Friday 19 December 2008

Eilian Williams - UN GENOCIDE CONVENTION 60TH ANNIVERSARY

Dear Friends

These are two new EDMs in the House of Commons.(177 and 27) Could you please e-mail your MP (and other MPs if possible) asking them to sign them? You may find this tiring but it is the only avenue open to us at the moment to pressurise the government. There is a small mistake in the first one . It should have read "Lemkin was inspired " not "orgainiser Lemkin is inspired " of course, but this does not alter the thrust of the motion

Regards

Eilian

EDM 177
UN GENOCIDE CONVENTION 60TH ANNIVERSARY
08.12.2008


Spink, Bob

That this House notes that on 9 December, meetings in the House on the continuing persecution of minorities will mark the 60th anniversary of the UN Genocide Convention; further notes that organiser Raphael Lemkin is inspired by the genocide of Armenians and Assyrians in 1915, the subsequent massacre of Assyrians at the birth of modern Iraq, and his personal experience following the invasion of Poland; further notes that the Government has never consulted any reliable genocide scholars; and urges the Government to honour Raphael Lemkin's work by changing its untenable position of denial of the Armenian and Assyrian genocide.

Signatures( 13)
EDM 27
SAFETY OF MINORITY COMMUNITIES IN IRAQ
03.12.2008


Spink, Bob

That this House is concerned that the failure to honour promises made after the First World War to the Assyrians and Kurdish minority communities on autonomy, the creation of a centralised Iraq in 1932 without provision for the security of minorities, the recent war of 2003 which led to the rise of fundamentalism, and the ethnic cleansing of the Mandaeans and Assyrian-Chaldeo-Syriacs in Basra, Baghdad and Mosul, place a special responsibility on the Government to these minorities; calls on the Government to therefore take a sympathetic attitude to asylum claims from these minorities; and urges the Government to learn from past mistakes and to use its influence in a robust way on the government of Iraq to ensure the safety of the aforementioned minorities as well as of Yezidis, Faili Kurds and Shabaks, so that a dishonourable withdrawal from Iraq is avoided.

Signatures( 21)
----- Original Message -----
To: Erna BT
Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2008 12:06 PM
Subject: appeal

