THE ASSASSINATION OF MAYOR OF VAN KAPAMACIYAN BY THE TASHNAK COMMITTEE
Dr. Hasan OKTAY*
Van and the Armenian Separatism
It is cardinal to understand the importance Van in order to grasp the Armenian Question. Aram Manukian, who played a leading role in the first Van revolt in 1896 and fled to Russia afterwards, returned back to the city in 1904. His primary aim was arming the local Armenians in the anticipation of another widespread revolt.
The Turks and Armenians cohabited in Van for centuries. The extremist elements within the Armenian community wanted to form an independent administration, and possibly a union with Russia. As they didn’t form the majority in Van, neither in the rest of the Empire, they choose the way of ‘ethnic cleansing’ by organizing armed Armenian terror organizations to get rid off the local Muslim population and thereby to create an Armenian Van.
Under the liberal political atmosphere following the declaration of the Second Ottoman Constitution in 1908, the post of mayor of Van was given to an Armenian from the Loyal People (millet-i sadika), called Bedros Kapamaciyan in mid 1909. [i] He was a delegate of the Van board of directors. Although the city was populated overwhelmingly by Muslims, Kapamaciyan was elected thanks to the tolerance of the residents of Van without being subject to any discrimination, therefore, he received the votes of the Muslims as well. Two out of ten delegates of board of directors were elected among Armenians. [ii] Traditionally the mayor of Van used to be elected among the Muslim delegates, as they represented the majority of the population. However, all members agreed to elect Kapamaciyan. Consequently, he was elected unanimously. Although we do not have much information about Kapamaciyan’s background, [iii] it is commonly known that he was an outstanding member of a respected family dealing with drapery trade. [iv]
Locals were happy with him while he served his term in office. He did not facilitate the aspirations of the Armenian Revolutionary Tashnak Committee, [v] which was headed by Manukian and was quite influential in Van. Kapamaciyan attempted to serve honestly for the peace and prosperity of all communities living in Van and to act always in favor of the Ottoman interests, not those of the Tashnak and Hinchak committees, which had revolutionary and separatist objectives. While Mayor Kapamaciyan was working hard for peace and for the future of the constituency, the Armenian Patriarch initiated some provocative plans for rebellion in Van and its surroundings with the Tashnak committee in order to continue the European states that the ‘Armenian cause’ was still alive. [vi]
In line with these plans, a series of fires broke out in Van in April 1912 and the houses of some Armenians were also burnt down. The Patriarch requested the mayor to report these fires to the European embassies, and inform that the Muslims were ready to destroy the properties and to kill the Armenians and that the Muslims were responsible for fires. [vii] Contrary to what he was asked mayor Kapamaciyan prepared a report stating that this was not the case and the fires were started by the Armenian Tashnak committees. He also went to the office of Van Governor and expressed his loyalty and fidelity to the Ottoman State. The Patriarchate respectively sent out a delegation to Van immediately and tried to calm down the Mayor and conceal the incidents because Kapamaciyan was a very respected and influential man among the Armenians. His stand against the Armenian revolutionaries would have endangered those committees’ activities going on. [viii]
Consequently the revolutionary Armenian committees found the attitude of the mayor Kapamaciyan intolerable [ix] and a decision for his assassination was taken. [x] The revolutionary terror gangs previously committed assassinations against Armenian leaders who supported the Ottoman interest as a whole and aimed to spread terror and eliminate any opposition, even among their own Armenian people. [xi]
Ottoman Attempts to Prevent Separatism
