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Circassia: Minority Asserts its Identity

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  • Circassia: Minority Asserts its Identity

    UNPO, Netherlands
    May 30 2006

    Circassia: Minority Asserts its Identity


    Long considered Turkey's most integrated and harmonious ethnic
    minority, the Circassians have recently started claiming more
    community rights including own language schools and want the
    international community to pressure Russia into recognising what they
    say was a "genocide" carried out by Czarist troops in the mid 1860s.
    The move coincides with the start of Turkey's membership talks with
    the European Union which has enshrined minority rights in many of its
    policies.
    According to estimates, some 120,000 Circassians live in Jordan,
    45,000 in Syria, and 4,000 in Israel, but the bulk of the diaspora -
    3.5 million - live in Turkey. This figure is four times more than the
    population living in the Circassians' traditional homeland in the
    North Caucasus, a mountaneous region north of Georgia and Azerbaijan
    consisting of several semi-autonomous republics in the Russian
    Federation.

    Circassians, who are mostly Sunni Muslim, annually commemorate May 21
    in rememberance of the mass deportation of their compatriots
    beginning on that day in 1864 following the end of the
    Russian-Circassian War.

    The war ended with the fall of Circassia and was followed by the
    forced removal of between 1.2 and 1.5 million Circassians from their
    lands. Up to 500,000 died of hunger and illness during the forced
    exodus, a deathtoll that Circassian activists say formed part of a
    genocidal plan by the Czarist troops to obliterate their nation.

    "May 21" commemoration activities have steadily increased in recent
    years in different parts of Turkey. The main event this year was an
    international conference held in Istanbul last week and attended by
    Circassian and Russian intellectuals to discuss the mass
    deportations. Titled the International Caucasus Conference, the
    gathering was organised by the Caucasus Foundation. Another major
    event was a meeting in Kefken a town on the Black Sea coas where the
    first Circassians, landed in Turkey after being deported. That
    gathering was organised by the Caucasus Federation representing 51
    Circassian associations

    The recent upsurge in Circassian activism have led some observers to
    associate it with attempts by Kurds in Turkey to assert their
    autonomy and by Armenian lobbying the international community to
    force Turkey to acknowledge as "genocide" the mass deaths of
    Armenians during Ottoman rule between 1915-20.

    "Circassians have begun realising their identity and painful history
    in recent years. There were no such events five years ago," says
    Mehdi Nuzhet Cetinbas, honorary president of the Caucasus Foundation,
    in an interview with Adnkronos International (AKI).

    "We are discussing some possible initiatives on the recognition of
    the Circassian 'genocide' by parliaments around the world. The
    Turkish parliament hesitates recognising the Circassian genocide
    because of Western pressure on [Ankara to] recognise the Armenian
    'genocide'.

    "When the Duma (the lower house of Russia's parliament) accepted a
    proposal about Armenians last year, some Turkish deputies [by way of
    retort] suggested recognising the Circassian genocide in return last
    year, but it was impossible because of Turkey's warm economic
    relations with Russia," Cetinbas told AKI.

    Last year the Circassian Congress, a nongovernmental organisation
    based in Maikop, capital of Adygea Republic (a north Caucasus
    traditional home of Circassians), applied to the Duma and the
    Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to
    recognise the Circassian genocide. The Russian parliament has to date
    given no response so far.

    Fehim Tastekin, the founder editor of the Agency Caucasus, a news
    agency based in Russia's Caucasus region, says that Moscow is
    increasing the pressure on Circassian's living in ethnic group's
    traditional regions.

    "Russia has recently abolished local constitutions in Circassian
    regions such as Adygea, Karachay-Cherkes and Kabardino-Balkaria.
    According to new Russia legislation, if Circassians returning home
    apply for citizenship, they will only be able to have Russian
    citizenship and not Circassian. They will need to speak Russian and
    show they have lived in Russian territory for at least five years.

    "Also Circassian regions are losing their autonomy rights. Now they
    can't choose their president directly. The Kremlin appoints local
    leaders in accordance with the new law," Tastekin told AKI.

    Asked whether Circassians living abroad are seeking land compensation
    from Russia, Cetinbas replied: "For now this is not on our agenda. We
    know Russia will not help on this point and international communities
    will not give their support. But if parliaments recognise that the
    genocide took place, this will mark a start that will allow us to
    talk about more tangible means of compensation."

    "The Circassian diaspora wants to return home. The young generations
    do not speak our language. To change this it is crucial that the
    Turkish government supports the opening of Circassian language
    schools. It is not enough to give permission for private language
    courses to be held. We want positive discrimination because
    Circassians see Turkey like their own homeland, and are co-founders
    of the modern republic," Cetinbas said.

    While current diplomatic barriers continue to frustate Circassian
    attempts for international recognition, Cetinbas remains confident
    that circumstances will change in the future. "I hope all nations
    will know about the Circassian's tragedy," he said.

    http://www.unpo.org/news_detail.php?arg=18&par =4578
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