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TARAF'S ALTAN, MEXICAN JOURNALIST CACHO RECEIVE DINK AWARD
Today's Zaman
Sept 16 2011
Turkey
The International Hrant Dink Award has been presented for the
third time on Hrant Dink's birthday, Sept. 15, to Taraf daily's
Editor-in-Chief Ahmet Altan and Mexican journalist Lydia Cacho.
Receiving his award from journalist Hasan Cemal and writer Adalet
Agaoglu, who were both on the 2011 International Hrant Dink Award
Jury, Altan said that it was not such a joyous occasion to receive
an award named after someone who was murdered.
Dink was shot dead by an ultranationalist teenager outside the offices
of the Turkish-Armenian Agos newspaper in İstanbul in January 2007.
The investigation into his murder has stalled even though the
suspected perpetrator and his immediate accomplices have been put on
trial. However, those who masterminded the plot to kill him have yet
to be exposed and punished.
"I receive this award only to entrust it to my safekeeping. I would
gladly give this award right here to an honorable and courageous leader
who would reveal the real murderers of that crime. I hope for that day
will come," Altan said in his speech upon receiving the annual award.
Following the award ceremony Altan was asked by Today's Zaman if he
expects that that day will come soon, in the term of Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government.
"This was a unique murder. I think neither this government, nor any
others actually want to solve it. The reason for this is that almost
every part of the state was involved in the conspiracy to kill Hrant
Dink. In fact, the real murderers are known. Therefore, the government
goes after a lot of murders courageously but it stands in the shadows
in shameless cowardice when it comes to this. Do I have hope that
it will happen soon? I always have hope in Turkey -- a country of
miracles, and where very bad and good things can happen. His death
was a very bad thing, and when the real murderers are found, it will
be a good day. But, I don't exactly know when this will be. Even if
the government is not powerful enough to do it, the day will come,
and that day is not too far away," he responded
There are several court cases against Altan, for his writings in Taraf
daily, and Altan estimates he has faced up to roughly 100 years of
jail time. Altan is either loved or hated as his newspaper Taraf,
which has either been backed by pro-democracy supporters or accused
of being "singularly dedicated to bashing the military."
The award is presented to two people from inside and outside Turkey
"who work for a world free of discrimination, racism and violence,
take personal risks for their ideals, use the language of peace,
and by doing so, inspire and encourage others."
The other recipient of the award Cacho, who has written extensively in
the media on people trafficking, organized crime, drug trafficking,
gender violence and official corruption, said at the award ceremony
that she traveled around the world to reveal victims of violence and
abuse against women and children.
"This is one of the most serious problems of the 21st century,
trafficking of women and girls," she said. "These girls and
teenagers become sexual objects for sale. Our culture encourages
human objectification as an act of freedom."
Her books include "Bite the Heart" in 2005, "Memories of an Infamy"
in 2008 and "Slaves of Power" in 2010, based on interviews with girls
and women trafficked and forced into prostitution.
Currently a columnist for El Universal, the biggest daily in Mexico,
she conducts workshops assisting victims of human trafficking, but
following the publication of her 2005 book "The Demons of Eden,"
which exposed the powers behind child pornography in her country,
she was sued and imprisoned, and later released upon an offer of
political asylum from the UN Human Rights Council.
She said that she is honored to receive the award in the name of Dink.
"Thanks to him, many of us have gained a better understanding of a
need for further democratization in Turkey," she said. "I receive
this award; I salute his memory, his professionalism and his legacy
on freedom of expression and human rights all over the world."
At the opening of the ceremony, Dink's widow Rakel Dink said, "I
know that goodness over badness, light over darkness will prevail
and overcome lies."
Before the award ceremony, a music group from Van -- "Yerkir Union"
performed and was joined by Rojin, who sang songs in Kurdish, and
Yavuz Bingöl, who sang "Sarı Gelin" in both Turkish and Armenian.
