The Resignation Of PM Serzh Sarkisian
- United States Proposes To Sponsor Exit Poll During Presidential
Elections In Armenia
- World Bank Watchdog Group Pressured To Investigate Armenia
Infrastructure Funds Cover-up
- US House Approves $58.5 MILLION In Assistance For Armenia And
Reinstates Military Parity
- Narek Galstyan: "I Remain Steadfast In Continued Active Public Life"
- Dr. Richard Hovannisian In Argentina
- ?The Fatal Night" And ?Ayashi Pandç? Part II
--------------------------
- ?Legitimate President- 2008? Calls For The Resignation Of PM Serzh Sarkisian
YEREVAN -- The newly formed ?Legitimate President- 2008? movement
held its first public gathering in Armeni-Marriott Hotel on December
14, 2007. ?Legitimate President-2008? movement was launched in an
effort to publicize political awareness and enforce democratic process
within the populace of the Republic of Armenia for the upcoming
presidential elections. The movement is primarily made up of
opposition political parties, political organization, and NGOs.
Political parties taking part in the gathering included the Social
Democrat Hunchakian Party (S.D.H.P), ?Republic? Party, Armenian
National Movement (H.H.Sh), the ?Alternative Movement,? New Times
Party, ?Heritage? Party.
The primary focus of the meeting was to gather an understanding on the
methods that all the participating bodies would take to educate the
voting populace of their voting rights, and to ensure a democratic
process. The participants also stress the need for Serzh Sarkisian,
current Prime Minister, and candidate in the upcoming presidential
elections to resign. The authorities, and governmental entities loyal
to the current regime are doing whatever is possible to hinder a
legitimate election, at the helm of which is the Prime Minister. With
the current state of affairs, the democratic nature of the
Presidential elections appear to be grim.
The consensus of the participants was to establish a united front
against those elements who wish to falsify the upcoming elections. The
unity should be established from the beginning, and all bodies should
publicize electoral irregularities, not just on February 19 but
immediately. As S.D. Hunchakian party chairwoman Ludmila Sarksyan
stressed ?the vote rigging does not start on election day, rather it
is a long drawn out process that has already started.? She also
expressed the need to not only educate the electoral populace of the
methods of vote rigging already taking place through intimidation and
harassment by the present regime, but conveyed that every documented
instance will also be reported to all relevant international political
and social bodies. Major infringements of human rights violations such
as the harassment and closure of independent media outlet Gala TV, the
bombing of ?Chorort Ishkhanouytoun? newspaper office, and the arrest
and severe beating of S.D. Hunchakian ?Sarkis Dkhrouni? student union
chairmen Narek Galstyan in November, have already been reported to the
international bodies.
- United States Proposes To Sponsor Exit Poll During Presidential
Elections In Armenia
The United States has proposed to sponsor a first-ever exit poll in
Armenia as part of its efforts to facilitate the proper conduct of
next February?s presidential election, the U.S. charge d?affaires in
Yerevan said on Monday.
Joseph Pennington confirmed reports that he floated the idea at a
December 4 meeting with Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian and that the
latter approved it. ?We presented that idea to the prime minister and
the prime minister was very enthusiastic, as he said so publicly,? he
said. ?We were very pleased t the prime minister?s very positive
response and we hope to be able to do this.? But the diplomat
cautioned that despite Sarkisian?s support for the idea the Armenian
authorities have yet to make the ?final decision? on the U.S. offer.
Speaking at a news conference, Pennington argued that exit polls
?enhance the credibility? of election results all over the world and
that Armenia would be no exception to that rule. ?They give people
more confidence that the election was fair,? he said. ?The second
benefit that they have is that they give a lot of information on who
it was that voted in an election, the demographic segments of the
population that took part and also try to get to the question of why
the people voted the way they did.?
Pennington argued that the U.S. government would commission the U.S.
International Republican Institute (IRI) to organize the proposed exit
poll. He did not specify if the IRI would also do the necessary
fieldwork for the poll or outsource the job to Armenian polling
organizations.
