Armenian Genocide: Acknowledging Truth Is A Precondition For Justice And Liberation – TGTE

Eelam Tamils mourn Armenian victims: Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE)

On the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) honors the victims of the heinous crime and holds the hands of the Armenian people across the globe in the spirit of solidarity.
On April 24, 1915 the Ottomans rounded up a group of prominent Armenian individuals as a first step “in the first genocide of the 20th century” which resulted in the killing of more than 1.5 million people.

Though 100 years have passed it is regrettable that Turkey as a nation has not acknowledged the fact nor its own responsibility. As Pope Francis said “Concealing or denying evil is like allowing a wound to keep bleeding without bandaging it.”

On this day of remembrance of the centenary of the Armenian genocide, we note the parallels between it and the Tamil genocide that culminated in Mullivaaikkal in the island of Sri Lanka. In both instances, the ethnicity of the victims was at the root of the mass killings, and the perpetrators tried to justify the casualties as incidence of war; in both cases the perpetrators rationalized killing as a necessary measure to counter separatism; in both instances the groups were targeted due to their real/perceived disloyalty; in both instances genocide was perpetrated as “collective punishment on a mass scale” and in both instances the perpetrators accused the diaspora as hardliners mounting hatred campaigns.

We, Eelam Tamils, can also learn from the Armenian Diaspora. Due to the Armenian Diaspora’s firm conviction and tireless efforts, and in addition due to the work in many institutions, universities, counsels and media, more than 20 countries have recognized the atrocities committed against the Armenian people as an act of genocide. Last week the European Union passed a Resolution calling Turkey to recognize the mass killing as an act of genocide.

Today, we witness in the Eelam Tamil context an effort by some to label the mass killing of Eelam Tamils by any name other than genocide. The TGTE firmly believes that the recognition of the fact is an important element, not only to ensure justice to the victims but also to fashion the form of remedial justice to ensure that this shall never happen again.

The victims’ point of view must be given when characterizing any atrocity. As the New York Times once stated in its editorial, “International community cannot hide behind euphemisms. The reluctance to use the word ‘genocide’ because of the moral horror it carries and the intervention it demands, does not change realities on the ground.”

On this day, we join the Armenian people in their pursuit of justice and reclaiming of their ancient homeland. The colossal crime of genocide must be acknowledged for what it is, as truth is a precondition for justice and liberation.

http://world.einnews.com/pr_news/261849009/armenian-genocide-acknowledging-truth-is-a-precondition-for-justice-and-liberation-tgte