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ANKARA: April 24 Commemorated For First Time In Turkey

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  • ANKARA: April 24 Commemorated For First Time In Turkey

    APRIL 24 COMMEMORATED FOR FIRST TIME IN TURKEY

    Today's Zaman
    April 26 2010
    Turkey

    Various demonstrations were organized in Turkey, Armenia and the US
    on April 24, the day Armenians commemorate the anniversary of the
    so-called genocide in 1915.

    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
    HaydarpaÅ~_a 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 Ä°nsel, columnists Ali Bayramoglu, Roni
    Marguiles, Alper GörmuÅ~_, Ferhat Kentel, Erol Katırcıoglu and Umit
    Kıvanc, Birikim journal Editor-in-Chief Omer Laciner, pro-Kurdish
    Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) deputy Ufuk Uras and artists Nur
    Surer 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 [Ataturk]"
    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 HaydarpaÅ~_a Train Station by the Human Rights
    Association (Ä°HD). There was a counter protest in response to the
    Ä°HD's demonstration. Speaking on behalf of that group, retired Gen.

    Edip BaÅ~_er 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 Gul, Prime Minister Recep
    Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu 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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