The IRI has until now relied on one such organization, the Armenian
Sociological Association (ASA), in handling U.S.-funded opinion polls
held in Armenia. The ASA chairman, Gevorg Poghosian, is reputed to
have close ties to the government. Hence, widespread opposition
distrust in the findings of those polls relating to the approval
ratings of the country?s leading politicians and political parties.
Pennington also said that Washington expects the Armenian presidential
ballot to be ?an improvement? over last May?s parliamentary elections.
He said an objective and unbiased media coverage of the vote is
essential for its freedom and fairness.
?This is also one reason why we are such a strong supporter of Radio
Liberty,? he said. ?Radio Liberty was cited by the OSCE as one of the
positive examples in which an electronic media outlet gave voice to
opposition and served as a platform for all kinds of different voices
in Armenia.?
- World Bank Watchdog Group Pressured To Investigate Armenia
Infrastructure Funds Cover-up
A petition is being garnered via the internet in an ongoing effort to
persuade the World Bank?s watchdog organization, the Department of
Institutional Integrity (INT), for a full investigation of the alleged
World Bank cover up of gross misuse of funds, wide-ranging and
high-level fraud, corruption and embezzlement of World Bank allotted
funds meant to upgrade Armenia?s battered infrastructure.
In 2004, the Armenian authorities established a Parliamentary
Commission headed by Armenia?s Deputy Speaker of Parliament, and
current ARF Presidential candidate Mr. Vahan Hovhanissian. The
Commission spent the year studying the World Bank financed Municipal
Development Project and the Government?s Integrated Finance
Rehabilitation Plan, which was supported by the World Bank and under
the ?Surveillance? of the International Monetary Fund.
The study into the Municipal Development Project exposed wide ranging
fraud, corruption and embezzlement, to a value of considerably more
than the 35 Million Dollar cost of the project. The study into the
Government?s Integrated Finance Rehabilitation Plan exposed
embezzlement scams valued at many tens of millions of dollars. The
report also deplored the fact that 27 percent of the World Bank funds
have been spent on project management, overheads and logistics.
In 2004, the Commission reported the fraud, corruption and
embezzlement to the World Bank Armenia Country Manager and to the
Department of Institutional Integrity, but by the end of 2006, the
issue seemed to have been the subject of a cover up by the Armenian
authorities and the World Bank which at the time insisting that the
project?s implementation has been success.
Earlier this year the World Bank along with the Armenian authorities
were once again put on the defensive by Bruce Tasker, a Yerevan-based
British engineer who had participated in the 2003-2004 parliamentary
inquiry as an expert, and reported in detail the alleged corruption
through his website. Mr. Tasker alleges Mr. Hovhanissian struck a deal
with Armenia?s ?Political Powerhouses? and failed to implement his
pledge of government accountability, as well as his promise to
publicize the full and final findings of his Commission studies to the
people of Armenia.
The irregularities, as well as allegations of a cover up were picked
up by the Government Accountability Project (GAP), a Washington-based
group that specializes in whistleblower protection and scrutinizes
World Bank projects around the world. It urged the bank?s
Institutional Integrity Department (INT) to launch an official
investigation.
The petition to persuade for a full investigation by World Bank?s
watchdog organization, the Department of Institutional Integrity
(INT), of the alleged World Bank cover up can be found at
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/FightingWorldB ankCorruption. Mr.
Bruce Tasker?s website can be found at
http://better-not-wb-thewb.blogspot.com.
- US House Approves $58.5 MILLION In Assistance For Armenia And
Reinstates Military Parity
WASHINGTON, DC?The House of Representatives has approved the Fiscal
Year (FY) 2008 Omnibus Spending Bill, reinstating military aid parity
to Armenia and Azerbaijan by allocating $3 million in Foreign Military
Financing (FMF) to both countries. Despite Azerbaijan?s continued war
rhetoric throughout the year and exponential increase of its military
budget, the Administration had proposed to provide Baku with $2
million more in military assistance (FMF and International Military
Education Training).