As a result of the developments in the Ottoman territory towards the end of the 19th century, it became to be apparent that peace would be interrupted and disturbances would occur. A short time before the declaration of the Second Ottoman Constitution, Van governor Ali Riza Pasha, who was trying to prevent the separatist activities of the revolutionary Tashnak Armenians without causing harm to the people, appointed an Armenian called Ohannes Ferit Boyaciyan [xii] as the deputy governor and his brother Armarak Boyaciyan as the governor of Gevas district, [xiii] more to diminish the influence of the Armenian revolutionary committees on the local Armenian people. Gevas is at about thirty five kilometers away from Van and Akdamar island, which is an important religious center for the Armenians. After these appointments, the Tashnak Armenian committee, which made separatist propaganda among the Armenians and frequently complained to the European states, would not have any reason to complain. Armarak Boyaciyan, while strictly preventing the Armenian brigands from using Akdamar island as a base and hindering their operations, was almost eliminating their influence on the local people. Thus, the policy of Ali Riza Pasha started to give results. [xiv] But the Armenian gangs by killing Armarak Boyaciyan, removed an important obstacle before them. [xv] Upon the murder of his brother, Ohannes Ferid, Boyaciyan stated that he could not stay in Van any more and with the authorization of Ali Pasha, he requested to be assigned to the post of the deputy governor of Elazig, a city far away from Van. [xvi]
Aware of the sensitivity of the situation, Ali Pasha drew attention of the Sublime Port (Ottoman Government) and requested that an Armenian called Mikail to be appointed as the deputy governor of Van, in order to increase the loyalty of the local people to the government and upset the expectations of the Armenian extremists. [xvii] The Sublime Port and appointed Mikail as the deputy governor of Van. However, Mikail requested to be excused from this post as he knew that he could not serve his term in office as it should be because he was disturbed by the attitude of Tashnak Armenians in Van. Then, former district governor Leon was assigned to this post as a gesture to please the Armenians in Van. [xviii] Besides some favors were granted to the Armenian notables living in the Ottoman territory. [xix] By acting in this way, it was thought by the government that the extremist Armenians would lose their ground for separatist propaganda. Despite all these attempts of goodwill, Armenian revolutionary committees strengthened their relations with Russian Armenians, carried out underground activities.
Mayor Kapamaciyan Murdered
According to Aram Manukyan, the leader of the Tashnak committee, the Mayor of Van, Bedros Kapamaciyan, should have been punished for standing against Armenian revolutionary committees. Kapamaciyan, who was frequently threatened, left his house one evening together with some family members to participate as a guest in the name giving ceremony of Marcidciyan, one of his relatives. Then, a Tashnak group positioned around his house, started shooting them. The Mayor, who was caught without any protection, fell dead with two bullets that hit his head on 10 December 1912. [xx]
As the Mayor Kapamaciyan’s house was at Baglar district, the closest police station was at a distance of ten minutes. [xxi] Therefore, the murderers managed to escape easily in the dark before the gendarmes arrived where the assassination took place. Baglar district was a beautiful place with gardens where the Armenians formed the majority of the residents. Since the Tashnak committee was very strong in Baglar. It was easy for the assassins to escape and hide. [xxii] Police chief transferred more of policemen and gendarmes to Baglar and carried out an extensive examination and collected all evidences at the place were the incident occurred. [xxiii] Any tiny fault of the authorities could have led to a great disorder in Van, which was the scene of serious Armenian rebellion in the past. [xxiv]
Assassins Arrested
When the situation calmed down, the testimonies of the eye witnesses were started to be taken and information on the murderers collected. Particularly from the testimony of Mayor's son, [xxv] it was revealed that an Armenian terrorist called Karakin and a friend of him were main suspects. The identification of murderers prevented a possible disorder between the Muslim people and the Armenians. [xxvi] Rapid operations were carried out, Karakin was arrested but his unidentified partner succeeded to escape. [xxvii] Coachman Potur, who was sought by the police for smuggling arms to Van, was involved in the incident with his coach and the persons called Saddler Osep, jeweler Karakin and Shaf, were all arrested following intense pursuits. [xxviii] Shaf was the one who took orders for the assassination directly from Aram Manukyan, the mastermind of the crime.
Karakin's partner, who disappeared after the incident, was later arrested and imprisoned. The police was quite quick in identifying and arresting the perpetrators of the assassination, something unusual in Van, because Kapamaciyan was an important figure and intercommoned relations were so sensitive.
