ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MONUMENT IN WALES SMASHED ON UK'S HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY

Infoshop News
Feb 6 2008

Contributed by: WorkerFreedom
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Armenians and Welsh came together on January 27 to pray for victims
of all genocides on the United Kingdom's Holocaust Memorial Day and
to remember the first anniversary of the assassination of Hrant Dink,
the journalist killed for raising the issue of the Armenian Genocide
in the Turkish press.

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MONUMENT IN WALES SMASHED ON UK'S HOLOCAUST
MEMORIAL DAY

Armenians and Welsh came together on January 27 to pray for victims
of all genocides on the United Kingdom's Holocaust Memorial Day and
to remember the first anniversary of the assassination of Hrant Dink,
the journalist killed for raising the issue of the Armenian Genocide
in the Turkish press.

As they gathered they discovered the ornate slate cross on the Armenian
genocide monument (pictured here) smashed into pieces with a hammer
left at the scene. The Armenian Genocide Monument was desecrated on a
symbolic day designated to recall the events, consequences and lessons
of the darkest days of human history in a deliberate and premeditated
act of vandalism.

Kind of sick, don't you think?

The monument in Cardiff is to remember 1.5 million Armenians who were
massacred in 1915. IC Wales reports it caused controversy at the time,
with members of the Turkish community denying the killings amounted
to genocide.

Caerphilly Councillor Ray Davies, who campaigned for the Armenian
monument to be erected, said many people at the service were close
to tears when they saw what had happened.

"The desecration of the monument reminds us that we must always
be vigilant against racism and hatred which is never far from the
surface," he said.

Director of the Welsh Centre for International Affairs Stephen Thomas
said: "It was particularly saddening for the Armenians present that
this happened on the day of the Holocaust Memorial Day. This service
wasn't specific to the Armenians. We were trying to be all-inclusive
about all those historical events where people have been massacred.

It wasn't very helpful in terms of trying to create a bridge and
links between Turkey and Armenia that this was carried out. People
were upset when they turned up and saw what had happened."

Hal Savas, a member of the five-man delegation from the Committee
for the Protection of Turkish Rights, was present at the service.

"Whoever has done it should be ashamed of themselves," he said. "We
would condemn any damage done to any religious monument."

The following is from AZG Armenian Daily.

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MONUMENT DESECRATED ON HOLOCAUST COMMEMORATION DAY

The tiny Welsh Armenian community of Cardiff were targeted with a
despicable racist attack on Holocaust Memorial Day (January 27). The
new Armenian Genocide Monument (which was erected by the community
under the leadership of John Torosyan in November ) was desecrated in
the early hours of the morning before important ceremonies were held
today to Commemorate the Holocaust,and to remember Hrant Dink. The
ornate Armenian Cross on the monument was smashed to bits by persons
unknown using a hammer, which was left at the scene of the crime.

Turkish protesters disrupt Holocaust and Hrant Dink Commemorations

One of the Welsh Armenians said: "This is our holiest shrine. Our
grandparents who perished in the Genocide do not have marked graves.

This is where we remember them" Eilian Williams of Wales Armenia
Solidarity said that he blamed the so-called "Committee for the
Protection of Turkish Rights", under the leadership of Hal Savas for
the crime. We shall repair the cross again and again no matter how
often it is desecrated. We also challenge the UK government and the
Turkish Embassy to condemn this racist attack.

The Holocaust commemoration was a gesture of friendship by Welsh
Armenians towards the Jewish and Roma communities During the
Prayers for the Holocaust victims, the said Turkish Committee used
a loud-speaker to disrupt proceedings. Finally Martin Shipton, chief
reporter for the "Western Mail" the national newspaper of Wales gave
his tribute to Hrant Dink (also representing the National Union of
Journalists). The Turkish protesters also disrupted his speech.