April 24 in Turkey: Still No Justice for the Murdered Armenian Serving in the Turkish Army

The Armenian Weekly ^ | April 26, 2017 | Uzay Bulut

[Texas Fossil]

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s message was read at the commemoration mass that was held at the Feriköy Surp Vartanants Church in Istanbul on April 24—the 102^nd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

The message said, in part:

“On this occasion, I would like to emphasize that the peace, security and happiness of our Armenian community are of special importance to us. We have no tolerance for the alienation and exclusion of our Armenian citizens and for a single Armenian citizen to feel second-class… With these thoughts, I once again pay tribute to the memories of the Ottoman Armenians who lost their lives in the beginning of the 20th century. May millions of Ottoman citizens deceased under the difficult conditions of the First World War rest in peace.”

Can this message be interpreted as a “positive development” in Turkey’s recognition of the genocide? And do these words reflect the reality of the Armenian lives in Turkey?

Not really, for genocide denial is still the norm in the country.

Turkey does not deny that “Ottoman Christians died” during World War I. What Turkey claims is that Armenians and other people in the Ottoman Empire died due to the “circumstances of the war” or the wrongdoings or crimes of their fellow Armenians. This position does not recognize any Turkish responsibility in the Armenian massacres or forced deportations.

..

Turkey never seems to run out of excuses to deny, whitewash or even take pride in the genocide.

April 24 is also the anniversary of the death of Sevag Balıkçı, an Armenian citizen of Turkey. Private Balıkçı was shot to death during his compulsory military service in the Turkish army on April 24, 2011—the 96^th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Six years later, the trial is still ongoing. And the murderers of Sevag are still walking around free.

[Texas Fossil]

Armenian compulsary military service in the Turkish Army?

So much changes in the world in a hundred years?

Or not so much.

Turkey is on the threshold of repeating their past. Genocide is a part of it, no matter how much they continue to deny it. Genocide in Turkey is forever linked to the fate of the Armenian People. And other minorities.

If you don't believe me? Look at Afrin. There is documented proof that 3,000 ISIS fighters were involved in that along with many al Qaeda.

Over 2 months the villages were pillaged, 200,000 Kurds escaped with what was on their back. The ones remaining are subjected to ISIS level cruelty. With the approval of a NATO "ally"(?).

And Kurdish civilians and YPG fighters bodies are littered over the countryside and mountains. The locals are not allowed to collect the bodies and bury them. They are force to look at them and smell them and observe that the animals eat them.

Women in Afrin are kidnapped and forced into sex slavery. One such woman was raped until the baby was lost.

Turkey has not changed for the better in the past 100 years. Erdogan the Islamist if allowed will repeat their past.

The world must be made to understand this Great Evil.