AZG Armenian Daily #161, 09/09/2005

Turkey

TURKISH PRESS KEEPS ON WRITING ON SEPT. 6 POGROMS

Nationalists Attack Exhibition Dedicated to Pogroms

Covering the 50th anniversary of pogroms of Greek, Jewish and Armenian
communities in Istanbul, daily Azg mentioned in its September 7 issue that
all central newspapers of Turkey draw public’s attention to that horrific
data in order to prevent future massacres.

The papers are still responding to the anniversary. On the commemoration
day, the Istanbul offshoot of Turkey’s Union for Human Rights Protection
organized a march in memory of the victims and the “History” Foundation
exhibited photos.

At the end of the march the Union of Human Rights Protection delivered its
message to the public. President of the Union, Eren Keskin, personally read
the epistle informing meanwhile that cadets of 2 military academies took
part in the march. As to the photo exhibition, titled “50th Anniversary of
Events of September 6-7”, it was assaulted by Turkish nationalists.

Turkish papers together with state and private TVs draw Turkish public’s
attention not only on the anniversary of the pogroms but also the attack on
the exhibition.

Turkish NTV responded to the attack the very day it happened on 6 September.
It’s noteworthy that Turkish papers Radikal and Aksam responded in an
article with an identical title “50 Years Later With the Same Mentality”.
The 250 photos of retired admiral Fahri Coker’s archive displayed at the
exhibition featured pogroms of September 6-7.

The admiral was the chairman of the court that was set to investigate into
the pogroms. He handed down photos and documents to “History” Foundation.
Around 1 thousand people visited the exhibition on the opening day. It will
be open for 21 days.

The exhibition opened at 6 pm local time on 6 September. Right at that
moment the members of intellectuals’ clubs of Anatolia, headed by
vice-president Aynur Saydam, entered the hall. A group of 10-15 people,
headed by former spearhead of Istanbul’s clubs Levent Temiz, follow them
declaring that they represent the Union of Turkish Resistance.

Temiz suddenly holds forth saying, “Our homeland is occupied today. Even the
law enforcers have been neutralized. The Turkish youth whom Ataturk
entrusted republican Turkey will do its holy duty by exerting itself”. The
members soon joined in yelling “Traitors”, “Love or go away”, “Turkey
belongs to Turks” and attacked the photos and documents on stands. Most of
them were torn off. Grabbing the exhibits and waving Turkish national flags
the attackers march to the square of Beray. 3 protesters were arrested as
police interfered.

The France-Presse disseminated all details attached with photos of the
attack to its subscribers in every corner of the world. In the meantime,
president of the “History” Foundation, Orhan Milier, accuses the police for
the attack saying that no preventive measures were taken. But it is well
know that the organizers of the attack have warned 15 prior to the events
about possible protest and their threat was even published in the press.

By Hakob Chakrian