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LIVING IN A GLASS HOUSE
MARKAR ESAYAN
Today's Zaman
Jan 25 2012
Turkey
We have been trapped again by a vicious "Armenian" discussion after the
scandalous court decision on the Hrant Dink murder and the adoption
of the French genocide bill in the Senate. We, as Turkey, should be
proud of ourselves! We are discussing the freedoms of thought and
expression only with reference to a right to denial. And even in this,
we are not sincere. Of course, I am more talking about politics.
Unfortunately, Turkey is not making this fuss because the French bill
is detrimental to the freedoms of speech and thought to be enjoyed
and exercised by French citizens! We are trying to protect our right
to deny what happened in 1915. We are forgetting that we are talking
about a big tragedy we have been attempting to forget for 96 years. We
want to make sure everything will be as we desire.
For instance, we speak up and ask for proper measures to ensure the
Turks in Germany are not assimilated and that they become allowed to
learn their language, but the Kurds in our country are not able to
exercise their right to their native language. Historian Taner Akcam,
who had to leave Turkey, filed an application against Turkey with the
European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) because he was unable to carry
out his studies in a safe and free environment after multiple lawsuits
were filed against him for his remarks and views on the 1915 incidents;
there is not a single person who has argued that the events of 1915
were genocide and has not stood trial for such remarks. Hrant Dink was
still tried under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) after he
was killed because of his remarks interpreted as an endorsement of 1915
events as genocide. In the same case, his son Arat Dink was prosecuted
because of his position as managing editor of the Agos newspaper.
In 2005, in reference to the Armenian conference held at Bilgi
University, Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said, "They stabbed us in
the back." After Dink was murdered, they amended this murderous
article because of the strong reaction. The new, amended version
required prior authorization by the justice minister before someone
could be prosecuted. Thank god the justice minister changed, and a
democrat and gentleman like Sadullah Ergin came into office. He did
not extend authorization for the majority of the motions in connection
with this article. Just look at the current outlook of the judiciary:
Prosecutors initiate prosecution into writings and statements that
should be considered an enjoyment of freedom of speech, and the
justice minister returns most of them; the situation is that critical.
Why do you not repeal this article then? There is no answer.
Let us come to Turkey's reaction to France...
Turkey has been pursuing a pretty reactionary and insecure strategy.
And, of course, this can barely be called a strategy. Acting as
if this is the end of the world and that bill will be implemented
in Turkey, the announcement of bold action plans, reactions by the
business world and NGOs and others are not something the civilized
world can understand. In so doing, Turkey assumes the responsibility
of a grave crime committed by the Committee of Union and Progress,
aka the Ergenekon of the time, during the period between 1915 and
1918. An approach of denial and outrage to 1915 and the argument that
our ancestors would not commit genocide will not resolve anything.
Can't we just maintain this simple logic? If the official history --
for instance, the official narrative on the Dersim incidents, for
which the Prime Minister Erdogan offered an official apology -- is
wrong, why would what we have been told about 1915 necessarily be true?
Who could we convince by reliance on such redundant discourses
and statements that our history is clean? Did anyone else from
other countries commit grave crimes in our history, including the
unsolved murders in the 1990s, coups and other massacres? Why are we
prosecuting former President and retired Gen. Kenan Evren then? Why
are we prosecuting the members of Ergenekon and the Sledgehammer
(Balyoz) case? Did we not have an agreement that we have a painful
past? Bodies are coming up everywhere we excavate. The prime minister
sobbed reading the letter by Anter Anter, son of Musa Anter; in what
country did what made him sad take place? Was Musa Anter murdered in
France? Why has Anter Anter not been allowed to pay a visit to his
father's grave since 1969?
True, France has done something ridiculous that contradicts the
universal values of freedom of expression and thought. You should
express your reaction in a civilized and smart way, and retreat. Take a
look at what is happening; it is almost like we are going to declare
war on France. This is akin to throwing a stone at your neighbor's
house when you live in a glass house. We should fortify our home
first...
