1897: Assyrians of TurkeyPosted: Wednesday, March 03, 2021 at 09:11 PM UT
Inclosure in No. 1. Sir, I have the honour to make the following Report on the occurrence at Diz in the latter end of May, about which I telegraphed to your Excellency on the 3rd June. On the 22nd or 23rd May, zaptiehs from Julamerk seized the bridge across the Lab, opposite to where the Valley of Diz joins that of the Lab. The Valley of Diz is occupied by the Nestorian Ashiret of that name. The effect of this action was to cut off the people of Diz from their flocks which were across the river. The object of it was to get arrears of tribute out of the people of Diz. Both the time and the manner of it were unusual. The custom is to demand the tribute in October when the people, having sold their produce, may be expected to have money by them, and further, to give notice, before collecting tribute, to Mar Shimun, who deputes one of his men to attend. On this occasion, Mar Shimun was not informed of the intention to collect tribute till two days after the zaptiehs had occupied the bridge of Diz. When the bridge was seized, some Diz men went down to protest. They sat down and talked with the zaptiehs, and supplied them with food. One of the zaptiehs sent word to Julamerk that they were being fired on. The next day, accordingly, the Kaimakam, Cazi, and Mudayimum came down to Diz with troops, and a following of Kurds from Julamerk. The Diz people met them at the bridge, and a parley ensued. The Diz men got alarmed at the attitude of the officials, and began to make off. The troops were ordered to fire by the Kaimakam, but as I have reported elsewhere, they took care to hit no one. The Julamerk Kurds, however, did their best, and some men got bullets through their clothes, but no one was hurt by the firing. Three children were, however, drowned in a torrent by falling from a bridge as they fled in terror up the valley. Some of the Diz men returned the fire as they retreated, and one of the officials got a bullet through his sleeve. “Diz was then occupied, and LT. 500 was demanded. Eventually 1,055 sheep, 37 cattle, LT. 24, and various other articles were taken, and the people of Diz left in a state of destitution.” Diz was then occupied, and LT. 500 was demanded. Eventually 1,055 sheep, 37 cattle, LT. 24, and various other articles were taken, and the people of Diz left in a state of destitution. This act has aroused indignation and sympathy not only amongst the Christians, but also among the better disposed of their Mahommedan neighbours. On hearing of it from Mr. Browne I went and saw the Acting Governor. He immediately telegraphed to Julamerk, and dismissed the Kaimakam and the Mudayimum, and ordered their successors to start without delay. This prompt action very probably averted very serious trouble as the Ashirets were on the verge of despair, and thought no resource was left them but to die with arms in their hands. It appears too, that serious measures were in contemplation against the other Ashirets, and even Kochannes. These have now been abandoned. Mar Shimun has all along used his influence with the Ashirets to keep them quiet. The announcement that the Order of the Osmanli, 2nd class, was on its way to him, and a telegram of congratulation he received from the Acting Governor, Shemshi Pasha, could not fail to have a good effect. I met the Mudayimum at Bashkala. I believe him to be honest and energetic, but he is too hasty and inexperience for a place like Hekkiari. He appears to be not more than twenty-five years of age. Mr. Browne says that he afterwards, when he understood the wrong that had been done, saved the Diz Maliks from further bulleying by the Kaimakam. The zaptiehs were Kurds from Julamerk. There is a very strong hostile feeling between the Nestorians and the Julamerk people, and the employment of these zaptiehs for coercing the Christians is always likely to lead to disturbances. (Signed) G. S. Elliot |
1897: Assyrians of Turkey