Armenian, Assyrian and Hellenic Genocide News

What are we talking about?
by Taner Akcam
Posted: Friday, October 06, 2000 04:38 am CST

A Turkish Scientist speaks out for Genocide Recognition.

I'm ashamed of my humanity. In the last few days, as I've followed the Turkish discussion of the United States Congress' discussion on the topic of Armenian Genocide, the first feeling that comes to mind is shame.

I'm trying to understand the hysteria, the wild attacks, the threats, the obscenities, etc. Perhaps all of these can be explained. However what strikes me as most odd are the "rational" discussions of this topic. It's as if a match is being played and each side is deeply analyzing what steps will be taken and what strategies will be made. The "Genocide" ball is in the middle and we are "playing" a game. And the "ball" we are kicking is the death of 800,000 people.

I'm ashamed! Because those who are discussing the topic either have no idea what they are talking about or they lack basic human emotions. I can find no other explanation. I want to remind you! The fact is that even if we fight over the amount and the cause, in the end, according to official Ottoman statistics, it is 800,000 people that have been killed. Yes sirs, we are talking about 800,000 people that have died and have been killed. And if you don't accept that figure, at least let us admit to the amount that we have lowered the figure to in past years: 300,000.

Do you have any idea what you are doing, what you are talking about? Ali Sami Stadium has a 35-40,000 person capacity. Let us fill and empty that stadium 10 times. Now consider that this is how many people died, were killed. We are talking about the fate of these people. Sirs, when talking about the death of even one person we become sad. Let us discuss with your numbers in mind. We are talking about the deaths of 300,000 people and again even you accept the fact that the deaths were due to rebellion and health conditions. Now reread what you wrote. Take a look at what you've discussed and said in regards to the deaths of 300,000 people. Does it not make you nauseous? Does it not make you want to vomit? Are you not ashamed of your humanity?

The way in which we discuss the Armenian Question shows the main problem in our country. We are far from being able to discuss massacre. We do not even have the moral foundation to condemn massacre. We do not even have the morality to feel the necessary sorrow for such tragic events, which is required in order to discuss them. Look at what has been written. Even according to their accounts, the death of 300,000 people is a tragedy, yet there is not even a single sentence acknowledging this event as one that is deserving of a feeling of sadness. There is not a single sign of sadness. In fact, they are almost at the point of dancing with bells on. What is the moral authority behind what is being written? Do you see anything beyond, "A number of traitors who were trying to destroy our government died during deportation; what's wrong with that?" Is there anything beyond, "Nothing happened, but even if it did Armenians are to blame for it"? Is there anything beyond, "We will do the same thing under the same circumstances"?

Regardless of what position we take, if we want to take another step forward, let us not forget that we are talking about the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people. If we can take on a way of thinking that is more in tune with this mindset, if we can adopt a morality that condemns massacre, we will come to find that the same people who we believe attacked us will start to converse with us. The only thing we are doing now is showing how deserving we are of the criticisms being made. To commit massacres or to bring about a situation which causes massacre are nothing to be ashamed of. Instead, they are things that can be done if necessary. And with this mindset, we want a place in the modern world? Is that it? Sirs, what we are doing is, in a word, immoral!

I want to underline 3 points concerning the "Genocide Argument":

First of all, I've noticed many columnists have suddenly become experts on this issue. But what really saddens me is how unashamedly and without even asking, "What is the truth behind this issue; let me ask and learn?" they blow smoke. Believe me, almost all of what they claim to be "historical facts" and "the fruit of deeper knowledge" are nothing but the nonsensical fruits of ignorance. If it is necessary I will give an example. They all claim that "the Armenians were only deported from Eastern Anatolia" (Guneri Civaoglu goes a little further in adding Central Anatolia). These words are complete nonsense. That which has no lining [backing] is made up. Kutahya, Afyon, Usak, Bursa, Edirne, Tekirdag, Balikesir, Bolu, etc. By consulting even 2 or 3 books on this topic, one will arrive at the knowledge that Armenians were deported from every imaginable city in Anatolia. If, out of curiosity, one is to look at official Turkish Republic Government documents they will find that these are even sufficient. Even from these documents it is clear that Armenians were deported from everywhere in Anatolia.

Secondly, there is something that has to be known in regards to these numbers. Honestly, arguing about these numbers is not right. What are we trying to prove? What is the difference between 1.5 million and 300,000? If 1.5 million is an exaggeration, does that then justify the death of 300,000? In regards to the numbers, because the records of that time are not very reliable, it is very hard to say something official. But at least when speaking, do so in reference to the official numbers of the Ottoman Government or Turkish Republic's Military. That way you will be taken more seriously.

In December 1918, the Interior Minister, Mustafa Arif, forms a commission to find out the number of Armenians that were killed during the war. On March 14, 1919 the commission announces that the number of Armenians killed is 800,000. The Interior Minister, Cemal Bey, makes the announcement. Many people, including Mustafa Kemal (Ataturk), make this figure public on various occasions. In 1928 the Turkish Military prints a book, translated from French, concerning the casualties of W.W.I. In the book published by Lt. Col. Nihat, the figures regarding Turkey are changed and altered. According to the Turkish Military, during W.W.I, "800,000 Armenians and 200,000 Greeks died as a result of deportations or died in labor brigades." The person who presented these findings, Y.H. Bayur says, "According to our official sources, these numbers are correct" (Y.H. Bayur, The History of the Turkish Revolution, Volume III, Section IV, page 787). In other words, according to our official sources the number of those killed is 800,000. And this figure only covers the period from 1914-1918.

The third point is whether or not there was an order given for the murder of the Armenians. There is proof to support this point by way of documents, despite the Ittihadist attempts, following the war, to clean up the archives and steal documents. Between the years 1919-1922 during the proceedings of the Military Tribunal in Istanbul, several telegrams and documents are read, and witness testimonies are heard. Many of these documents are published in the official journal of the Ottoman Government (Takvim-I Vekayi) as well as other newspapers covering the proceedings. The knowledge and facts found in German, Austrian, American, and British archives parallels that found in the Ottoman archives.

Here I would like to point out a document, which was probably accidentally overlooked and printed in a book published by the Archives Administration. It is entitled Armenians in Ottoman Government Documents (1915-1920). On June 29 (July 12) the Interior Ministry sends a coded telegram to Diyarbekir. The telegram states that "Of the Armenians and other Christian minorities being moved from Diyarbekir to Mardin, 700 were taken at night to the outskirts of the city and slaughtered like sheep," and its relayed that 2000 are killed in this manner. It is also stated that "If sudden and definite action is not taken we are afraid that the entire Christian population will be massacred." The telegram ends with this sentence: "If the policies that are being used towards the Armenians are applied to the other Christian minorities, it will leave a bad effect on the entire public. Especially, anything that threatens the lives of the Christians needs to be stopped." The document is very frank. They are being reminded that both the policies that were decided for the Armenians and the manner in which the Armenians are being slaughtered must not be applied to the other Christians. A branch of the Turkish Republic publishes this document. I am leaving the analysis of it to Sukru Elekdag and Gunduz Aktan.

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