From: A. Papazian
MARKAR ESAYAN
Today's Zaman
Jan 25 2012
Turkey
We have been trapped again by a vicious "Armenian" discussion after the
scandalous court decision on the Hrant Dink murder and the adoption
of the French genocide bill in the Senate. We, as Turkey, should be
proud of ourselves! We are discussing the freedoms of thought and
expression only with reference to a right to denial. And even in this,
we are not sincere. Of course, I am more talking about politics.
Unfortunately, Turkey is not making this fuss because the French bill
is detrimental to the freedoms of speech and thought to be enjoyed
and exercised by French citizens! We are trying to protect our right
to deny what happened in 1915. We are forgetting that we are talking
about a big tragedy we have been attempting to forget for 96 years. We
want to make sure everything will be as we desire.
For instance, we speak up and ask for proper measures to ensure the
Turks in Germany are not assimilated and that they become allowed to
learn their language, but the Kurds in our country are not able to
exercise their right to their native language. Historian Taner Akcam,
who had to leave Turkey, filed an application against Turkey with the
European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) because he was unable to carry
out his studies in a safe and free environment after multiple lawsuits
were filed against him for his remarks and views on the 1915 incidents;
there is not a single person who has argued that the events of 1915
were genocide and has not stood trial for such remarks. Hrant Dink was
still tried under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) after he
was killed because of his remarks interpreted as an endorsement of 1915
events as genocide. In the same case, his son Arat Dink was prosecuted
because of his position as managing editor of the Agos newspaper.
In 2005, in reference to the Armenian conference held at Bilgi
University, Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said, "They stabbed us in
the back." After Dink was murdered, they amended this murderous
article because of the strong reaction. The new, amended version
required prior authorization by the justice minister before someone
could be prosecuted. Thank god the justice minister changed, and a
democrat and gentleman like Sadullah Ergin came into office. He did
not extend authorization for the majority of the motions in connection
with this article. Just look at the current outlook of the judiciary:
Prosecutors initiate prosecution into writings and statements that
should be considered an enjoyment of freedom of speech, and the
justice minister returns most of them; the situation is that critical.
Why do you not repeal this article then? There is no answer.
Let us come to Turkey's reaction to France...
Turkey has been pursuing a pretty reactionary and insecure strategy.
And, of course, this can barely be called a strategy. Acting as
if this is the end of the world and that bill will be implemented
in Turkey, the announcement of bold action plans, reactions by the
business world and NGOs and others are not something the civilized
world can understand. In so doing, Turkey assumes the responsibility
of a grave crime committed by the Committee of Union and Progress,
aka the Ergenekon of the time, during the period between 1915 and
1918. An approach of denial and outrage to 1915 and the argument that
our ancestors would not commit genocide will not resolve anything.
Can't we just maintain this simple logic? If the official history --
for instance, the official narrative on the Dersim incidents, for
which the Prime Minister Erdogan offered an official apology -- is
wrong, why would what we have been told about 1915 necessarily be true?
Who could we convince by reliance on such redundant discourses
and statements that our history is clean? Did anyone else from
other countries commit grave crimes in our history, including the
unsolved murders in the 1990s, coups and other massacres? Why are we
prosecuting former President and retired Gen. Kenan Evren then? Why
are we prosecuting the members of Ergenekon and the Sledgehammer
(Balyoz) case? Did we not have an agreement that we have a painful
past? Bodies are coming up everywhere we excavate. The prime minister
sobbed reading the letter by Anter Anter, son of Musa Anter; in what
country did what made him sad take place? Was Musa Anter murdered in
France? Why has Anter Anter not been allowed to pay a visit to his
father's grave since 1969?
True, France has done something ridiculous that contradicts the
universal values of freedom of expression and thought. You should
express your reaction in a civilized and smart way, and retreat. Take a
look at what is happening; it is almost like we are going to declare
war on France. This is akin to throwing a stone at your neighbor's
house when you live in a glass house. We should fortify our home
first...
From: A. Papazian