TURKISH WRITER TEMEL DEMIRER: "THERE WAS A GENOCIDE IN OUR HISTORY"

Jean Eckian
Independent correspondent
Paris, March 6, 2008

According to the Turkish Bianet independent agency, the following day
of the murder of Hrant Dink on January 19, 2007, the Turkish writer
Temel Demirer read a declaration to the press in Ankara saying that the
journalist had not been only killed because he was Armenian, but also
because he had spoken about the Armenian Genocide.

Temel Demirer declared the thing following at a meeting of protest:

« We live in a country where the murders and silence on the truth are
associates. Hrant was assassinated not only because he was Armenian,
but because he said expressly reality that a genocide took place in
this country. If the intellectuals Turks do not commit 301 crimes under
the terms of article 301, they will be guilty murder of Hrant, also. »

«There was a genocide in our history, it is called Armenian Genocide.
At the expense of its life, Hrant said to us to all this reality. Those
which do not commit a crime against the fatal state form part of the
murder. Those which killed the Armenians yesterday attack our Kurdish
brothers and sisters today. Those which want the fraternity of the
people need to face this history. We must commit crimes to prevent that
what arrived at the Armenians arrives to the Kurds. I invite all those
among you to commit crimes. Yes, there was a Armenian genocide in this
country. »

«We know very well who massacred it! It is neither an unknown nor a
secrecy for we¦nous know the assassin who supports article 301, we know
it… We cannot conceal to us! We cannot conceal to us! All for our
part is clear », he had screamed to the present crowd.

This declaration had been signed by more than 45 Turkish personalities
and organizations.

Temel Demirer passes of first instance judgement in front of the Penal
Court n°2 of Ankara on march 6.