LETTER: Turkish government must admit role in, make amends for Armenian genocides

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by Catherine Rongey

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To the editor:

On April 24, 1985, the U.S. Congress recognized the day as a national commemoration of Man's Inhumanity to Man. April 24, 1915, marked the date of the 20th century's first genocide -- a genocide whose death toll reached 1.2 million.

Between April 24 and 25, in Constantinople, the Turkish Union and Progress Committee imprisoned 650 Armenian artists, lawyers, doctors, politicians and priests. They were deported and, within the year, murdered.

It was a deliberate and efficient elimination of almost the entire Armenian intelligentsia. They were fortunate.

Since that date, the government issued orders for the deportations, death marches and executions of Armenians. But before continuing, a bit of history must be given.

For although the Armenian genocide was the first genocide of this century, it is also the least known. In the 19th century, when Armenians, historically the first Christians, fell under Ottoman domination, they enjoyed religious and cultural autonomy despite being listed as second-class citizens.

But with the decline of the Empire in the 19th century, their conditions grew worse.

The Empire's population grew, and with the arrival of waves of Turkish refugees from Russia and the Balkans, much of the land owned by Armenian peasants and farmers was taken to accommodate the growing Turkish population.

After the onset of the First World War, Turkey sided with the Central Powers. This left the Armenians in a rather compromising position.

First, there was an equal division of Armenian people between the Ottoman Empire and Russia.

Second, throughout the war, Turkey intended to expand its empire by obtaining land in Russia -- land which was occupied by Russian Armenians. Both countries attempted to use the almost equal divisions of Armenians between them to stir unrest. Both sides failed.

But it wasn't until Turkey's defeat in the Caucasus by Russian soldiers and winter conditions that the anti-Armenian measures began.

Perhaps it began in January of 1915. Armenian soldiers and gendarmes were disarmed and regrouped into work brigades. They were slowly taken by stages to remote areas and executed.

The genocide plan was entrusted to the SO -- the "Special Organization." The organization was composed of convicts who were trained and equipped by the Turkish Union and Progress committee.

Deportation orders were posted or announced, giving Armenian families two days to collect a few personal belongings.

The first portion of the plan was the arrest and execution, done discreetly in small numbers, of Armenian notables such as priests, members of Armenian political parties and young men. The majority of the deportees were old people, women and children.

Deportation was in reality a death march and thereby a form of extermination. The strongest were killed before departure. Hunger, thirst and slaughter eliminated many of them. Women were raped and children were abducted.

In Eastern Anatolia, the entire Armenian population disappeared. Some Armenians were spared from death by American missionaries, others by Turkish officials who disagreed with the government and others still who were hidden by Turkish or Kurdish friends.

The Turks who did protect the Armenians risked their lives as any offer of aid was severely punished by Turkish authorities.

But why think back to some 81 years ago? The Armenian genocide is unresolved as the Turkish government to this day has failed to recognize its existence.

Approximately 90 percent of the names from historical Armenia have been changed in Turkey.

All Armenian cultural remains, such as churches, monasteries, community structures and urban complexes, have been destroyed, such as the city of Van, Basilica of Tekor, Church of Mother of God, Monastery of Varag -- and the list goes on.

Many survivors have a sense of resignation. They believe the genocide will be forgotten because the Armenian nation isn't strong enough to exert pressure at an international level.

Others, including myself, believe that the United States will do nothing because of Turkey's strategic importance in the Middle East.

Yes, 81 years have passed. But how can a mere bandage of 81 years heal a wound that has bled the blood of 1.2 million people?

Catherine Rongey

SRC '97

This item appeared in the Opinion section of the April 26, 1996 issue.

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