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CanWest News Service, Canada
August 26, 2012 Sunday 09:01 PM EST
Fallen Turkish diplomat honoured at memorial; Killing of Altikat in
1982 remains unsolved
by: alicja siekierska, Ottawa Citizen
Dozens of Turkish-Canadians, diplomats and friends gathered on the
grass by the intersection at Island Park Drive and the Sir John A.
Macdonald Parkway on Sunday to commemorate a solemn day in Ottawa's
history.
It was near that very location, 30 years ago, that Turkish military
attaché Col. Atilla Altikat, 45, was assassinated, becoming the first
victim of international terrorism on Canadian soil.
On Aug. 27, 1982, Altikat was driving to the Turkish Embassy. While
his car was stopped at a red light by Island Park Drive, a man
casually walked over to the passenger side of the vehicle and shot him
10 times before running away.
A terrorist organization called the Justice Commandos of the Armenian
Genocide (JCAG) claimed responsibility for the attack.
Just one week before Altikat was murdered, former Canadian diplomat
Paul Heinbecker spent the day with him and his family. Heinbecker
called Altikat was a smart man who had a promising future in
diplomacy.
"It was a terrible shock," said Heinbecker, who attended Sunday's event.
"Every time that I pass by this corner, my heart is heavy and I feel
sad," said Zahide Sezerman, the president of the Council of Turkish
Canadians.
Most of the people in attendance Sunday had photos of Altikat pinned
over their hearts. A moment of silence was observed.
Sunday's memorial was about more than commemorating the life of Altikat, though.
Today, many Turkish-Canadians are calling on the Canadian government
to give justice to all Turkish-Canadians and find the person or people
responsible for the killing.
"No one has been brought to justice," said Huseyin Nurgel, president
of the Federation of Canadian Turkish Associations. "We want justice.
This was a criminal, terrorist activity that cannot be tolerated in
Canada. Something needs to be done."
The JCAG was an organization that operated between 1973 and 1986 and
sought revenge for what it said was genocide of the Armenian people by
the former Ottoman Empire during the First World War.
In 2004, the Liberal government officially recognized the Armenian
genocide, and Parliament passed a resolution denouncing the Turks for
committing genocide against Armenians in 1915.
It was a decision that still does not sit well with many
Turkish-Canadians, given that Altikat's killer was never apprehended,
said one of the memorial's organizers, Ozay Mehmet.
"There is a miscarriage of justice involving the case of a Turkish
diplomat here," Mehmet said. "The perpetrators are still at large. We
hope and pray that by finally catching those responsible, Altikat's
memory is cherished for peace and reconciliation."
The memorial was concluded just a few steps from a monument under
construction that is meant to honour fallen diplomats, and Altikat in
particular.
Nurgel said he expected the monument to be revealed by the National
Capital Commission and Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird at the end
of September. The recognition by the federal government of what
happened 30 years ago was something Turkish-Canadians would
appreciate, he said.
However, Nurgel and others continue to hope that Canada will find
those responsible for the killing of Altikat.
"We are probably the most successful country in the world at
integrating foreigners and protecting human rights," Heinbecker said.
"But we cannot allow this kind of cancer of terrorism to eat away at
what we have accomplished."
August 26, 2012 Sunday 09:01 PM EST
Fallen Turkish diplomat honoured at memorial; Killing of Altikat in
1982 remains unsolved
by: alicja siekierska, Ottawa Citizen
Dozens of Turkish-Canadians, diplomats and friends gathered on the
grass by the intersection at Island Park Drive and the Sir John A.
Macdonald Parkway on Sunday to commemorate a solemn day in Ottawa's
history.
It was near that very location, 30 years ago, that Turkish military
attaché Col. Atilla Altikat, 45, was assassinated, becoming the first
victim of international terrorism on Canadian soil.
On Aug. 27, 1982, Altikat was driving to the Turkish Embassy. While
his car was stopped at a red light by Island Park Drive, a man
casually walked over to the passenger side of the vehicle and shot him
10 times before running away.
A terrorist organization called the Justice Commandos of the Armenian
Genocide (JCAG) claimed responsibility for the attack.
Just one week before Altikat was murdered, former Canadian diplomat
Paul Heinbecker spent the day with him and his family. Heinbecker
called Altikat was a smart man who had a promising future in
diplomacy.
"It was a terrible shock," said Heinbecker, who attended Sunday's event.
"Every time that I pass by this corner, my heart is heavy and I feel
sad," said Zahide Sezerman, the president of the Council of Turkish
Canadians.
Most of the people in attendance Sunday had photos of Altikat pinned
over their hearts. A moment of silence was observed.
Sunday's memorial was about more than commemorating the life of Altikat, though.
Today, many Turkish-Canadians are calling on the Canadian government
to give justice to all Turkish-Canadians and find the person or people
responsible for the killing.
"No one has been brought to justice," said Huseyin Nurgel, president
of the Federation of Canadian Turkish Associations. "We want justice.
This was a criminal, terrorist activity that cannot be tolerated in
Canada. Something needs to be done."
The JCAG was an organization that operated between 1973 and 1986 and
sought revenge for what it said was genocide of the Armenian people by
the former Ottoman Empire during the First World War.
In 2004, the Liberal government officially recognized the Armenian
genocide, and Parliament passed a resolution denouncing the Turks for
committing genocide against Armenians in 1915.
It was a decision that still does not sit well with many
Turkish-Canadians, given that Altikat's killer was never apprehended,
said one of the memorial's organizers, Ozay Mehmet.
"There is a miscarriage of justice involving the case of a Turkish
diplomat here," Mehmet said. "The perpetrators are still at large. We
hope and pray that by finally catching those responsible, Altikat's
memory is cherished for peace and reconciliation."
The memorial was concluded just a few steps from a monument under
construction that is meant to honour fallen diplomats, and Altikat in
particular.
Nurgel said he expected the monument to be revealed by the National
Capital Commission and Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird at the end
of September. The recognition by the federal government of what
happened 30 years ago was something Turkish-Canadians would
appreciate, he said.
However, Nurgel and others continue to hope that Canada will find
those responsible for the killing of Altikat.
"We are probably the most successful country in the world at
integrating foreigners and protecting human rights," Heinbecker said.
"But we cannot allow this kind of cancer of terrorism to eat away at
what we have accomplished."