A.R.F. Shant Student Association
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 306
Glendale, California 91206
Tel: 818-462-3006
E-Mail: [email protected]
Website:
PRESS RELEASE
January 21, 2006
Los Angeles, CA – Armenian Revolutionary Federation Shant Student
Association (ARF Shant) and the All-Armenian Student Association
(All-ASA), of which ARF Shant is a constituent, express their outrage
at the assassination of Hrant Dink, the editor-in-chief of Istanbul’s
Turkish and Armenian language Agos newspaper. ARF Shant and the
All-ASA send their sincerest condolences to Mr. Dink’s family and
share in the pain felt by Armenians around the world.
On April 24, 1915, Armenian intellectuals such as Daniel Varoujan
and Siamanto were murdered on the streets of Istanbul for no reason
besides being Armenians and intellectuals. Ninety-two years later,
it is apparent that nothing has changed in a country that touts itself
as a "secular democracy" and aspires to join the European Union.
ARF Shant views the assassination of Hrant Dink as a despicable attempt
to silence one of the most vociferous critics of Turkey’s shameful
distortion of the history behind the Armenian Genocide. ARF Shant
believes that this action is nothing less than the continuation of
the Armenian Genocide and believes the assassination was coordinated
by the Turkish government.
Hrant Dink had himself expressed a belief that his life was threatened
by the "deep state", a term which refers to the ultra-nationalist
inner circles of the Turkish government. He had repeatedly asked for
and been denied protection from authorities, while the daily threats
against his life continued.
Instead of guaranteeing Mr. Dink’s security, the Turkish government
continued to persecute Mr. Dink for expressing his views that the
Armenian Genocide should be accepted by Turkey and Turks and Armenians
must reconcile.
ARF Shant calls on Armenian students and youth worldwide to redouble
their efforts to secure justice for the Armenian Genocide. Hrant Dink
paid the ultimate price for his ideals and will be remembered as a
martyr who remained unwavering in his pursuit of justice, freedom,
and truth.