It was decided that Viramyan, one of the columnists of the Armenian Azadamart newspaper published by the members of Tashak committee, Aram Manukyan, [xxix] the inspector of Armenian schools and representative of the Tashnak committee in Van and some of the leading Tashnak committee members should be arrested as instigators of the murder of Mayor Kapamaciyan. [xxx]
Since the leading members of the Tashnak committee used to complain about the Governorship to Istanbul and European embassies on every occasion, they thought that this arrest warrant issued about them was related with these complaints. They were holding frequent meetings for this in the Tashnak committee club and assessing the situation. They thought that they were untouchable, since they were influential in Van and the government would not have taken the risk of a communal revolt. Therefore, while becoming dominant over the people, committee members gained more self-confidence. For these reasons, the arrests of Manukian and Viramyan, who organized and directed the murder of Mayor, were postponed to a more convenient time. [xxxi] The people could have become daunted as no measures were taken about the committee that was behind the assassination, although one or two persons who committed the murder were arrested.
Viramyan and His Defense
Both Armenians and Muslims frequently asked the governorship about the investigation on the murder of Kapamaciyan, the case file was transferred to Istanbul. [xxxii] Viramyan Papazyan, who lost the elections in 1912 and started to write in Azadamart newspaper, received an arrest warrant as the suspects gave his name to the police in relation with the assassination. Viram Papazyan sent the petition below to the Ministry of Interior:
"To the Ministry of Interior
Upon my arrival at Van after three months of absence, I have seen our province and Hizan town of Bitlis in a state of great crisis. While there is no serious attempt to correct many unjust conducts, full liberty is given to the murderers and bandits and the farmers are disturbed by the arrival of spring. Because they have no doubt that murders, injuries and plunders will follow. Van Governor Izzet Pasha disregards the arming and preparation for war of Kurdish peasants by Kurdish chiefs, who are known as bandits and murderers, and carries out a slow and continuous prosecution against the notable members of the Armenian community and the Tashnak committee. Innocent peasants and Kolost of Karkan, Sahak of Mindan, Sirin of Karagunduz and some Armenians are imprisoned. Many of these flee because of fear. Kapamaciyan was killed on 10th December; my departure from Van was 19 days before that. Despite this fact, I received a warrant from the public prosecutor as a suspect in this incident and I learned that a warrant was sent to Aram, the colleague of Rafael, itinerant director of Akdamar Katholikos school, also as a suspect in the same incident. As I knew the purposes of Mr. Izzet and his consultants and that law officers enjoyed keeping people in prison, I did not surrender to them. Although I am not unable against such vicious slanders, I hereby state that I do not want to be the victim of their desires. If Mr. Izzet and his men continue such acts against Armenians, it is certain that those who are honest and who fear will flee, since murderers, usurpers and thieves will become dominant.
Requesting from the state to pay attention to these problems threatening our province, where the interests of Armenian nation confirm their inseparable loyalty to the Ottoman land, and to take serious measures while there is still time, I am waiting for your reply with the hope that the fault made in Rumelia will not be repeated in Anatolia.
Former Van Deputy Viramyan.” [xxxiii]
This petition of Viremyan, which appears innocent at first sight, was taken into consideration by the Ministry of Interior. In the ciphered message sent to Van province by the general intelligence office of the Ministry of Interior, it was informed that Viramyan left Van before the murder and complained from the hostile conducts against Armenians living in Van, and it was requested that these incidents be clarified and finalized. Besides, it was recommended that considering the sensitivity of the situation to avoid violent acts that would cause anxiety among Armenians. [xxxiv]
As a leading member of the Tashnak committee, one cannot totally suggest that Viramyan definitely did not take part in the assassination. [xxxv] The petition he wrote appears as a completely professional petition written for the sake of history. [xxxvi] In fact, the Balkan incidents that he referred in this letter can be interpreted as a covert threatening. Viramyan’s failure in the 1912 elections as deputy could be considered as a reason lying beneath the murder of Kapamaciyan.
