UPDATE: MONASH Council is distancing itself from the furore that has erupted over several councillors looking at plans to discuss officially recognising the controversial Armenian genocide with the Mayor saying their actions were “regrettable’.’
The Monash Leader reported that councillors Josh Fergeus and Theo Zographos wanted to debate the issue.
But Mayor Rebecca Paterson said she was disappointed they had raised events which happened 100 years ago.
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“Of course, this is not a matter for Monash Council or for any other local council,’’ she said.
“Focusing on issues like this sends all the wrong messages to the Monash and wider Victorian community, especially when it relates to issues which have absolutely nothing to do with our responsibilities as a local council.’’
Many readers said it was not the role of the council to discuss whether or not there had been a genocide.
“I have spoken to a majority of my colleagues and we feel this is an inappropriate matter for consideration in our council chamber,’’ Cr Paterson said.
“We neither support nor oppose recognition of these events as a genocide. None of us are experts in such matters. It is not relevant to anything which Monash Council is responsible for.
“But most unfortunately, it seeks to pit one part of our multicultural community against other parts.
“This matter may be appropriate to be debated in the Australian Parliament, but it is not appropriate for the council chamber. It is regrettable that their actions are impacting on our community and the way in which Monash Council is viewed.”
The council looked set to debate the issue at a recent meeting, but the motion was withdrawn just before the agenda was finalised.
However, Cr Josh Fergeus said the debate “remains a live issue” for the council that will require “detailed consultations” with the community.
The term Armenian genocide refers to events from 1915 to 1923 between the Ottoman Empire and Armenian and Greek subjects.
The empire’s successor, the government of Turkey, rejects the use of the term genocide, saying the number of deaths is inflated.
But Monash Ratepayers acting president Chan Cheah said the council should drop the genocide debate because it happened a century ago on the other side of the world.
And the Australian Turkish Advocacy Alliance wrote to councillors on Friday morning (May 26) imploring them not to support any motion that gives recognition to the atrocities as a genocide.
The alliance’s secretary Baris Atayman said such a move would cause “division, hate and racial disharmony” in Monash.
“This is a divisive move that is in direct contrast with the multicultural values we affirm as sacred in Australia,” Mr Atayman said.
“Local councils in our country are not the platforms for delivering judgments over history or making up Australia’s foreign policy.”
The Australian Government does not recognise the events as a genocide.
Dr Cheah said council resources should not be wasted on the issue.
“I know a lot of the councillors are in political parties, so if they want to pursue such agendas, they should do it on their own instead of using council resources,” he said.
“There are a lot of planning issues going on they should be spending their time on, rather than pursuing individual, politically exciting issues.”
Cr Fergeus said the council had been having internal discussions about the issue and he had been approached by members of the Greek and Armenian communities in Monash.
Cr Fergeus admitted the “vast majority” of people in Monash would not benefit from the council recognising the genocide but said the symbolic gesture would be important to local Greeks and Armenians.
Cr Theo Zographos said he wanted to discuss the issue in a civil and fair way.
“I look forward to having the opportunity to do that over the coming months in relation to the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek communities,’’ he said.
“They have played a large role in making our city what it is today. We need to honour those lives lost along with those who are survivors and their ancestors among our community today.”
Cr Zographos said discussions would not come at a cost to ratepayers.