Are the Armenians of Turkey Being Oppressed Today?

TURKISH ARMENIANS UNSETTELED BY GENOCIDE CHARGES
This information is taken from http://www.tallarmeniantale.com/

Patriarch Mesrob II Mutafian

ANKARA, Feb. 14, 2001 —(Reuters) The spiritual leader of Turkey’s Armenian community said he was “unsettled” by charges that the Turks committed genocide against the Armenians in 1915. Patriarch Mesrob II said the issue should be left to historians, not politicians. “No one has the right to act as the protector of Armenians who live in Turkey today,” Mesrob said. “The place where we take our problems is Ankara, and its name is the Turkish Grand National Assembly.” His comments followed France’s formal recognition last month of the killing of 1.5 million Armenians during World War One as genocide. The European Parliament passed similar legislation last year. Ankara vehemently rejects the charges.

“Armenians who live in Turkey are citizens of the Turkish Republic....This issue unsettles us, just as it unsettles other citizens of the Turkish Republic,” Mesrob told reporters after meeting Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit.

"Historical questions should be left to historians," he added.

The letter of Artin Penik who burnt himself in order to protest against Armenian Terrorism which points to Turkey:

We hereby present the letter of Artin Penik, our Armenian Citizen, who committed suicide by burning himself in Taksim Square in Istanbul on 10 August 1982 in order to protest Armenian Terrorism against Turkey.This utterly meaningful suicide caused immense sorrow and turmoil in our hearts.

LETTER OF ARTIN PENIK I am protesting in the name of the Patriarch and all Turkish Armenians, and burning myself. You, ASALA murderers! Nothing can be done by killing innocent people. You are deceived by the imperialists. History is told very wrong to you. Hundreds of thousands of people disappeared by the trick of imperialists. Use your mind! They are misleading you. Now, there are some thousands of Armenians living here and there. Do you intend to abolish them, too? But you will never manage to do that. We want to continue our way of life that we are leading fraternally together with Turkish people.

But if you go on killing innocent people without mercy, I swear in the name of God that you will all be exterminated. Use your mind! As far as we know, Armenians are brave and never kill innocent people from behind. We never regard you as Armenians. We are cursing you. You, the former president of France, Giscard D'Estaing, all Armenians are cursing you.

If you had not disregarded their actions to get their votes, they would not have been so arrogant. I have many more things to write, but I find no reason to do it. When necessary, the Turkish Nation will punish you. I wish God bless those who have lost their lives up to now, and patience to their relatives. May God give patience to my Turkish Citizens.

'Bye.

Artin PENIK

The preceding was a suicide letter by Artin Penik, who set fire to himself himself in Istanbul's Taksim Square on August 10, 1982, in order to protest Armenian terrorism against Turkey. The translation (taken from this Turkish web site, where an image of the newspaper article has been reproduced) was not well written, and I took the liberty of correcting the English.. as far as I could understand, anyway.

I wonder whether Penik's death made any kind of an impact on Western media.... I'd be interested in learning how widely the story was picked up, if at all. I'd venture his death was largely in vain, at least as far as influencing his fellow Armenians.. they probably concluded the evil Turks murdered Penik and orchestrated the whole thing.

ADDENDUM:

After writing the above, I discovered a filmed interview of Artin Penik on his deathbed. It's very, very sad. Here is a transcript of the film:

(One of our Armenian citizens has set fire to himself to protest against ASALA) My message to the whole world is to mobilize against them. One day, this is all going to explode; at that point, believe me, all states will then have their hands full. I've been in Europe for 23 years. I've been to America. I know them. I couldn't bear it any more; I did it as a lesson for them. For them to give it up.. This was a game of imperialists.. They will disturb Turkey and they want to lead Turkey to a war again. Their aim is to disturb Armenians or I don't know.. to slander Turkey in front of the world's eyes.

Artin Penik on his deathbed

I ask all governments in the world. Believe me, I can try to commit suicide again without blinking an eye. I made up my mind in a second. My decision was to commit suicide in front of the French embassy, because it all started with them at the beginning.

If they had punished them at the right time, they wouldn't have been spoiled that much. They ignored it to get votes.

Mr. Penik speaks passionately, while breathing very hard. It's a very dramatic, very heartbreaking scene. When I was committing suicide there I thought and I changed my mind. I chose to commit suicide in the presence of Atatürk, whom I like so much. I can do it again. I didn't consult anyone to do this activity. I decided by myself. I can do anything for my country.

Interviewer: We wouldn't want to tire you. You talked about mobilizing, that's true!

Penik: Yes, I am asking for mobilization to the whole world. Please, I am begging you, they have to be terminated, or otherwise all governments and all states will be affected harmfully. They have already been affected by them.

My message for foreign states is: If you mobilize against them, it is possible to terminate these terrorists. But if you ignore them, the guns will turn toward you one day. That would be so bad, they will regret it.

Interviewer: You said that you could do this activity for a thousand times, is that true?

Penik: Yes, I could do it a hundred thousand times without batting an eye. I live for my country; I could do this activity again without consulting anyone. We share the sympathy of the Turkish people.

(Artin Penik died two days after this interview.)

Written By: HOLDWATER