Friday, 4/25/97 Armenians hope to educate, ensure remembrance
March of silence across campus honors millions who died 80 years
ago
By Hector Ronquillo Daily Bruin Contributor Commemorating the
Armenian Genocide Thursday, approximately 150 students, faculty and
staff silently marched across campus to honor and remember the 1.5
million Armenians they believe were killed between 1915 and 1923.
In observance of this grim period in history, the Armenian Student
Association (ASA) is hosting a series of events aimed at educating
the public about the often forgotten plight of their ancestors. ASA
is also working to ensure that the genocide is not labeled false,
as the Turkish government has contested, said first-year political
science student Armine Chaparyan. "These issues should be important
to every living person," said Glendale Mayor Larry Zarian at a
rally Thursday afternoon at Perloff Quad. "Is it too much to ask
(the Turkish government) to tell the truth?" Zarian also challenged
all Armenians to engage themselves in a war of words through
letters urging the U.S. Congress to place a strong emphasis on the
horrifying events that took place in 1915 in the hope that history
will not repeat itself. But it’s a history that is not without
dispute, since members of the Turkish community feel that what
Armenians term as a genocide was actually a bloody rebellion
against the Ottoman government. "It’s premature to term any event a
genocide without knowing all the facts from both sides," said Ahmet
Faralyali, vice president of the Turkish Students Association. "The
proven facts seem to clearly lead to one conclusion – it was a
rebellion that led to an unfortunate war for all involved."
According to many Turks, to term the war between the Armenians and
the Ottoman Empire a genocide is a distortion of historical fact.
"Accurate numbers don’t exist in terms of how many people died, and
it is still a debated issue among historians. But there is a fact
that many, many Turkish people died in the same manner," Faralyali
said. On Thursday, the anniversary of the beginning of the
conflict, ASA held a silent march where all participants wore black
as a sign of respect for those who perished. "(April 24) is more
than a day of mourning – it is also a day of celebration of
survival," said fourth-year art history and psychology student
Ramela Grioprian, speaking of those who were fortunate enough to
escape. The march was led by 4-year-old Housep Ouzounian, who
proudly carried the Armenian flag, symbolizing the survival of the
Armenian people. Those who participated in the silent march hoped
to pass on this important story to a generation ready to take up
the struggle to make the Turkish government recognize the genocide.
"(In the Armenian Genocide) 1.5 million people were murdered almost
overnight," said fourth-year English student Tony Petrossian.
"Silence is the only language that can describe such a horrid act,"
he added. ASA also hoped to inform march participants of the threat
of another Armenian genocide in the Republic of Nagorno Karabagh.
"Once again the Armenians are in danger of annihilation," said Lena
Kaimian, a UCLA alumna and assistant director of the Armenian
Assembly of America. After years of dispute and violent riots
between the former Soviet republics of Azerbaijan and Armenia, the
Azerbaijani government is threatening to take back land from the
Armenians by any means necessary – including genocide, Kaimian
added. In past years, the United States, France and Russia have
acted as mediators between the two countries in hopes that a
peaceful resolution could be reached, but to no avail. The United
States has taken a biased position because of the rich oil
resources of Azerbaijan, from which the United States greatly
benefits, said fifth-year biology and anthropology student Sarah
Ter-Minasyan. Hoping to shed some light on the historical
significance of the genocide and raise the public’s consciousness
of the current crisis, the Armenian Assembly of America and student
organizations are proposing resolutions to national, state and
student governments to designate April 24 as a day of remembrance.
Last Tuesday, the Undergraduate Students Association Council (USAC)
unanimously passed the resolution, adding UCLA to the list of
supporters of the measure along with other area colleges and
governments. "Being a diverse campus, we (USAC) understand the need
to display the history, both good and bad, of the different
communities here on campus." said Eric Shaw, a fourth- year
developmental studies student and council facilities commissioner.
"We must show man’s inhumanity towards man and through education
ensure that it does not happen in the future," Shaw added. The
resolution, titled "Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the
Armenian Genocide of 1915 – 1923," seeks to educate the public
about the genocide. It also encourages organizations and
individuals to pressure the United States government to act as an
unbiased mediator in the peace negotiations between the Armenians
and Azerbaijan. "Armenians worldwide do not want to see their
brethren crucified on a cross of oil," Kaimian said. "We just want
peace and stability for all countries. However, we will never be
victims of mass killings again." Wednesday afternoon, a series of
chilling prints titled "Witness To Genocide" was presented in
Kerckhoff Art Gallery. The exhibit depicted the cruel realities of
the mass killings and the true stories behind the victims in the
photographs. Thursday’s rally also featured a presentation by Dr.
Douglas Haig, a survivor of the Armenian Genocide and author of a
book exposing the story of the massacre using his mother’s diary,
written memoirs of his older brother and his own experiences. "I
want to make sure the story of the Armenian Genocide does not die
when I do," Haig said. GENEVIEVE LIANG/Daily Bruin Hovsep
Ouzounian, 4, joins a campus march dedicated to the remembrance of
victims of the Armenian genocide in1915-1923. JUSTIN WARREN/Daily
Bruin Genocide survivor Haig Baronian (left) listens to a speaker
at Wednesday night’s candlelight vigil at Drake Stadium. United
Nations