The Omnibus spending package, which combines 11 of the 12 annual
appropriations bills into one measure, provides some $516 billion in
federal funding, including $58.5 million in assistance to Armenia, an
increase of $23.5 million over the Administration?s proposal, but less
than the nearly $75 million approved in FY 2007. Armenia?s neighbors,
Azerbaijan and Georgia, are slated to receive $19 million and $50.5
million respectively.
The bill also includes renewed funding confidence building measures
for the parties to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict: ??funds made
available for the Southern Caucasus region may be used,
notwithstanding any other provision of law, for confidence-building
measures and other activities in furtherance of the peaceful
resolution of regional conflicts, especially those in the vicinity of
Abkhazia and Nagorno?Karabagh.?
In addition, the final measure provides continued funding for the
Millennium Challenge Account program (MCA), although reduced from $1.8
billion to $1.5 billion. Armenia, based on its record of performance
in key indicators, is a recipient of MCA with a five-year $235.65
million compact to reduce rural poverty and increase agricultural
productivity.
The agreement on the Omnibus Bill was reached late last week and
finalized over the weekend. The Senate is expected to begin
consideration of the bill today. Once passed by both chambers, the
bill will be sent to President Bush for his expected signature.
- Narek Galstyan: "I Remain Steadfast In Continued Active Public Life"
The Social Democrat Hunchakian party?s ?Sarkis Dkhrouni? student union
Chairman Narek Galstyan was the special guest at the ?Hayask? public
forum center. Galstyan was the subject of arrest and severe beating in
November to hinder his public and political activity expressing
displeasure of the current authorities of the Republic of Armenia.
During his interview Galstyan conveyed his steadfastness and strong
resolve in continued active public life. He also stated his hope that
the case regarding his severe beating would culminate in full
investigation, disclosure, and punishment of those who were involved.
Narek Galstyan also expressed his desire for change not only in the
present governmental authorities but the way all government
institutions interact with the youth of the Republic. Galstyan
stressed that approximately 70-80 percent of the youth believe that
they do not have a role or a voice in the political life of the
Republic. Yet if the youth desire they can have a real presence in the
country. They must act and organize for their rights. As for the
government, this high figure of neglect is due to the authorities
unwillingness to eintrust the youth with significance responsibilities
in the Republics present or future decisions. In order to rectify the
reality of impassiveness of the youth the authorities must engage them
with crucial decision making processes, not just insignificant banter.
As for the Social Democrat Hunchakian party, along with the paty?s
?Sarkis Dkhrouni? student union are actively supporting and
participating in the election prospects of the first President of the
Republic of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrosian. in February, Galstyan hopes
that a Ter-Petrosian win will result in the government of Armenian to
address the wishes and needs of the youth of Armenia.
- Dr. Richard Hovannisian In Argentina
By Dr. Nelida Boulgourdjian-Tufekjian
Professor Richard Hovannisian was in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from
November 20 to 25 to participate in an international conference on
genocide and to give a public lecture to the Armenian community. The
conference was organized by the Universidad Nacional de Tres de
Febrero (UNTREF) on the social aspects of genocide. Invited as a
distinguished speaker during the plenary session, Dr. Hovannisian
focused on the social and economic causes and consequences of the
Armenian Genocide.
During his presentation, he noted the progress in the study of the
Armenian Genocide since his first publication on the subject, The
Armenian Genocide in Perspective, an outgrowth of a conference held in
Tel Aviv in 1982, which the Turkish government tried to prevent in
many ways, including political blackmail. The authors in that volume
were mostly Armenian, whereas in the subsequent volumes edited and
published by Richard Hovannisian, there has been an increasing number
of non-Armenian scholars, and the contents have shifted from primarily
description of the genocidal process to analysis and interpretation.