The night ended traditionally with a bit of footage of Hrant Dink
tiptoeing back to stage to pick up the award he had forgotten at the
podium of another award ceremony in 2006 -- the Henri Nannen Awards --
which promotes freedom of the press and courage.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Today's Zaman
Sept 16 2011
Turkey
The International Hrant Dink Award has been presented for the
third time on Hrant Dink's birthday, Sept. 15, to Taraf daily's
Editor-in-Chief Ahmet Altan and Mexican journalist Lydia Cacho.
Receiving his award from journalist Hasan Cemal and writer Adalet
Agaoglu, who were both on the 2011 International Hrant Dink Award
Jury, Altan said that it was not such a joyous occasion to receive
an award named after someone who was murdered.
Dink was shot dead by an ultranationalist teenager outside the offices
of the Turkish-Armenian Agos newspaper in İstanbul in January 2007.
The investigation into his murder has stalled even though the
suspected perpetrator and his immediate accomplices have been put on
trial. However, those who masterminded the plot to kill him have yet
to be exposed and punished.
"I receive this award only to entrust it to my safekeeping. I would
gladly give this award right here to an honorable and courageous leader
who would reveal the real murderers of that crime. I hope for that day
will come," Altan said in his speech upon receiving the annual award.
Following the award ceremony Altan was asked by Today's Zaman if he
expects that that day will come soon, in the term of Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government.
"This was a unique murder. I think neither this government, nor any
others actually want to solve it. The reason for this is that almost
every part of the state was involved in the conspiracy to kill Hrant
Dink. In fact, the real murderers are known. Therefore, the government
goes after a lot of murders courageously but it stands in the shadows
in shameless cowardice when it comes to this. Do I have hope that
it will happen soon? I always have hope in Turkey -- a country of
miracles, and where very bad and good things can happen. His death
was a very bad thing, and when the real murderers are found, it will
be a good day. But, I don't exactly know when this will be. Even if
the government is not powerful enough to do it, the day will come,
and that day is not too far away," he responded
There are several court cases against Altan, for his writings in Taraf
daily, and Altan estimates he has faced up to roughly 100 years of
jail time. Altan is either loved or hated as his newspaper Taraf,
which has either been backed by pro-democracy supporters or accused
of being "singularly dedicated to bashing the military."
The award is presented to two people from inside and outside Turkey
"who work for a world free of discrimination, racism and violence,
take personal risks for their ideals, use the language of peace,
and by doing so, inspire and encourage others."
The other recipient of the award Cacho, who has written extensively in
the media on people trafficking, organized crime, drug trafficking,
gender violence and official corruption, said at the award ceremony
that she traveled around the world to reveal victims of violence and
abuse against women and children.
"This is one of the most serious problems of the 21st century,
trafficking of women and girls," she said. "These girls and
teenagers become sexual objects for sale. Our culture encourages
human objectification as an act of freedom."
Her books include "Bite the Heart" in 2005, "Memories of an Infamy"
in 2008 and "Slaves of Power" in 2010, based on interviews with girls
and women trafficked and forced into prostitution.
Currently a columnist for El Universal, the biggest daily in Mexico,
she conducts workshops assisting victims of human trafficking, but
following the publication of her 2005 book "The Demons of Eden,"
which exposed the powers behind child pornography in her country,
she was sued and imprisoned, and later released upon an offer of
political asylum from the UN Human Rights Council.
She said that she is honored to receive the award in the name of Dink.
"Thanks to him, many of us have gained a better understanding of a
need for further democratization in Turkey," she said. "I receive
this award; I salute his memory, his professionalism and his legacy
on freedom of expression and human rights all over the world."
At the opening of the ceremony, Dink's widow Rakel Dink said, "I
know that goodness over badness, light over darkness will prevail
and overcome lies."
Before the award ceremony, a music group from Van -- "Yerkir Union"
performed and was joined by Rojin, who sang songs in Kurdish, and
Yavuz Bingöl, who sang "Sarı Gelin" in both Turkish and Armenian.
The night ended traditionally with a bit of footage of Hrant Dink
tiptoeing back to stage to pick up the award he had forgotten at the
podium of another award ceremony in 2006 -- the Henri Nannen Awards --
which promotes freedom of the press and courage.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress