by Assyrian International News Agency
THE Turkish government is considering legal action over a western Sydney council’s decision to erect a statue commemorating the killing of Assyrians early last century.
Turkish ambassador Oguz Ozge yesterday warned that the decision, passed unanimously by Fairfield Council last week, jeopardised Australia’s relationship with his country and threatened to divide the community.
Assyrians, a Christian ethnic group whose homeland lies between northern Iraq, Syria, western Iran and southeastern Turkey, say hundreds of thousands of their people were killed by Turks during and after World War I.
The Sydney memorial was approved for installation in Edensor Park despite a request by Foreign Minister Stephen Smith that the proposal be rejected.
Mr Ozge yesterday denied the Assyrians’ claims of genocide and described the council’s stance as “very offensive”.
“It hurts the Turkish Australians living in this country and it is an attempt at destroying the harmony of the two communities living in Australia side by side,” he said. “We are looking into whether we can do anything, legally or otherwise.”
The Local Government Association says it recognises that genocide took place.
However, the state and federal governments do not recognise that claim.
Riot police were deployed to keep the peace between Turkish and Assyrian groups outside the council chambers as the decision was being made last Tuesday.
Hermiz Shahen, secretary of the Assyrian Universal Alliance, yesterday admitted his group had not consulted the Turkish community over its plans, but insisted it had not been their intention to clash with them over the statue.
“There is no mention of the Turks on the plaque; that is part of our respect for the community here,” Mr Shahen said.
He said the statue was dedicated to the “souls of Assyrian martyrs”.
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Again we hear the response from the Turkish government via their ambassador Mr. Ozge. re the massacres of Christian populations in their vicinity. The Turkish denial of these events is a detrement to harmony in the world today and in the future. Those nations that assist (even by their silence) in the continuance of the denial of the genocied are also guilty to an extent to the crime. Today people who are deemed to be holicaust deniers can be prosicuted yet we have whole nations guilty of the same offence yet remain aloof of the law and morals.
Why is it necessary for the truth to be acknowledged? ANSWER: Unless we realise the actions and mistakes of our people we look at the others(peoples)and see their obvious cruel and unjust actions and thank God that we are not like them,when in fact we are exactly like them.How can we live in harmony as Mr Ozge, the Turkish ambassador suggests if his own compatriots in Australia are ignorant of the fact that genocied occurred in Asia Minor during and after the 1st World War and many of their ethnic neighbours lost members their families and properties just because the were of a different religion and or race.What has been done has been done but let us try to undertand each other and then friendships between all peoples will far better based and binding. Think about it.
Turkey and the others who commited this Genocide Against the Assyrians/ Armenians/ Hellenic- Greek People, should now admit the past wrong doings as and only than will the World will see and respect Turkey on the World Stage.
Denial will only stop Turkeys Progress Internationally !!!
The 750,000 Assyrians Brutally Killed will never be forgotten !!!!!!!
Assyrian Genocite minument. It’s about time Turkey apologises to the Asyrians, Armenians and Greeks that they massacarred during and aftger the WWI. But they always threaten everybody in their arrogance and try to scare those who dare speak up. Turkish history is bloody and that reflects on their flag – red. Given a chance they will repeat similar attrocities against humanity with no shame. And then they will start shouting again. Turkish policy repeating itself. See the most recent events of the Turkish invasion in Cyprus where they killed, raped, stole and now they claim that they did it to protect the minority. What minority? Cypriot Turks are those who continue to suffer from the continued invasion. Shame, shame, shame….
I agree it’s about time that Turkey recognises what their ancestors did to my prople. They MUST apologise for the Assyrians and Armenian’s killings. They also must pay for it with money and remember we are the natural inhabitant of Diyarbakir, Mardin, hakkari, midyat and all the villages and towns around they are full of the blood that was spilled but never to be forgotten. I remember when i visited USA before my grandfather’s passing as we used to sit at night and discuss his old adventures he advised me he was 9 years old when they sought refuge in Iraq form the Otoman’s Bloody army. Shame on the Turkish governement for not aknowledging it yet!!!! Even thought it is in their government archives, the missionary from France and Italy have documented and written about.