For example, his fifth volume on the subject, The Armenian Genocide:
Cultural and Ethica Legacies (released in November 2007), includes
chapters on art, music, cinema, philosophy, literature, and even an
essay on historiography by a Turkish scholar. A positive development
is that a growing number of post-nationalist Turkish writers feel the
need to confront their history, delving into difficult subjects such
as the treatment of the native Armenian population in the Ottoman
Empire.
During his presentation, Dr. Hovannisian noted that other participants
spoke of events that had occurred during their lifetime (Argentine
under the military dictatorship; the Balkan conflict and Bosnian
massacres; Guatemala; the Holocaust) and therefore spoke with deep
feeling, but he explained that the trauma and emotions connected with
genocide do not stop with the immediate victims; rather, they are
passed down through subsequent generations as in the case of the
Armenian Genocide. This trauma is compounded by denial or self-imposed
amnesia as manifested for decades by Western governments that had
failed to fulfill their pledges regarding the punishment of the
perpetrators and rehabilitation of the survivors.
Professor Hovannisian reflected on the endeavors to gain worldwide
recognition of the Armenian Genocide, recent developments in the
United States Congress, and continued efforts of the perpetrator side
and deniers to suppress both truth and memory. He also drew attention
to popular misconceptions about tolerance in the Ottoman Empire, as
the structure of the Ottoman ruling system was based on
institutionalized inequality and second-class citizenship.
This was reflected both in official and unofficial ways, including
collective popular prejudice and aspersions directed toward the
Armenian Christian population. Armenian attempts to achieve equality
were perceived as a threat to traditional society and therefore as
treachery that had to be punished, as demonstrated during the reign of
Sultan Abdul Hamid II.
The policies initiated by the Young Turks after 1908 can be seen as a
case of social engineering. Their perception was that the greatest
threat to the creation of a Turkish nation-state and eastward
expansion was the existence of a large Armenian population still
living in their historic homeland. The Turkish rulers resolved to
eliminate this major obstacle and ultimately all non-Muslims such as
the Yezidis, Assyrians, and Greeks and at the same time to Turkify all
non-Turkish Muslim elements such as the Laz and Kurds.
These policies continued during the Kemalist era, as Alawis of the
Dersim region and elsewhere were massacred and suppressed. The Turkish
government?s social engineering continues to this day throughout then
Kurdish-populated regions of the country.
Dr. Hovannisian also referred to the economic aspects of genocide that
entail the transfer of enormous personal and collective wealth from
the victim group to the perpetrator side. The Young Turks were
determined to create a Muslim bourgeoisie at the expense of Greek,
Armenian, and Jewish traders and merchants. Once again this policy was
continued into the Republican period in the discriminatory economic
policies imposed on the minority elements, especially during World War
II.
Consequently, the Armenian Genocide may be considered a prototype of
the evolution of modern ultranationalistic regimes, particularly those
driven by an ideology that can rationalize or justify the use of
extreme violence in order to defend against a real or imagined enemy
or can facilitate the implementation of xenophobic agendas. The
conference participants and audience expressed their strong
appreciation of Hovannisian?s presentation. Professor Richard
Hovannisian?s second lecture was organized by the Free Chair of
Armenian Studies at the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters of the
University of Buenos Aires and the Armenian Center (Centro Armenio)
and held in the Tekeyan Cultural Center.
Before an overflow audience, Hovannisian spoke in Armenian about the
current situation of Turkey?s Armenian provinces, which he recently
visited with his wife, Dr. Vartiter Kotcholosian Hovannisian, who also
attended the Buenos Aires conference. He presented a realistic picture
of the conditions in these areas and their inhabitants and the pitiful
state of neglect and destruction of the marvelous monuments of
Armenian architecture, either because of neglect or by malicious acts
at the hand of man.
During their visit to Argentina, Richard and Vartiter Hovannisian,
together with other conference participants, were honored at a
reception hosted in the Armenian Embassy by Ambassador and Mrs.
Vladimir Karmirshalyan.
