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Cihan News Agency (CNA) - Turkey
January 21, 2013 Monday
Six years after Hrant Dink
ISTANBUL (CIHAN)- On Jan. 19 Hrant Dink, the founder and
editor-in-chief of the Turkish-Armenian bilingual weekly Agos
published in Istanbul, was commemorated on the sixth anniversary of
his assassination, which was part of a plan to create chaos in the
country and provoke a military coup against the elected government.
Hrant's passing away inflicted deep pain on people who knew him, like
myself, and millions who respected his cause.
What has happened during the six years that have elapsed since his
death? The underage person who pulled the trigger that put an end to
his life has been captured and sentenced, but those who were behind
the plot to murder him have not yet been identified and put before
justice. The hope is not lost, however, that the continuing
investigation may eventually lead to the deciphering of the criminal
organization responsible for his killing.
Those who made the plan to kill him have not yet been identified
although six years have elapsed, but the cause which Dink gave his
life for, that is Turkey facing the truth about the great tragedy that
befell Ottoman Armenians close to a century ago, has been embraced by
an ever growing part of Turkish society. The best indication of this
is the publication of a wide range of books in Turkish dealing with
the plight of Ottoman Armenians, including distinguished Turkish
journalist Hasan Cemal's book titled "1915: Armenian Genocide" this
year which has already sold tens of thousands of copies.
Dink did not have any doubts that what happened to Ottoman Armenians
in 1915 and 1916 was genocide. But his efforts were not particularly
directedtowards the recognition of that genocide by the Turkish state,
but towards the people of Turkey learning the truth about the hundreds
of thousands of his kin who lost their lives due to massacres,
starvation and epidemics as a consequence of the decision by their own
government to deport almost the entire Armenian population to the
Syrian desert during World War I. His primary aim was to help open the
way for Turkish-Armenian reconciliation. Has this road been opened?
Yes, I believe it has.
There is a greater clarity of mind on two basic issues among those who
are concerned about Turkish-Armenian reconciliation. First is the
wickedness in holding responsible an entire nation for the crimes
committed by a government of theirs nearly 100 years ago. The other is
the wickedness in Turkey's government still today assuming the
responsibility of crimes perpetrated by a gang of dictators who led
the Ottoman Empire to its demise.
I came across one of the most remarkable indications towards the
growing clarity over the above issues, reading in a Turkish newspaper
an interview with Sona Tatoyan, an Armenian-American filmmaker
preparing to produce a film based on the Armenian author Micheline
Ahromyan Marcom's book "Three Apples Fell from Heaven." In the
interview Tatoyan speaks about her mother: "Yes, she sometimes did
speak of the wicked things they have done to us. But then she would
begin to praise the Anatolian people, their food and land. I believe
it was she who taught me that one should not blame a people for what
their government has done."
In response to the question as to what would she feel if the
government of Turkey would recognize and apologize for the genocide,
she says: "I would be relieved. If it continues not to do this. ... I
do not know. As an Armenian I do not need Turkey to admit it was a
genocide. This is what I am trying to explain to the diaspora. By
insisting on hearing this word they are in fact pushing the government
of Turkey to a stronger position. Because such insistence only means
that we cannot get well before you admit..."
Tatoyan adds: "I shall prepare the Schindler's List of the Armenian
genocide. ... The list of good-hearted people who risked their lives
to save their neighbors as well as the monsters. ... At the time there
were also Armenians who betrayed each other. They too will be on the
list. ..." (Radikal, Jan. 14, 2013.)
Thanks to Sona Tatoyan for raising these issues.
SAHIN ALPAY
January 21, 2013 Monday
Six years after Hrant Dink
ISTANBUL (CIHAN)- On Jan. 19 Hrant Dink, the founder and
editor-in-chief of the Turkish-Armenian bilingual weekly Agos
published in Istanbul, was commemorated on the sixth anniversary of
his assassination, which was part of a plan to create chaos in the
country and provoke a military coup against the elected government.
Hrant's passing away inflicted deep pain on people who knew him, like
myself, and millions who respected his cause.
What has happened during the six years that have elapsed since his
death? The underage person who pulled the trigger that put an end to
his life has been captured and sentenced, but those who were behind
the plot to murder him have not yet been identified and put before
justice. The hope is not lost, however, that the continuing
investigation may eventually lead to the deciphering of the criminal
organization responsible for his killing.
Those who made the plan to kill him have not yet been identified
although six years have elapsed, but the cause which Dink gave his
life for, that is Turkey facing the truth about the great tragedy that
befell Ottoman Armenians close to a century ago, has been embraced by
an ever growing part of Turkish society. The best indication of this
is the publication of a wide range of books in Turkish dealing with
the plight of Ottoman Armenians, including distinguished Turkish
journalist Hasan Cemal's book titled "1915: Armenian Genocide" this
year which has already sold tens of thousands of copies.
Dink did not have any doubts that what happened to Ottoman Armenians
in 1915 and 1916 was genocide. But his efforts were not particularly
directedtowards the recognition of that genocide by the Turkish state,
but towards the people of Turkey learning the truth about the hundreds
of thousands of his kin who lost their lives due to massacres,
starvation and epidemics as a consequence of the decision by their own
government to deport almost the entire Armenian population to the
Syrian desert during World War I. His primary aim was to help open the
way for Turkish-Armenian reconciliation. Has this road been opened?
Yes, I believe it has.
There is a greater clarity of mind on two basic issues among those who
are concerned about Turkish-Armenian reconciliation. First is the
wickedness in holding responsible an entire nation for the crimes
committed by a government of theirs nearly 100 years ago. The other is
the wickedness in Turkey's government still today assuming the
responsibility of crimes perpetrated by a gang of dictators who led
the Ottoman Empire to its demise.
I came across one of the most remarkable indications towards the
growing clarity over the above issues, reading in a Turkish newspaper
an interview with Sona Tatoyan, an Armenian-American filmmaker
preparing to produce a film based on the Armenian author Micheline
Ahromyan Marcom's book "Three Apples Fell from Heaven." In the
interview Tatoyan speaks about her mother: "Yes, she sometimes did
speak of the wicked things they have done to us. But then she would
begin to praise the Anatolian people, their food and land. I believe
it was she who taught me that one should not blame a people for what
their government has done."
In response to the question as to what would she feel if the
government of Turkey would recognize and apologize for the genocide,
she says: "I would be relieved. If it continues not to do this. ... I
do not know. As an Armenian I do not need Turkey to admit it was a
genocide. This is what I am trying to explain to the diaspora. By
insisting on hearing this word they are in fact pushing the government
of Turkey to a stronger position. Because such insistence only means
that we cannot get well before you admit..."
Tatoyan adds: "I shall prepare the Schindler's List of the Armenian
genocide. ... The list of good-hearted people who risked their lives
to save their neighbors as well as the monsters. ... At the time there
were also Armenians who betrayed each other. They too will be on the
list. ..." (Radikal, Jan. 14, 2013.)
Thanks to Sona Tatoyan for raising these issues.
SAHIN ALPAY