Save the Armenian Genocide Monument in Assen!
Rouben Malayan
We need help!
ACTION ALERT
SAVE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MEMORIAL
IN ASSEN - THE NETHERLANDS
Grey Wolves Threaten to Destroy the Monument
In the wake of and intense round of political pressure from Turkish
diplomats in the Netherlands, and fueled by growing anti-Armenian
rhetoric from the Turkish government, the "Grey Wolves," a Turkish
right-wing and racist organisation, has threatened to destroy an
Armenian Genocide memorial recently approved by the Assen municipality
in the Netherlands.
A group linked to the Grey Wolves demonstrated recently in front of the
Assen town hall, demanding that the municipal authorities rescind their
authorization for the construction of the memorial. The group announced
publicly, and for the record, that if the construction of the monument
goes forward that they will destroy the memorial upon its completion.
The February 18th issue of the newspaper De Drents Courant reported
that:
"Turks in Assen have threatened to destroy the Armenian stone crucifix
monument, once it is in place. The Turkish ambassador as stated that the
monument could damage the relationship between Turkey and the
Netherlands."
Apparently, under these threats of violence, the Assen municipality's
official responsible for city monuments has declared that the city had
authorized a monument commemorating Armenian deaths between 1910 and
1920, not necessarily a memorial indicating municipal recognition of the
Armenian Genocide.
The European Delegation of the Armenian National Committee urges all
organizations and individuals who stand for human rights and against the
denial of genocide to support the monument project in Assen.
Specifically, the ANC-EU urges these groups and human rights advocates
to write to Assen's Mayor, Mrs D. Van As Kleijwegt, and encourage her
not to give in to Turkish pressure and to ensure that the word
"GENOCIDE" remains on the memorial.
Send your messages to:
-Mrs D. Van As – Kleijwegt
Mayor of City
Postbus 30018
9400 RA ASSEN – The Netherlands
TEL. 31 592 366 911 FAX. 31 592 366 595
E-Mail : Assen_bi...@amazed.nl
- Mr G. J. EERLAND
City official in charge of monuments
KENNEMERLAND 1
9405 LA ASSEN – The Netherlands
TEL. 31 592 366 911 FAX. 31 592 366 595
E-Mail : Assen_bi...@amazed.nl
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Sample text:
Dear _____________:
I am writing to encourage you to take a stand against the denial of
crimes against humanity by ensuring that the Assen memorial clearly
identifies the crime of genocide committed against the Armenian people.
As a believer in human rights, I respectfully urge you to resist the
shameful efforts of the Turkish government to pressure your municipality
into denying the historical truth and the suffering of an ancient
nation.
I am sure that you agree that Turkey - which has among the world's worst
human rights records and imprisons more journalists than any other
country - is in no position to lecture either you or the good people of
Assen about human rights and tolerance.
Thank you for your consideration of my concerns.
NAME
ADDRESS