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April 24 commemorated for first time in Turkey
Though similar demonstrations have become a tradition, this year was somewhat different because a group of Turkish intellectuals expressed their sadness over the sufferings that occurred almost a century ago.
Three protests took place on Saturday in Taksim Square, at the Haydarpaşa Train Station and in front of the Turkish-Armenian Agos weekly. There were also counter protests in all three locations. Possible clashed were prevented by police.
A sit-down strike organized by the Say No to Racism and Nationalism initiative in Taksim Square was attended by a group of public figures including Professor Ahmet İnsel, columnists Ali Bayramoğlu, Roni Marguiles, Alper Görmüş, Ferhat Kentel, Erol Katırcıoğlu and Ümit Kıvanç, Birikim journal Editor-in-Chief Ömer Laçiner, pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) deputy Ufuk Uras and artists Nur Sürer and Zeynep Tanbay.
“The huge pain this great catastrophe puts on our consciences is here. We call all Turkish citizens who feel this huge pain in their hearts to bow respectfully before the victims of the memories of 1915,” Tanbay said on behalf of the group. A nationalist group shouted slogans such as “This is Turkey” and “We are soldiers of Mustafa Kemal [Atatürk]” in reaction to the statement. No major incident occurred thanks to police intervention.
While members of the Socialist Platform of the Oppressed (ESP) left carnations in front of the Agos newspaper, another sit-down protest was organized at the Haydarpaşa Train Station by the Human Rights Association (İHD). There was a counter protest in response to the İHD’s demonstration. Speaking on behalf of that group, retired Gen. Edip Başer said it was “shameful” that such a protest occurred in Turkey.
Protests in Armenia were not that peaceful. In Yerevan, Turkish flags as well as posters of President Abdullah Gül, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu were burned in a rally of 10,000 people, which was organized by ultra-nationalist Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutyun.
Protests took place in front of the Turkish Embassy in Washington, D.C., as well. Almost 200 people from each side gathered in front of the embassy and shouted slogans. The Turkish group was later received by Turkish Ambassador Namık Tan.
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