Wales-Armenia Solidarity Appeal to Help the Armenians of Iraq
Dear Friend
Today we launch a world-wide appeal to give financial and other help to the Armenians of Mosul and Baghdad who have had to flee for their lives (this last week following the killing of 15 Christians in Mosul and previously) . This follows my visit to the Armenian community of Havrest and Zeikho on Friday of last week and the Chaldean Church in Dohuk on Saturday.
On Thursday, I had visited the Municipality of Ankawa, an entirely Christian town just outside Erebil. It was there that the Head of the Municipality informed me of what had happened to Christians in Mosul the previous week. I met the KRG Foreign Minister and thanked him for the assistance given to fleeing Christians of the Arab-controlled Mosul city, and asked him to ensure their protection .
On Friday, in Zako, Father Miran Yousif Murad showed me around the Armenian Church, built in 1923 by Genocide Survivors and introduced me to several who had previously fled to Zakho from Mosul. He agreed to accept any money collected in Europe and America to help the local refugees from Mosul and from Baghdad.
He took me to a village called Havrest, built for the Armenians by the Kurdish Regional Government. With me was Jwan Taher Ahmed a journalist who represents the Dohuk Governate. About 60 local people came to meet us and we sat outside the school. When I asked what are the main problems, their spokesman replied that they are helping the refugees arriving this week by sharing them around people's homes. The refugees receive nothing, only the help of themselves for several weeks or months. Later they are given about 40 dollars per month by the Kurdish government, as well as enough diesel to run generators to provide electricity for 3 hours per day
Financial help for the new refugees would be most welcome, as well as help for two other problems. There are presently 9 children who need to travel to the High School in Dohuk. They would like 12,000 dollars to buy a van to carry them to school. I was impressed by their willingness to help others even though their own situation was not flourishing. Surely throughout the world we can raise
12, 000 dollars for the vehicle, and some more to help the newly arrived refugees? When I asked them do you receive help from Europe or America they said that they had no contacts there.
I was afterwards taken to the home of a family who showed us her two-year old daughter (more details, names etc will follow about them) She has two holes in her heart and when they lived in Baghdad, a German doctor was going to take her to Germany with a humanitarian organisation to have the required heart operation. Unfortunately the doctor fled Baghdad because of the terrorism and then they also fled, loosing the chance of this operation.
Can anyone please help by persuading the US, UK , French or Armenian government to provide a 6 month visa for the mother and daughter? Does anyone know of Humanitarian organisations who could help them? Can you put us in touch with every Armenian heart specialist that you know of? Father Miran will provide more details very soon.
On Saturday in Dohuk,I was taken by translator Kamal Hussain Mawlood to met the members of the Chaldean Syriac Assyrian Assembly, including Jameel Zaito, the chairman.They include all but one of the Christian political parties, and they confirmed the truth of the news of killings and flight of Christians from Mosul. I met a brave lady, Ms Basima Issa Salman, a Christian Member on the Niniveh Council, who had been threatened with assassination 13 times. She gave me copies of the letters which had been posted into the houses of Christians, ordering them to leave, and threatening to kill them in the name of Islam.
In the Dohuk Chaldean Catholic Church, over 60 people were given shelter. They came into a church room to recount their experiences.
Professor Samir Rahim began.. "The 6th of October passed quietly but on the 7th what hit us was like a volcano or a flood. Terrorists asked the people for their IDs and if they were found to be Christian they were killed. Assassinations had began on the streets. Two were ordinary building workers. A group of terrorists came and killed them . One of the victims was named Amjad. Assassinations were sporadic to start with and grew more intense . By Thursday the 9th, 14 had been killed. They attacked three families, kicked them out of their homes, stole their belongings and blasted their houses. In one house they came through the roof and slaughtered the whole family.People were now living in panic and terror. The terrorists said "We do not want Christians living amongst us. If you stay here we are going to kill you" The municipality for 10 days was as if it did not exist. On the 8th we fled for our lives to Kurdistan. The events happened in front of the local police with the assistance of the by police. The army did not interfere with the situation for 10 days. A total of over 2,000 families have fled. "
Ablahad Khoshaba Zaiya, a floor tile layer showed me where they were sleeping in the Church and said "I know nothing about my future . All I know is that now I live in the house of God We have no future at all here. I just want a safe place to raise my children". .There were 7 in his family .Gorgis Shamon Esho , Haitha Petros and Faleel Eskandar Istefo agreed with him.
An Armenian woman Mariam Sepan Sarkismeherian said that her family was originally from Dehe in Armenia, and had fled to Mosul after the 1915 genocide.Only her father survived from his whole family. They all said that they were too afraid to go back to Mosul. Even if things improve, the terrorists will always come back, because they want the "Christian infidels" to leave. Many of the people said that they would be willing to go to Europe if they were accepted.
I ask you to e-mail eilian@nantperis.wanadoo.co.uk if you can help in a financial or other way.
Details of the Wales-Armenia Solidarity bank account are as follows:Direct transfers could be made
HSBC Bank plc
Sort Code : 40-16-02
Account Number: 11578922
Account Name: BRAWDGARWCH CYMRU-ARMENIA
WALES-ARMENIA SOLIDARITY
Account Number for international transfers : GB64MIDL40160211568922
For anyone sending cheques the address is
Eilian Williams
Wales-Armenia Solidarity
7 Nant Ffynnon,
Nant Peris,
Gwynedd,
Wales,
LL55 4UG
United Kingdom
Cheques should be made out to Wales Armenia Solidarity. I will send all the money to father Miran. He will provide details of what vehicle is bought and will also give details of a spokesman for the village of Havrest.
----- Original Message -----
To: Erna BT
Sent: Tuesday, July 01, 2008 12:58 PM

Armenian Solidarity with the Victims of All Genocides
Tel: 07718982732
Centre of Halabja against the Anfalization of Kurdish People (C.H.A.K.)
Nor Serount Cultural Association
Seyfo Centre
A warm invitation to two imprtant meetings next week: We stress the importance of your attendance at these meetings.
1 On tuesday, 8th july at 2.00 p.m. in room P of Portcullis House (which houses the offices of Members of Parliament)
"Evidence from Kurdish sources on the 1915 Genocide"
in Room P of Portcullis House, (Westminster)Bridge St
(which houses the offices of Members of Parliament)
at 2.00 p.m. on tuesday, 8th july
The speakers: eminent Kurdish historian Prof Kamal Mazhar Ahmad
Kurdish writer Rebwar Fatah .
The meeting is sponsored and chaired by David Drew MP
Portcullis House is on Victoria Embankment/Bridge Street corner next to Westminster tube station(facing parliament)
If you are planning to attend, RSVP if possible to eilian@nant.wanadoo.co.uk asap
2
The Lausanne Treaty of 1923.
Were the Armenians , Assyrians and Kurds betrayed?
On wednesday, 9th july at 6.15 p.m.
in Room 3A of the House of Lords
Speakers:
Dr Kemal Miredali ( Kurdish writer)
Ms Soma Mallzada (Researcher for C.H.A.K.)
There will be the opportunity for questions and a discussion to consider the Treaty's validity in relation to these three nations which were not involved in its signing.
The meeting is sponsored and chaired by Lord Rea
RSVP if possible to eilian@nant.wanadoo.co.uk
Tel: 07718982732
----- Original Message -----
To: Erna BT
Sent: Friday, May 11, 2007 11:55 PM
Subject: Hello Erna. It would help if you could pass this onm to mthe West Midlands MPs. Please let me know if this is possible Regards Eilian

