New Anatolian, Turkey
Jan 23 2007

Those who pointed the finger at Dink
Ilnur Cevik

ilnurcevik@yahoo.com23 January 2007

Initial reports about the assassination of Hrant Dink have failed
to reveal any connections to a terrorist cell or an organized group.
There are suggestions that the suspect caught is a lone figure charged
with nationalist feelings who took matters into his own hands to
murder Dink …

If this is the case, then it is even more shocking because it means
many liberal outspoken people in Turkey are in serious jeopardy of
losing their lives at the hands of hotheads.

Whoever speaks any reason in Turkey or who voices views that do not
appease the conservative establishment are immediately slated as
enemies of the nation and unfortunately become targets.

We have two groups of people who provoke violence against such people.

The first are ultraconservatives who are charged with nationalist
views. The second are the left-wing sympathizers who are more
conservative and nationalist than the ultranationalists. They are
all over the place from the press to the political parties. They hide
behind left-wing views while they spread enmity and antagonism. They
serve in some very prominent papers pointing the finger at liberal
people making them a direct target.

Unfortunately they pointed the finger at Dink and it was only a matter
of time that a hothead would try to take matters into his own hands …

The Armenian issue, like the Kurdish problem, is a hot potato in
Turkey. Even if you make realistic assessments and evaluations
you could end up being targeted in an adverse campaign by these
conservative circles.

Now the whole nation is up in arms condemning the murder of Dink. Yet
those who are today forced to condemn the killing were the ones who
were pointing the finger at Dink a few days ago.

Let us hope they have learnt their lesson well that their actions,
which seemed harmless, have in fact cost the life of a very good
person.

Dink had his own views about the Armenian issue, which we may not
like. But he had the courage of speaking up, believing that his views
were for the benefit of this country, which he loved.

Those of us who speak up with force to tell our truth should not
be deterred by this murder. We may lose some friends on the way by
telling our nation the truth, but we are sure we will prevail.

May Dink rest in peace. May God accept him into heaven.