Protesting South Australian Parliamentarians!!!

Guney Avustralya parlamenterleri David Ridgway ile Bernard Finnigan'a Mr Halit SINDI (Australian-Turkish Community Network Group) tarafindan gonderilen mektup:

=================================================================================================== Dear Mr. David Ridgway,

In relation to the matter described below, please find enclosed with this letter a copy of the Documentary DVD entitled "The Armenian Revolt", for your perusal and reference. As an Australian of Turkish origin, I cannot help expressing my deepest sadness at the genocide motion that recently passed by the members of the South Australian Parliament. This decision greatly upset us and caused a major devastation within our community.

Turkish Australians are honourable and hardworking people. We have contributed lot to Australian economy and culture. We have always been loyal to this beautiful country and its values. We do not deserve to be treated as second class citizens. We deserve a respect, just like all the other ethnic groups in Australia.

Armenian community characterizes the inter-communal warfare between Armenians and Turks during collapse of the Ottoman Empire as "genocide. This issue touches us deeply on a personal level because our families -Turkish Muslim families- faced starvation during that time when Armenians were conspiring with British, French, Greek, and Russian invaders to wipe out the Turkish state. Historian Justin McCarthy in his book "Muslims and Minorities: The Population of Ottoman Anatolia and the End of the Empire" estimates that over 2.5 million Muslims were killed during this time frame, and Ottoman Archives document over 500,000 Turkish deaths at the hands of Armenians alone .

This genocide motion is a deliberate insult to 2.5 million Turkish dead (over half million of them at the hands of Armenian militias) during WWI as well as to more than 70 innocent victims of Armenian terrorism in our midst since 1973. One of these terrorist attacks took place in Australia on 17 December 1980 when Turkey's Consul General of Sydney Mr. Sarik ARIYAK and his security guard Mr. Engin SEVER were murdered. The Justice Commandos of the Armenian Genocide (JCAG) was responsible for this terrorist act. This vicious and cowardly act considered being as one of the most significant terrorist events in the history of Australia by the ASIO.

While we do not wish to minimize Armenian suffering during WWI, we also feel that Turkish suffering at the hands of Armenians must also be honoured, if values like truth, honesty, and fairness are to be cherished.

It was a terrible human tragedy that victimized all the people of the area, without discriminating on the basis of ethnicity or religion. Just like Armenians, almost every Turkish family had lost loved ones in that terrible war. The hurt is painful enough without politicians fanning the flames of hatred with such unfair genocide motions.

Australia and Republic of Turkey formed an excellent relationship over the years. Politicians should be cautious about damaging this sincere relationship.

For the sake of peace and harmony in this beautiful country, I strongly urge you to retract this genocide motion immediately and save this valuable friendship between Australian and Turkish nations.

Yours Sincerely,
Mr Halit SINDI Australian-Turkish Community Network Group