Press Release

Armenia Solidarity

British-Armenian All-Party Parliamentary Group

& Nor Serount Publications

Call for UK Recognition of the Armenian Genocide to further real Human Rights in Turkey

Turkish and Kurdish democrats and human rights activists called for change in British Policy on the Armenian Genocide to promote Human Rights Reform in Turkey. At the invitation of Armenia Solidarity, the British-Armenian All-Party Parliamentary Group & Nor Serount Publications on Wednesday, 2nd of May 2007, in the House of Lords, in the UK parliament, they addressed a meeting on British recognition of the Genocide of the Armenians to wider Human Rights issues in Turkey. The meeting was sponsored, chaired and moderated by the Rt Hon Baroness Park of Monmouth.

Ragip Zarakoglu, Turkish author, human rights activist and publisher, characterised Turkey as a 'security state' despite essentially cosmetic changes to some legislation. Notwithstanding changes in names of the courts, the same mindsets in the legal processes were delivering unchanged judgements contrary to the long-term interests of the people in Turkey and their progress towards democratisation.

Recognition of the Armenian Genocide and respect for the Kurds are two important steps that would facilitate real changes needed within the country. Denying the realities of history was the rallying point for ultra-nationalists who were encouraged by the silence of the USA and Britain. This reflected badly on the standing of these countries as it demonstrated double standards compared to the way they approached other human rights issues. The number of Islamists in Turkey was relatively low but the policies of other countries was making them more influential, for example by allowing to attack democrats. The paradox is that Europe is apprehensive of ultra-nationalists yet creates conditions for them to thrive.

Murat Aktas, the Kurdish journalist and political sociologist, referred to the deep-rooted long-standing attitudes in Turkish society that had to be confronted. There is a culture of xenophobia against non-Muslims including Christians and Alevis, and tendency to humiliate anyone not of Turkish origin. Hrant Dink's assassination and other extra-judicial killings gave the message that the ultra-nationalists can kill when they want to in pursuit of their objectives. This is not just a Turkish problem but one that involves all humanity.

According to British author Desmond Fernandes, British parliamentarians should be clear that denial of the Armenian Genocide by Turkey is linked to the repression of non-Turkish minorities. Britain could not continue with its current attitudes of facilitating denial in the face of the unequivocal statements of the International Association of Genocide Scholars, and persuading Turkey to move on this would lead to true democratisation and relief from the current state oppression. Britain has a special role because of its contemporaneous judgement that there had been crimes against humanity*.

* May 24, 1915 Joint Declaration of Entente/Allied Powers -- Russia, France & Great Britain:

"In view of these new crimes of Turkey against humanity and civilization, the Allied governments announce publicly…that they will hold personally responsible…all members of the Ottoman government and those of their agents who are implicated in such massacres."

Guerre 1914-1918, Turquie, 887. Armenie, 1, (May 26, 1915).

FO 371/2488/51010 (May 28, 1915).

Armenia Solidarity - Tel 07876 561398 or 07718 982732, eilian@nant.wanadoo.co.uk, eilian@nantperis.wanadoo.co.uk

British-Armenian All-Party Parliamentary Group - Tel 01494 816 757, baappg.bazil@btinternet.com

Nor Serount Publications - Tel 020 8997 1200, norserount@btconnect.com

Internal Virus Database is out-of-date.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 268.18.23/740 - Release Date: 30/03/2007 13:15
----- Original Message -----
To: Erna BT
Sent: Sunday, April 29, 2007 2:10 AM
Subject: invitation

