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Worcester Telegram, MA
April 25 2010
Faithful mourn victims: Armenians mark start of massacre
By Bronislaus B. Kush TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
[email protected]
WORCESTER ' For years, the Worcester-area Armenian community has
gathered on April 24 to solemnly mark the beginning of the purge
nearly a century ago that led to the eventual slaughter of 1.5 million
Armenians at the hands of Ottoman Turks.
A number of Armenians who had escaped the brutality and who had later
settled in Central Massachusetts would attend the services.
Yesterday, local Armenian faithful met again at the Armenian Church of
Our Saviour on Salisbury Street to mourn the dead and to pray such
massacres never occur again.
This year, however, none of the aging survivors attended, though three
of them ' Asdghig Alemian, Almas Boghosian, and Heghine Minassian '
are still living.
Instead, Chantal Kayitesi and Franco Majok, survivors of genocides in
Rwanda and Darfur, stood in their places reminding service
participants atrocities continue around the world, 95 years after the
Armenian killings in Turkey.
`All survivors of genocide must band together,' said Ms. Kayitesi, who
lost her husband, parents, sister and brother in the ethnic cleansing
that occurred in Rwanda. `There will always be one of us to fight, to
succeed, and to remember.'
Armenians worldwide mark April 24, 1915, as the start of the massacre
of their people in Turkey during World I. At the time, the country was
part of the Ottoman Empire.
On that day, Armenian leaders, intellectuals, writers, and
professionals were rounded up.
The government effort was stepped up and thousands of Armenians were
abducted, tortured, deported and killed.
Armenians, along with many others in the international community, have
labeled the massacre `a genocide' and have charged Turkey refuses to
take responsibility for what happened.
Over the years, the U.S. government, concerned about alienating
Turkey, has also declined to term the slaughter a genocide.
Yesterday, the White House released a presidential statement calling
the massacre `one of the worst atrocities' of the 20th century and `a
devastating chapter' in history.
President Obama, however, stopped short of calling it a genocide,
something he had promised as a candidate to do.
Armenian groups and their allies yesterday, including those in
Worcester, called on the president to follow up on his promise.
`It's time to break the Turkish gag rule on the Armenian genocide,'
said U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern, D-Worcester, who attended the
service in Worcester.
Mr. McGovern said he remains `frustrated and angry' with the U.S.
government's refusal to call the massacre a genocide. He said the
American position has nothing to do with the historical facts or a
lack of sympathy for the victims but because of `modern-day hard
politics.'
Mr. McGovern urged the president to be `on the right side of the issue.'
Mr. McGovern was joined at the service by local and state officials,
including Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Murray, Mayor Joseph C. O'Brien, City
Councilor Joseph M. Petty, and state Rep. John P. Fresolo,
D-Worcester.
Mr. O'Brien, who noted the massacre was `the first holocaust of the
20th century,' and Mr. Fresolo presented proclamations to the Armenian
community on behalf of the city and the state House of Representatives
while Mr. Murray applauded the Armenians for their courage and
resilience.
A number of area clergymen also attended the ecumenical service,
including retired Worcester Bishop Daniel P. Reilly.
Dr. Richard Bedrosian, who served as master of ceremonies and whose
family was affected by the genocide, said services such as yesterday's
raise consciousness about the event.
He said the Armenian killings served as `a template' for the Jewish
Holocaust and noted Adolf Hitler said that no one spoke of the
Armenians after their purge.
Dr. Bedrosian said the Armenian love of family has helped the
community triumph over evil.
The Rev. Aved Terzian, pastor of the Armenian Church of Our Saviour,
said Armenians are saddened not only by the horrific events
surrounding the genocide, but by the refusal of so many to recognize
it.
`The event has marked our people for 95 years,' he said.
Mr. Majok, who came to this country in 1995 from Darfur and who became
an American citizen in 2005, said nations must intervene to prevent
genocides.
`I have a lot of sympathy for you,' he said.
