hetq investigative journalists
HY RU EN
Asset 3

Loading

 End of content No more pages to load

Your search did not match any articles

April 24, 2015 - Candid Interview with an Unknown Armenian Demonstrator

When self-delusion and reality clash…

By Misak Guyumchian

Nationalist: Our lands…return our lands

Interviewer:  Hello, can I ask you a few questions for our TV viewers?

Our lands…return our lands.

Are you the organizer of this protest? Who speaks for you guys?

Our lands…return our lands.

Do you mean Wilsonian Armenia?

Our lands…return our lands.

Do you mean the six Armenian villayets of the Ottoman Empire?

Our lands…return our lands.

Have you ever visited those lands?

Our lands…return our lands.

I’ll take that as a no. What about present-day Armenia? Have you been there?

Our lands…return our lands.

Ok. Have you ever travelled to Turkey? That’s where those lands are, right?

Our lands…return our lands.

No? Have you ever talked to a Turk?

Our lands…return our lands.

No? What about a Kurd? There are millions of Kurds living on those lands.

Our lands…return our lands.

Shouldn’t you be building bridges with the Kurds? It’s a risk but what have you got to lose? That is if you’re sincere about returning to those lands.

Our lands…return our lands.

OK. I got it. You want land. You also mentioned something about justice.

Our lands…return our lands. We want justice.

Can you be more specific?

Our lands…return our lands. We want justice…and compensation.

How much compensation?

Our lands…return our lands. We want justice…and compensation.

You mentioned something about lobbying. Who are you lobbying for land, justice and compensation?

Our lands…return our lands. We want justice and compensation.  Obama say the G word!

G word as in genocide?

Nationalist: Our lands…return our lands. We want justice and compensation. Obama say the G word!

But didn’t the U.S. and its western allies sell Armenians out to Attaturk just a few years after the 1915 Genocide? Didn’t they renege on their promises? Has anything changed?

Our lands…return our lands. We want justice and compensation. Obama say the G word! Turkey isn’t as trustworthy American ally.

But Turkey and the U.S. are NATO allies. Washington has pumped billions into the Turkish military. Your taxpayer dollars have funded the occupation of those lands you claim are yours. Isn’t there a disconnect here?

Stop putting words in my mouth!

Thank you for a very candid interview.

Comments (3)

minas
If you sincerely believe that YOU were deprived of your right to live on historic Armenian land as a result of the genocide and that you, as an individual, must be compensated by being granted the right to return - then why wait till western Armenia is liberated^ There are huge amounts of liberated land in Artsakh just waiting for you and the thousands of others like you who claim they harbor the NEED and DESIRE to return. And, unlike western Armenia, you won't be confronted by millions of Kurds and Turks in Artsakh.
Berge Jololian
Is Artsakh land? Did Turkey support Azerbaijan during the 90's war against Armenians of Artsakh? Does Turkey continue to support Azerbaijan? Does Turkey demand the return of Artsakh? Did Turkey prepare to attack Armenia in 1993? Do the lives of 2 million Armenians who were murdered during the genocide have any value to you Misak Guyumchian? Does Armenian property, lands, assets, houses, business, farms, schools, churches, and Armenian lives that were butchered have any value or meaning to you Misak Guyumchian? Does Turkey continue to bode ill will towards Armenia to this day? Does Turkey have an economic, hostile, militarized border blockade on Armenia to this day? The Turks have not only murdered humans, destroyed an ancient culture, civilization and rewritten history, but 99.7% of Turks continue to legitimize the act as well as the racist ideology that led to the act. The genocide of the Armenians at the hands of the Turkish state is still on going (1915-2014). Genocide ends when denial ceases. Genocide is a coordinated plan of different actions aiming at the destruction of essential foundations of the life of national groups, with the aim of annihilating the groups themselves. To bring about the disintegration of the political and social institutions, culture, language, national feelings, religion, and the economic existence, and the destruction of the personal security, liberty, health, dignity, and even the lives of the individuals belonging to such groups. Is your idea of visiting Turkey for Tourism? Is your idea of meeting Turks to talk about good old days and have a good time? Genocide acknowledgment without accountability is hollow and meaningless. Accountability for land, reparation and restitution. Artsakh is our land, Nakhichevan (Nakh-ichav-van) is our land, Ararat is our land, Ani, Kars, Ardahan, Artvin, Ardanush are our landsn .. you should know the rest. Land of the first Armenian Republic are our lands (which Ataturk attacked and seized 60% from the size of current republic, not to mention the lives of more Armenians butchered) Turkey remains accountable for the crime of genocide: accountability for land, reparation and restitution.
Berge Jololian
Turkey is accountable for the crime of Genocide. The accountability is land, reparation and restitution. Genocide is the worst crime humanity has given a name. Genocide Acknowledgment without Accountability is hollow and meaningless. Acknowledgment must be accompanied with accountability; otherwise, the acknowledgment is worse than denial. A good example of land recovery is Artsakh.

Write a comment

If you found a typo you can notify us by selecting the text area and pressing CTRL+Enter