- ?The Fatal Night" And ?Ayashi Pandç? Part II
Mikayel Shamdanjian?s book, ?The Fatal Night?
Chankiri is a town located eighty miles northeast of Ankara. This city
is remembered as the second slaughter house of Armenian Intellectuals.
The group of 150 deportees were sent to Chankiri, after the 71 persons
were sent to Ayash prison as stated above. In the group sent to
Chankiri there was Mikayel Shamdanjian of Istanbul. He was an
intellectual, a newspaper publisher and a teacher. He some-how
survived , and after the war, he published in 1919 in Istanbul, his
ordeal in a book, titled ,?Hay mdkin harge yeghernin?.It was reprinted
in 1965 in Antilias, Lebanon.
This year, we are fortunate that this book has been published , for
the first time in English, by the H. and K. Manjikian Publications, in
Studio city, California. It is translated from Armenian by Ishkhan
Jinbashian, under the title,?The Fatal Night:An eyewitness account of
the Extermination of Armenian Intellectuals in 1915?. This is the
second volume of Manjikian publication devoted to the Genocide. This
book is specially useful to the new generation of Armenians, who are
interested about the events of the genocide, but who do not know
enough Armenian to read an Armenian . book. It is also useful to any
foreigner who is interested in the Genocide committed by the Turks.
Shamdanjian?s story starts, like Nakashian?s, on April 24, 1915, by
being arrested in Istanbul and deported with other intellectuals by
train to Ankara. He describes the condition in the train, ?with the
coming of day light, our armed guards become more and more strict,
forbidding us to open the windows, get out of the train at station
stops, or talk to people outside. We are now in a mobile jail, with
our special train spiriting us away to newer and newer horizons and
further weighing down on our souls, which only two days ago within the
four walls of the gloomy prison, had known how to give wings to our
thoughts. (emphasis is mine, S.K.).
When the group of 71 deportees left the train, and went to Ayash,
Shamdanjian poses this question to God. ? O God, since it is your
finger that determines everyone?s way, tell us which road our friends
are being made to take. Do you really wish the roads of Anatolia to be
so treacherous for your Armenian sons?.
Shamdanjian?s group continues to Ankara, by train, and from there to
Chankiri on 42 horse drawn carriages that took about 5 days. This
group consisted of 150 deportees. They were not put in any prison, but
were told to go and rent homes, and report daily to the local Turkish
police. Even though they were not imprisoned, the anxiety of
uncertainty of what the future holds for them would easily drive any
sane person crazy, specially that news started to filter about the
massacres from Ayash prison and general deportation of the Armenians
all over Turkey and the hanging of innocent Hnchag leaders in Istanbul.
The group in Chankiri were not allowed even to speak with any Armenian
of the city. The local people hearing about the newcomers to Chankiri,
brought some bedding , and Shamdanjian says that they were not allowed
to say even a ?thank you? to them. Of these 150 deportees, 44 persons
survived . The rest deported and massacred with the Armenian
population of Chankiri.. Of the remaining 106, five persons, including
the poet Taniel Varoujan and writer Rupen Sevag were murdered on Oct.
12, 1915 on the road from Chankiri to Ankara, near the village called
Tuney. Of the group in Chankiri,
88 Armenian professors, intellectuals , writers were ruthlessly
massacred near Beynam , a village located ten miles south of Ankara.
Here I may add that Gomitas Vartabed was first sent to Ayash, and
later to Chankiri.Shamdanjian states that they were allowed to have
Armenian religious services once a week.
Gomitas Vartabed was set free on May 7, 1915, and returned to
Istanbul. A few years ago, in 1995, the Turkish government published
an official book, ?Armenians in Ottoman Empire, 1915-1920?, the book
mentioned above. The telegram signed by Tala?at Pasha to set free
Gomitas reads as follows in this book. ? Of those Armenians deported
to Kengiri, inform the following that they have been granted
permission to return to Der-sa?adet: Doctor Vahram Torkumian, Hagop
Nergilejian, Garabed Keropian, Zareh Bardizbanian, Puzant Kechian,
Yervant Toloyan, Rafael Karagozian and Gomitas Vartabed effendis?. As
it is well known, Gomitas Vartabed had a mental breakdown, due to the
stress of the deportation, and from which he never recovered
completely. Dar-sa?adet mentioned in the telegram is
Istanbul.Literally ?house of happiness?. What a name for such a city!!!