The purge of Armenians initially occurred between 1915 to 1918, with
another wave of atrocities taking place between 1920 and 1923.
http://www.telegram.com/article/20100425/NE WS/4250459/1116
April 25 2010
Faithful mourn victims: Armenians mark start of massacre
By Bronislaus B. Kush TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
[email protected]
WORCESTER ' For years, the Worcester-area Armenian community has
gathered on April 24 to solemnly mark the beginning of the purge
nearly a century ago that led to the eventual slaughter of 1.5 million
Armenians at the hands of Ottoman Turks.
A number of Armenians who had escaped the brutality and who had later
settled in Central Massachusetts would attend the services.
Yesterday, local Armenian faithful met again at the Armenian Church of
Our Saviour on Salisbury Street to mourn the dead and to pray such
massacres never occur again.
This year, however, none of the aging survivors attended, though three
of them ' Asdghig Alemian, Almas Boghosian, and Heghine Minassian '
are still living.
Instead, Chantal Kayitesi and Franco Majok, survivors of genocides in
Rwanda and Darfur, stood in their places reminding service
participants atrocities continue around the world, 95 years after the
Armenian killings in Turkey.
`All survivors of genocide must band together,' said Ms. Kayitesi, who
lost her husband, parents, sister and brother in the ethnic cleansing
that occurred in Rwanda. `There will always be one of us to fight, to
succeed, and to remember.'
Armenians worldwide mark April 24, 1915, as the start of the massacre
of their people in Turkey during World I. At the time, the country was
part of the Ottoman Empire.
On that day, Armenian leaders, intellectuals, writers, and
professionals were rounded up.
The government effort was stepped up and thousands of Armenians were
abducted, tortured, deported and killed.
Armenians, along with many others in the international community, have
labeled the massacre `a genocide' and have charged Turkey refuses to
take responsibility for what happened.
Over the years, the U.S. government, concerned about alienating
Turkey, has also declined to term the slaughter a genocide.
Yesterday, the White House released a presidential statement calling
the massacre `one of the worst atrocities' of the 20th century and `a
devastating chapter' in history.
President Obama, however, stopped short of calling it a genocide,
something he had promised as a candidate to do.
Armenian groups and their allies yesterday, including those in
Worcester, called on the president to follow up on his promise.
`It's time to break the Turkish gag rule on the Armenian genocide,'
said U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern, D-Worcester, who attended the
service in Worcester.
Mr. McGovern said he remains `frustrated and angry' with the U.S.
government's refusal to call the massacre a genocide. He said the
American position has nothing to do with the historical facts or a
lack of sympathy for the victims but because of `modern-day hard
politics.'
Mr. McGovern urged the president to be `on the right side of the issue.'
Mr. McGovern was joined at the service by local and state officials,
including Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Murray, Mayor Joseph C. O'Brien, City
Councilor Joseph M. Petty, and state Rep. John P. Fresolo,
D-Worcester.
Mr. O'Brien, who noted the massacre was `the first holocaust of the
20th century,' and Mr. Fresolo presented proclamations to the Armenian
community on behalf of the city and the state House of Representatives
while Mr. Murray applauded the Armenians for their courage and
resilience.
A number of area clergymen also attended the ecumenical service,
including retired Worcester Bishop Daniel P. Reilly.
Dr. Richard Bedrosian, who served as master of ceremonies and whose
family was affected by the genocide, said services such as yesterday's
raise consciousness about the event.
He said the Armenian killings served as `a template' for the Jewish
Holocaust and noted Adolf Hitler said that no one spoke of the
Armenians after their purge.
Dr. Bedrosian said the Armenian love of family has helped the
community triumph over evil.
The Rev. Aved Terzian, pastor of the Armenian Church of Our Saviour,
said Armenians are saddened not only by the horrific events
surrounding the genocide, but by the refusal of so many to recognize
it.
`The event has marked our people for 95 years,' he said.
Mr. Majok, who came to this country in 1995 from Darfur and who became
an American citizen in 2005, said nations must intervene to prevent
genocides.
`I have a lot of sympathy for you,' he said.
The purge of Armenians initially occurred between 1915 to 1918, with
another wave of atrocities taking place between 1920 and 1923.
http://www.telegram.com/article/20100425/NE WS/4250459/1116