Tweet
Armenian Genocide Monument desecrated in Sydney
May 7, 2011 - 09:56 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net -
The Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia) condemned
the vandalism of the monument dedicated to the victims of Armenian
Genocide in Ryde City, Sydney.
The monument, which stands in memory of the 1,500,000 innocent
Armenian men, women and children who perished at the hands of the
Ottoman Turkish government, was discovered to be vandalized just a
week after the annual Ryde City Council Armenian Genocide
commemoration.
The vandals had completely removed the plaque and the foundation stone
on which it rested. The only remnant of the memorial at Meadowbank
Park in Ryde City is the bed of flowers which surrounded the monument.
John Alexander MP, whose Federal electorate of Bennelong is home to
both the memorial and the largest Armenian population in Australia,
immediately condemned the destruction labeling it "unAustralian".
"The vandalism of this plaque and headstone that commemorates the
deaths of the 1.5million victims of the Armenian Genocide can only be
described as unAustralian," he said. "Australia is a great country
built on the values of inclusion, acceptance and respect for all
cultures. The Armenian community make a wonderful contribution to our
local community and have an absolute right for these dark pages in
their history to be remembered forever more."
ANC Australia Executive Director Varant Meguerditchian said: "The
defacement of the Armenian Genocide monument is a modern day
manifestation of the hatred that was the root cause of the Armenian
Genocide."
He continued: "We encourage other elected officials to join Mr
Alexander in condemnation of this hate crime and appeal to our law
enforcement authorities to spare no effort in bringing these
xenophobic criminal vandals to justice."
The destruction of the Armenian Genocide monument in Ryde City is not
the first of its like in Australia. The same monument was subject to
vandalism in April of 2009, while just last year, the monument erected
in memory of the victims of the Assyrian Genocide in Fairfield City
was destroyed only months after its unveiling.
From: A. Papazian
May 7, 2011 - 09:56 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net -
The Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia) condemned
the vandalism of the monument dedicated to the victims of Armenian
Genocide in Ryde City, Sydney.
The monument, which stands in memory of the 1,500,000 innocent
Armenian men, women and children who perished at the hands of the
Ottoman Turkish government, was discovered to be vandalized just a
week after the annual Ryde City Council Armenian Genocide
commemoration.
The vandals had completely removed the plaque and the foundation stone
on which it rested. The only remnant of the memorial at Meadowbank
Park in Ryde City is the bed of flowers which surrounded the monument.
John Alexander MP, whose Federal electorate of Bennelong is home to
both the memorial and the largest Armenian population in Australia,
immediately condemned the destruction labeling it "unAustralian".
"The vandalism of this plaque and headstone that commemorates the
deaths of the 1.5million victims of the Armenian Genocide can only be
described as unAustralian," he said. "Australia is a great country
built on the values of inclusion, acceptance and respect for all
cultures. The Armenian community make a wonderful contribution to our
local community and have an absolute right for these dark pages in
their history to be remembered forever more."
ANC Australia Executive Director Varant Meguerditchian said: "The
defacement of the Armenian Genocide monument is a modern day
manifestation of the hatred that was the root cause of the Armenian
Genocide."
He continued: "We encourage other elected officials to join Mr
Alexander in condemnation of this hate crime and appeal to our law
enforcement authorities to spare no effort in bringing these
xenophobic criminal vandals to justice."
The destruction of the Armenian Genocide monument in Ryde City is not
the first of its like in Australia. The same monument was subject to
vandalism in April of 2009, while just last year, the monument erected
in memory of the victims of the Assyrian Genocide in Fairfield City
was destroyed only months after its unveiling.
From: A. Papazian