Armenian protest changes PM's schedule
The Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) of Australia led a highly successful community protest at the Sydney appearance of visiting Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday morning, which led to the cancellation of a planned press conference to be attended by the parliamentary leader.
150 members of the community were in attendance to air their grievances of Turkey's continued denial of the 1915 Armenian Genocide committed by the government's predecessors.
AYF Public Affairs chairman Mr Haig Kayserian said: "It was Genocide. The Armenian Genocide. The first Genocide of the 20th century. 1.5 million Armenian civilians slaughtered, and 90% of their land taken. The land remains taken, and the lives remain unaccounted for."
"The time has come Mr Prime Minister of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan."
"The time has come for you to lead your Turkish government into belatedly and finally recognising the wrongdoings of your predecessors, and allow the healing for the Armenian people to begin."
The protestors, also including members of Sydney's Cypriot community, were loud, and parked outside the Sydney InterContinental Hotel, where Mr Erdogan and his delegation of three ministers, ten members of parliament and 60 businessmen were holding a business forum with Australian businesspeople.
The Australian-Armenian community members in attendance yelled chants for three hours; declaring:
"We want justice!"
"Recognise the Genocide!"
"1915: Never Again!"
"Get your hands, off our lands!"
"Turkey run, Turkey hide; Turkey's guilty of Genocide!"
Further, the protestors, via chants, banners and spokesman Mr Varant Meguerditchian declared the economic blockade on Armenia by Turkey is an undemocratic and financially crippling policy.
Mr Meguerditchian said: "We demand the immediate removal of Turkey’s crippling and damaging blockade that has forced many thousands of Armenians to leave their homeland in search of employment."
The enthusiastic but peaceful attendees held up Armenian flags, and banners reading:
"Armenian Genocide - 90 years of Turkish denial"
"Stop the destruction of Armenian monuments!"
"Eastern Turkey = Western Armenia"
"Armenia demands human rights!"
"Lift the blockade - Let us feed our children!"
Australian national media were also in attendance, with television networks Channel 9, ABC and SBS joining several newspapers and news agencies outside the hotel.
Mr Kayserian told the gathered media that the presence of the protestors, mainly students, proves that the Armenian Genocide will be recognised, as the nation's descendants in all countries will always fight and demand the closure the Cause warrants.
"The Armenian Genocide was Genocide; but it was far from a successful annihilation of a people," he said.
"Today, 90 years on, you, Mr Erdogan, visit Sydney, Australia, and encounter an Armenian community who collectively declares: We will never forget. We will never surrender. We want justice. We demand justice."
He added: "Today, you discuss business in a state, New South Wales, that has recognised the act of your predecessors in 1915 as the Armenian Genocide."
"Similar to France, Uruguay, many American states and other democratic countries and political institutions; most recently Poland and Sydney’s City of Ryde; we ask you to quit overlooking the facts and investing in your transparent denial machine."
"Embrace the truth. The time has come. Recognise the Armenian Genocide. We, the Australian-Armenian community in presence, today collectively demand you recognise the Armenian Genocide."
At the protest, approximately 50 members of the Australian-Turkish community were in attendance holding signs in their native language aimed at welcoming their Prime Minister. However, due to the presence of the Armenian protestors, Mr Erdogan's security led him into the hotel from a secret entrance, meaning the welcoming party could not catch a glimpse of their hero.
Further, following the business forum, Mr Erdogan was due to hold a press conference at Sydney's Lowy Centre, which he cancelled suddenly, and swapped with a visit to a mosque in Auburn.
An official quoted by the Australian Associated Press admitted "the change of schedule was kept from the media because of protest fears".
Further, Australia's News Limited press published an Agence France-Presse (AFP) story confirming "Australian officials said the mosque visit was kept secret due to the possibility of demonstrations".
AFP described the demonstration as a "peaceful protest" and quoted Mr Kayserian's reaction to the press conference cancellation: "The Turkish government has covered up the massacre of 1.5 million Armenians for 90 years and it doesn't want its appalling human rights record coming to light now because it knows Europe is watching."
Mr Erdogan was in Australia for trade talks, but following a letter from the Armenian National Committee to Australian Prime Minister John Howard and the AYF-led protest, the Turkish leader's publicity in the press was dominated by questions regarding his country's eligibility as a European Union member, as well as its horrible human rights record and censorship of free speech.