Hello Erna, Can you pass thi on to your MP? Thanks
Eilian
Dear Friends
You are warmly invited to the meeting below in Committee room 4 of the House of Lords at 4.30 p.m. next wednesday 2nd of may.
.
I enclose a biography of Mr Zarakolu.
RSVP if possible (not essential)
Regards,,
Eilian Williams
Armenia Solidarity
British Armenian All Party Parliamentary Group
Nor Serount Publications
"Human Rights issues in Turkey:
A Liberal Turkish view on Armenian Genocide Recognition"
(and related issues)
Speakers:The well -known Turkish Publisher and Human Rights activist Ragip Zarakolu and Kurdish journalist Murat Aktas
at 4.30 p.m. on wednesday, 2nd of May
in Committee Room 4 in the House of Lords
The meeting is sponsored by Baroness Park of Monmouth
Biography: Ragip Zarakolu
Turkey: Ragip Zarakolu Professional background
The director and owner of Belge Publishing House, Ragip Zarakolu has been subject to a lifetime of harassment from the Turkish authorities. After graduating college in 1968, Zarakolu began writing for magazines such as Ant and Yeni Ufuklar, both of which focused on issues of social justice in Turkey. In 1971, a military government assumed power in Turkey and instituted a crackdown on writers it deemed subversive. Following a conviction and a three-year stay in prison, Zarakolu steadfastly refused to abandon his campaign for freedom of thought, striving for an "attitude of respect for different thoughts and cultures to become widespread in Turkey." Since his writings were repeatedly banned in Turkey for their criticism of the country's military regime, Zarakolu began to turn his attention to abuses of human rights by governments in South America and elsewhere.

In 1977, Zarakolu and his wife Ayse Nur founded the Belge Publishing House, which has been a focus for censorship since its inception. Its publications have not only drawn the government's ire. Zarakolu's office was firebombed by an extremist rightist group in 1995, forcing it to be housed in a cellar. Despite the death of his wife in 2002, Zarakolu has continued to publish writings critical of human rights violations around the world, especially in his native Turkey.

Case history
Zarakolu's staunch belief in freedom of expression, his vocal campaign against book bannings, and his persistence in publishing works that violate Turkey's repressive censorship laws have resulted in a catalog of indictments dating back to the early 1970s.

His aforementioned 1971 conviction and three-year imprisonment stemmed from accusations by Turkey's new military government that Zarakolu was in cahoots with an international communist organization. In the 30 years since his release, Zarakolu has continued to defy Turkey's censorship laws, especially Article 312 of Turkey's Penal Code, which outlaws "making divisive propaganda via publication." The Belge Publishing House operated under a barrage of charges brought by Turkish authorities against Zarakolu and his wife. Over the years, such charges resulted in further imprisonment for the couple, the wholesale confiscation and destruction of books, and the imposition of heavy fines. Zarakolu's wife passed away in 2002.

Current status
Ragip Zarakolu is currently being tried in two separate cases for publishing works deemed "insulting" to the Turkish government. Representatives from International PEN and the International Human Rights Federation were present for his most recent trial in Istanbul on June 21, 2006. At this trial, Zarakolu faced charges under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code for the publication of two books by George Jerjian and Professor Dora Sakayan, with a maximum possible jail sentence of 13.5 years.

George Jerjian's book, History Will Free Us All, which was considered "insulting" to the memory of Kemal Atatürk, suggested that close advisors to Atatürk were responsible for the mass deportation of Armenians in 1915. It has also been accused of "ridiculing the state," and its publication carries charges of up to seven and a half years in prison. In response to claims that "the court is trying a book which it has not read," a new experts' committee has been appointed to assess the offensiveness of History Will Free Us All. In the case regarding Professor Dora Sakayan's book, An Armenian Doctor in Turkey: Garabed Hatcherian: My Smyrna Ordeal of 1922, the prosecutor demanded a six-year prison sentence for Zarakolu for having "insulted the Army" and also "Turkishness" by publishing this book. Although Zarakolu invited an expert witness to speak in his defense at the trial, the court refused to hear him. Both cases were adjourned to June 21, 2006, then October 9, and have been now postponed again. A date has not been set.

The news that the trials against publisher Ragip Zarakolu will drag on for at least another four months following a prior two-month delay and eight previous trial dates has been met with increasing alarm that, far from improving, the state of free expression in Turkey is taking a steep downward curve.



----- Original Message -----
To: Erna BT
Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2007 11:21 PM
Subject: Re: 100 UK MPs recognise the Genocide

Armenia Solidarity

British-Armenian All-Party Parliamentary Group

Nor Serount Publications

You are warmly invited to the following events on

Armenian Genocide Day, the 24th April.

