"My conscience does not accept that we remain insensitive toward and deny the Great Catastrophe that the Ottoman Armenians were subjected in 1915, I reject this injustice, share in the feelings and pain of my Armenian brothers, and apologize to them." This text which is opened to the signatures of Turkish people which is signed by many intellectuals, journalists and officials started a huge discussion in Turkey.
But what was the reason for such a campaign to be started which is lead by a group of "intellectuals". Actually it hade a serious background. After the muder of Turkish Armenian Journalist Hrant Dink the there occured some action in Turkish Armenian relations. The thesis for apology to Armenians borned in those days. Armenians claimed that they were suffering for 100 years. A group of Armenian academics in Yerevan published a manifesto which was telling that Turkey should apologize to Armenians. This topic was supported by Armenian diaspora too. As these studies of Armenians were going on, the apology campaign initiative by a group of Turkish "intellectuals" evaluated as "moves of a projected plan". The rethoric of this initiative exceeds the boundaries of freedom of thought and it reflects the opinion of Armenian diaspora. The choose of 1915 and the term "Great Catastrophe" is also meaningful in this manner since these are used by Armenians since years.
Actually when we evaluate the events considering records of history there appears different results. Other than everything what was lived in 1915? The 155 people from Armenian leadership who were exiled before the deportation of Armenians had never returned? Is there any practice of the state against people who damaged Armenian convoys during deportation? The answers of these questions are interesting more than apology campaign is. Because historical records prove that the genocide is nothing more than an allegation.
Armenians claim that 1,5 million of Armenians slaughtered in 1915 who were living in the lands of Ottoman Empire. Of this idea was true, there should not be any Armenian living in the planet earth nowadays. Because according to the population census that is made by Ottomans in 1914 shows that the total population of Armenians are 1,25 million. The historical development of deportation event is like this; The atrocity of Armenian gangs in Anatolia puts Ottoman administration into a hard situation. Ottoman administration can't deal with Armenian gangs especially in Van, Mus and Bitlis, since they are in war. The massacres that are committed by Armenian gangs in Van, then spreads to all over of the country. Following these events Ottomans decides deportation of Armenians in 27 May 1915. According to the records of Ottoman archives the number of Armenians that are deported in one year was 438,000 people while 382,000 of them reached to the final destination. Although all of precautions, diseases and assaults causes many loses in the convoys. Many Armenians were out of the deportation law. As First World War finishes Ottoman administration prepares a new law for deported Armenians to be able to return their lands in 18 December 1918. According to official records 644,900 Armenians returns. This number seems more than the number of Armenians who were deported two years ago. But it is because some of the Armenians joined to those people who were already living in the deportation regions. But many Armenians immigrates to Caucasia, U.S., Russia and Europe during the deportation or just after it.
Ottomans arrests the people who assaulted the convoys of Armenians during the years of deportation and punishes them. Because of their activities against Armenians 1673 people were judged and 66 of them was sentenced to die.
As it is appearant Ottomans judges and punishes the people who harm Armenians during deportation. These process of judging continues 5 years. Ottomans show that the deportation was not a genocide and underscores that the responsible of bad acts were punished. Actually Ottomans apologizes for misfortune before 93 years.
Armenians claim that Armenian population in Erzurum, Bitlis, Diyarbakir, Sivas, Elazig and Van was bigger than muslim population before 1915. That is another allegation of Armenians which is used in genocide allegations. But historical records show that, in Van, which had biggest Armenian population, the Armeinan population was 67,792 according to the census of 1914. While the total population of the city was 259,141.
WHAT HAPPENED TO 155 ARMENIAN
According to the people who supports Armenian thesis, the practices of Ottoman empire before the deportation of Armenians is also meaningful. Most important example of it is about 155 Armenians (Actually the number is 235). More than that these people are from leadership. According to Armenians these people who are sent to Ayas over Cankiri were died there before they return. There are propagands to strengthen this thesis. More than that Armenian accept 24 April as the anniversary of "genocide". Because these people were exiled in 24 April. One of the Armenian that is exiled in 24 April is artist Komitas Vartabet who joined gang activities in Istanbul. Komitas was sent to Cankiri in 24 April, but was freed in 8 May and returned to Istanbul. This is also recorded in Ottoman archives. It is also in archive records that Komitas was sent to Paris by Halide Edip Adivar because he was sick. However Armenians claim that Komitas died in Cankiri. More than that they rised a monument for Komitas in France near the monument of so called genocide. Many Armenians return with Komitas from Cankiri, among them Puzant Kecyan, Yervant Tolayan, Vahran Torkomyan and Rafeal Karagozyan. As significant part of the 155 people returned some of them were hold under administrative restriction. Those are also in historical records.
OTTOMAN ARCHIVES IS OPEN TO ARMENIANS
Some Armenian historians claim that Ottoman archives are closed to Armenian researchers. Prime Ministry Ottoman archives are open to the researchers till 2004 without any limit. Most important evidence of it is the studies of Taner Akcam in Ottoman archives. Taner Akcam is a researcher who supports Armenian claims in the issue of genocide. Other than that Armenian researcher Dr. Aveg Avegyan also made researches in archives between 2004 and 2005. German researher Hilmar Kaiser stil studies in archives.
1831 CENSUS IS BEING OPEN TO RESEARCHS
Census of 1831 in Ottoman Empire is being opened to research. Armenians also curious about this record since they claim that the number of Armenians who were living in Anatolia were more. Documents are being repaired and they will be opened to research in 2009.
THE ONES WHO HARMED ARMENIANS DURING DEPORTATION WERE JUDGED
City / number
Amasya 2
Ankara 148
Bitlis 29
Canik 89
Diyarbakir 70
Eskisehir 29
Aleppo 56
Hudavendigar 21
Izmit 28
Karahisar-i sahip 6
Kayseri 146
Konya 16
Elazig 249
Nigde 8
Sivas 579
Syria 27
Urfa 170
Total judges 1673
Total people who sentenced to die 66
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