Funeral
The rapid arrest of the persons who took part in the assassination of Kapamaciyan, despite not duly penalized, pleased the local people. However, the fact that the murderers were Armenians also caused a deep sorrow among the local Armenians. [xxxvii] Necessary measures were taken to avoid disorder in the funeral of Kapamaciyan. [xxxviii] In the speeches delivered during the funeral which started early in the morning with the attendance of a considerable number of people, the kindness and integrity of Kapamaciyan were mentioned. As representing the foreign missions, English, Russian and French consuls were present. [xxxix] On the other hand, it is meaningful that no member of Tashnak committee attended the funeral. [xi] Tashnak committee took the opportunity to make it clear that any obstacle before them would be crushed. This was a message to the people who did not share their separatist aims.
The secret police organization working in Van was given the order to observe the behavior, dialogs and attitudes of the people attending the funeral. [xii] Furthermore, the secret police was in charge to prevent any provocation that could occur during the funeral. According to the records of the secret police, people told each other at the Armenian cemetery at Baglar district that it was obvious that the Tashnaks committed the assassination and the government should have acted on this matter more swiftly and they also talked about the services of Kapamaciyan for his country, the Ottoman Empire. On the other hand, the Armenians were expressing their hatred and condemning of the Tashnaks with as low voice, as they were scared of the Tashnak violence. They also told that the committee would soon lose its influence on the Armenians and a great anger would rise among the Armenians. [xiii] The funeral lasted until the evening and Kapamaciyan was buried in the family cemetery. The minimum conditions of living together, which Kapamaciyan endeavored to maintain perhaps at the price of his life, were rapidly disturbed and his aspiration for cohabitance in Van was irreversibly upset.
The revolutionary Tashnak Armenians could murder their own fellow people without hesitation in order to achieve their ambitions. The systematized attempts of the committee members, who ventured all acts for establishing a suitable conditions for revolution, gave their yields with the help of the Russians and they temporarily occupied Van in 1915, [xiiii] and when the Russians retreated in October 1917 upon the Bolshevik Revolution, Van was regained by the Turks. When the Muslim people, who left their city with much difficulties as a result of incredible atrocities and pressure of the Armenian Tashnak gang, returned there, they found the city completely ruined. Their Armenian neighbors and friends were no more living in Van. The grandchildren of Kirkors, Arabaciyans, Terzibasiyans, Avadises, Boyaciyans and hundreds of other Armenian families that cannot be named here are telling from generation to generation the dream of living together with Muslims in the city of Van what they listened from their parents.
[i] Teotik Salnamesi, Istanbul 1911, p. 253; for the historical development of Turkish municipality, see; Ilber Ortayli, Tanzimattan Cumhuriyete Yerel Yonetim Gelenegi, (The Tradition of Local Government) Istanbul 1985, p. 9; Mehmet Ali Gokacti, Dunyada ve Turkiye'de Belediyecilik,(Municipality in the World and Turkey) Istanbul 1996; Ilhan Tekeli, Turkiye'de Belediyeciligin Gelisimi, (The Development of Municipality in Turkey) Ankara 1982.
[xiiii] For the torment, torture and cruelty applied on the Muslim people in Van by Tashnak and Hinchak armenians, see, Arsiv Belgelerine Gore Kafkaslar'da ve Anadolu'da Ermeni Mezalimi, I-IV, (The Armenian Attrocities in the Caucasus and Anatolia Acording to Archieve Documents) Ankara 1995; Faiz Demiroglu, Van'da Ermeni Mezalimi, (The Armenian Attrocities in Van) Ankara 1995; Ergunoz Akcora, Van ve Cevresinde Ermeni Isyanlari, (Armenian Rebellions in and around Van) 1896-1916, Istanbul 1994; Ergunoz Akcora, op. cit.; Huseyin Celik, op. cit.; Kaymakam Hakki, op. cit.; for the narration of Van incidents through Armenian perspective, see, M. Kalman, Bati-Ermenistan (Kurt Iliskileri) ve Jenosid, Istanbul 1994, p. 116; La Defense Heroigue de Van (Anonyme), Geneva 1916; Yves Ternos, Ermeni Tabusu, (The Armenian Taboo) Istanbul 1993; Tamer Akcam, op. cit.