Shamdanjian was released from Chankiri on June 12, 1915. He wanted to
settle in Izmir, but his request was refused, even though his new
passport said that he can live anywhere in Turkey. So he settled in
the town of Ushak on the advice of an Armenian employThe town of Ushak
is located about 60 miles west of Afion Karahisar. In 1914, it had an
Armenian community of 120 families. This community was not deported
during the War, At present, Ushak has a Turkish population of about
8,000 persons.
I do not think there are any Armenians now living here. ( The
communities of Istanbul, Kutahya and Izmir were largely free of
deportation also). Shamdanjian lived in Ushak, and worked as a teacher
for Armenian students until the end of the war in 1918. He departed to
Istanbul in 1919. He wrote his ordeal during deportation in a book
titled ?Hay mdkin Harge Yeghernin? in the same year, and this book was
translated into English this year by Ishkhan Jinbashian, with the
title ?The Fatal Night?. Shamdanjian?s book gives a list of the
Armenian intellectuals, civic leaders and priests martyred during the
genocide. Of course, it is only a partial list of those massacred.
Peter Balakian, the author of the ?The Burning Tigris:The Armenian
Genocide and the America?s Response? page 216, concludes, as follows,
his chapter on the ruthless massacre of Armenians that started on
April 24, 1915 with the deportation and elimination of Armenian
intellectuals. I quote: ?The Young Turk government?s extermination of
Armenian intellectuals in 1915 was the most extensive episode of its
kind in the twentieth century. In many ways it became a paradigm for
the silencing of writers by totalitarian governments in the ensuing
decades of the century. After April 24 it would be easier to carry out
the genocidal program , for many of the most gifted voices of
resistance were gone?.
Henry Ford considered the study of history bunk or nonsense. The late
British historian A.J.P. Taylor, who taught history all his life,
considered that knowing history is of no use. I do not think Hitler
would agree with Ford or professor Taylor. Hitler was a good student
of the Young Turks? methods of disposing of people considered
undesirable. The way Hitler got rid of Polish intelligentsia is a
cat-copy of methods of Young Turks. Although Hitler?s criminal record
is out of my current article, I will give one example to prove what
Balakian was stating in the above quotation. Germany attacked Poland
on Sept.1, 1939.
The German SS troops lost no time in eliminating the majority of
Polish intellectuals. In November 1939, they arrested almost 200
professors and fellows of the Jagiellonian University in the Polish
city of Cracow- one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in
Europeand of the Polytechnic, and sent them to Sachsenhausen
concentration camp, near Berlin. Many of them died there. None of
these professors, like the arrested Armenian intellectuals in 1915.
Were accused of any crimes. After a few months, in spring of 1940, the
Germans launched a massive program ? named
AB-Ausserordentliche-Befriedungsaktion (extraordinary pacification
action) to exterminate the majority of the Polish intelligentsia.
On another occasion, I will dwell on the elimination of Polish
intelligentsia in more detail. Returning to the book under
consideration, ?The Fatal Night?, Jinbashian?s translation reveals
that he is a master of the English language and the book can be read
and understood easily.
My single objection to the text is that Jinbashian spelled the city
that Shamdanjian was deported as ?Cankiri?. The correct spelling is
:Chankiri, or Chankçrç [ Ch as in Chechnia, ç as u in Armenian. On
modern maps, it is put as Turks spell it ? Çankýrý? [Ç in Turkish is
read as Ch in English]. To conclude, I consider the two books reviewed
in this article as a ?must read? books for anyone who is interested in
the Armenian genocide.
--
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