AUA Conference on

Assyrian Martyrs and Genocide

Remembrance Day - 7 August

By Hermiz Shahen

Member: Unrepresented Nations & Peoples Organization (UNPO)

MEDIA RELEASE

Sydney – 7 August 2008

The Parliament House of New South Wales this evening hosted a seminar commemorating Assyrian Martyrs and Genocide Day. The seminar was organised by the Assyrian Universal Alliance-Australian Chapter in cooperation with the Australian Institute for Holocaust and Genocide Studies (AIHGS) and hosted by the Hon. David Clarke MLC. Representatives of the Armenian, Greek and Assyrian organisations were present.

Mr Hermiz Shahen, Secretary of the

Australian Chapter of Assyrian Universal Alliance

The seventh of August is the day when Assyrians around the world commemorate their Martyrs and Genocide victims. The Assyrian Universal Alliance has designated 7th of August as the Memorial Day for victims of the Assyrian Genocide, who were slaughtered by the Ottoman Turkish army during and after World War One because of their ethnicity and faith. On this day Assyrian also remember those who were cruelly martyred by the Iraqi Army in August 1933, only a year after Iraq declared its independence.

His Grace Bishop Mar Meelis Zaia AM

The seminar started with a welcoming speech by Mr. Hermiz Shahen, the Secretary of the Assyrian Universal Alliance in Australia, who called for support to the Assyrian resolution addressed by the Alliance to the State Parliament of NSW. He was followed by an address of His Grace Mar Meelis Zaia, Bishop of the holly Apostolic Assyrian Church of the East Diocese of Australia and New Zealand. His Grace spoke extensively about the term of the genocide, its legal definition and the serious side-effects on the population when genocide occurs within any nations. His Grace was followed by remarkable speeches; of Senator the Hon. Helen Coonan, who gave total support to the recognition of the Assyrian genocide. The Hon. David Clarke MLC, who stated that he will table the Assyrian resolution on the first day seating of the New South Wales Parliament. Followed by Senator the Hon. Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, which in turn declared her total support for the resolution.  Mr. Ninos Khoshaba State MP.  delivered a great speech touching the tragedy that faced our nation during this genocide. Followed by a supportive message by Mrs. Louise Markus MP and Rev the Hon Fred Nile MLC, who said that he would be the first to support this resolution when tabled in Parliament.

Senator Helen Coonan	Hon. David Clarke MLC	Hon. Louise Markus
Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells	Hon. Ninos Khoshaba	Hon. Rev. Fed Nile MLC

The international speaker was Mr. Sabri Atman, the Swedish-based Director of the Assyrian Seyfo (Genocide) Centre. His paper addressed the events and consequences of the Assyrian Genocide (1915and onward) in a nationalistic spirit and great enthusiasm. Mr. Atman hope’s that Australia will be the first country to recognise the Assyrian genocide. He was followed by Dr. Panayiotis Diamadis, Director, of the Australian Institute for Holocaust and Genocide Studies. He spoke about the roles of Australians in the Assyrian Genocide. Dr Diamadis, brought out the story of the Australian servicemen who rescued an estimated 40,000 Assyrians and Armenians in 1918. The final speaker was Dr. Racho Donef, a Sydney-based Assyrian Genocide scholar. His paper focussed on the documentation of the Assyrian Genocide and how the Turks had pre organised systematic assault by preparing Special Forces to carry out these massacres.

AUA Award Recipients (L-R):

Dr Panayiotia Diamadis, Dr. Racho Donef, Mr Sabri Atman

The Assyrians are the indigenous people of northern Iraq and south-east Turkey. They fell victim to the same plan for the elimination of non-Muslims that massacred hundred of thousands of Armenians and Greeks, as it was illustrated in the papers of the three above speakers. The plan of massacre was organised and executed by the Turkish authorities.

The Assyrian settlement in Australia dates back to the 1800s. From its early days it, was the persecution in the Middle East that forced them out of their homeland. For decades, Australia has provided refuge for Assyrians fleeing persecution. Assyrians are concentrated in the Fairfield district of Sydney’s south-west. Assyrian Australians have contributed greatly to the development of this Multi cultural and prosperous country. The great pity is that: the persecution of Christians is continuing to this day, especially in Iraq.

The seminar closed with a vote inviting international institutions (political, humanitarian and cultural) to follow the lead of the International Association of Genocide Scholars to pressure Turkey to acknowledge and apologise for the genocide committed against the Assyrians.

For further information, contact Hermiz Shahen, Secretary, Assyrian Universal Alliance - Australian Chapter on 0407 235 349.

PO Box 34, Fairfield NSW 1860 Australia.

E-mail: auaaustralia@optusnet.com.au

AUA Journal:

http://www.aua.net/media/publications/AUA_GenocideNewsletter2008.pdf

AUA Web-site:

http://www.aua.net

Posted: 15/08/2008