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LATAKIA NOT A SAFE PLACE - KESSAB ARMENIANS ON EVACUATION, LOOTING AND RAPES
16:31 * 27.03.14
Syria's Armenian-populated town of Kessab continues facing fierce
battles between government forces and the Islamist militants.
Though the Armenians have been evacuated to Latakia, the town is not
thought to be safe enough for the community. Speaking to Tert.am,
Avetis Manjikyan, a 49-year old restaurant owner from Kessab, shared
his concerns in this connection.
He referred to a soldier's recount of rapes against elderly women. "A
soldier who returned from Kessab today tells me that an elderly
[woman], aged probably 70-80, was stripped naked and raped. The
situation is very bad. They weren't able to repeat the 1915 massacre;
only looted and raped the elderly," he said.
Ninety-nine percent of Kessab's population was evacuated to Latakia
after the town came under three-pronged armed attacks on Friday. They
have found shelter in the city's Armenian church and the adjacent
buildings.
Though they feel protected in Latakia, the place isn't safe for them,
Manjikyan said.
"Three to four missiles fall down each day. Latakia is not a safe
place. Our people left only with the clothes they had on. Many were
without passports. Our Armenian youth of Kessab fought for three or
four hours to help us free the people," he added.
Manjikyan said they hear that the rebel groups from Turkey are now
stealing their property. He said he has reports that his restaurant
too, has been looted.
Asked whether they want to settle in Armenia, Manjikyan answered
that Kessab is a small Armenia for them. "Our Armenia is here. We
didn't know what the Turks were plotting against us. We thought the
Turks might have changed. We are part of Armenia, the last part of
the Cilician Armenia. Even our mayor here is an Armenian," he added.
Manjikyan said they are thankful to the Armenian authorities for the
attention to the community.
"We are very thankful to the president, so if they send a plane to
offer relief, it will be very good for us. The situation is not good
here," he said, noting that hundreds of people now live together in
a small church hall.
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2014/03/27/qesab1/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWL3_MoS3WU#t=47
16:31 * 27.03.14
Syria's Armenian-populated town of Kessab continues facing fierce
battles between government forces and the Islamist militants.
Though the Armenians have been evacuated to Latakia, the town is not
thought to be safe enough for the community. Speaking to Tert.am,
Avetis Manjikyan, a 49-year old restaurant owner from Kessab, shared
his concerns in this connection.
He referred to a soldier's recount of rapes against elderly women. "A
soldier who returned from Kessab today tells me that an elderly
[woman], aged probably 70-80, was stripped naked and raped. The
situation is very bad. They weren't able to repeat the 1915 massacre;
only looted and raped the elderly," he said.
Ninety-nine percent of Kessab's population was evacuated to Latakia
after the town came under three-pronged armed attacks on Friday. They
have found shelter in the city's Armenian church and the adjacent
buildings.
Though they feel protected in Latakia, the place isn't safe for them,
Manjikyan said.
"Three to four missiles fall down each day. Latakia is not a safe
place. Our people left only with the clothes they had on. Many were
without passports. Our Armenian youth of Kessab fought for three or
four hours to help us free the people," he added.
Manjikyan said they hear that the rebel groups from Turkey are now
stealing their property. He said he has reports that his restaurant
too, has been looted.
Asked whether they want to settle in Armenia, Manjikyan answered
that Kessab is a small Armenia for them. "Our Armenia is here. We
didn't know what the Turks were plotting against us. We thought the
Turks might have changed. We are part of Armenia, the last part of
the Cilician Armenia. Even our mayor here is an Armenian," he added.
Manjikyan said they are thankful to the Armenian authorities for the
attention to the community.
"We are very thankful to the president, so if they send a plane to
offer relief, it will be very good for us. The situation is not good
here," he said, noting that hundreds of people now live together in
a small church hall.
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2014/03/27/qesab1/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWL3_MoS3WU#t=47