(see below) (please also forward this invitation to your MP)

Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide

  1. Leafleting at the gates of parliament (9.00 a.m. till noon)

  1. Remembrance at St Mary's-under-Croft Church, the House of Lords at 11.00 am

(until 11.20 am -- to attend this you must confirm by 13th April)

  1. Wreath-laying at the Monument to the Innocents outside Westminster Abbey

(with Darfuri representatives) - (12.00 noon till 12.15 pm)

  1. Major Presentation of evidence for the Armenian Genocide in the Grand Committee Room,

The House of Commons

at 4.00 pm, till 5.30 pm

Chaired by Lord Avebury

& sponsored by John Bercow M.P.

Followed by: Appeal to all MPs to support Early Day Motion 357 on the Genocide and the Formation of a Future Delegation to meet the Rt. Hon Geoff Hoon

  1. At 5.45 pm: Proceed together from the House of Commons to a Laying of a wreath at the Cenotaph,

at 6.00 pm

RSVP. We hope you can manage to attend at least one of these events.

Please reply to Eilian Williams, by email eilian@nant.wanadoo.co.uk or by telephone 07876 561 398, to the British-Armenian All-Party Parliamentary Group (baappg.bazil@btinternet.com) and the Nor Serount Publications (norserount@btconnect.com) if you are willing to help and to put your name down for the Remembrance at St Mary's-under-Croft Church (event number 2 above), the House of Lords at 11.00 am

One hundred MPs have now signed the motion recognising the Genocide.

(EDM number 357)

Please contact your MP and ask him /her to sign the motion!

(only few London/home counties MPs have signed!)

The only London MPs who have signed are A. Dismore (Hendon), J.Corbyn (Islington North), R. Vis (Finchley and Golders Green), J. Mcdonnell (Hayes & Harlington) V.Cable (Twickenham), D. Abbott (Hackney and Stoke Newington), M. Field (Cities of London & Westminster), H. Cohen (Leyton& Wanstead), J. Dowd (Lewisham West) L. Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green), P. Khabra (Ealing Southall), J. Austin (Erith & Thamesmead), L. Brown (W. Ham), Sarah Teather (Brent), and Ed Davey.

The only Home Counties MPs who have signed are John Bercow, Ann Main and Paul Burstow.

Some MPs who are government ministers etc do not sign. If this is the case for your MP please ask him/her to write to The Minister for Europe to ask him which experts he has consulted in deciding that there was "not enough evidence" for the Genocide.

----- Original Message -----
To: Erna BT
Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2007 11:52 PM
Subject: Fw: 100 UK MPs recognise the Genocide

----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2007 11:50 PM
Subject: 100 UK MPs recognise the Genocide

Press Release
Armenia Solidarity
Nor Serount Publications
British Armenian All-Party Parliamentary Group
c/o The Temple of Peace, Cathays Park, Cardiff
One Hundred Members of the UK Parliament Recognise the Genocide
A milestone on the road to Armenian Genocide recognition in the UK was passed today, when Ed Davey became the 100th MP( Member of Parliament) in the House of Commons, London, to sign a Motion recognising the Armenian Genocide. The motion is called "Early Day Motion 357 and was put by Bob Spink MP in december.
There are over a thousand motions in the House of Commons at this time but this is the only motion opposed to government policy which has accumulated 100 names. Also, of the motions on international issues, only motions on Burma, Zimbabwe and Darfur have gained more signatures.This shows that the Genocide issue is a high priority amongst MPs, and we look forward a possible vote on the issue in the late autumn in response to the activity of our supporting parliamentarians.We are convinced that a vote in the House of Commons on the issue would be won.
Of the signatories, nearly two thirds of eligible Welsh MPs have signed showing the usual strength of feeling in Wales on the issue. The majority of Liberal Democrat MPs have also signed including their Foreign Affairs and Defence Spokesmen.
The motion will run until november so there is still plenty of scope for the number to increase substantially if more UK Armenians and their friends assist in the lobbying.
We appeal to all Armenians to put aside your political differences or your reticence to become involved in politics and assist us in this campaign. The wording of the motion is shown below
EDM 357
ARMENIA
29.11.2006


Spink, Bob

That this House believes that the killing of over a million Armenians in 1915 was an act of genocide; calls upon the UK Government to recognise it as such; and believes that it would be in Turkey's long-term interests to do the same.

Signatures( 100)

Status


Spink, Bob
Campbell, Gregory
Dismore, Andrew
Meale, Alan
Caton, Martin
George, Andrew
Lepper, David
Drew, David
Holmes, Paul
Marris, Rob
Corbyn, Jeremy
Etherington, Bill
Wareing, Robert N
Austin, Ian
McCrea, Dr William
Cryer, Ann
Williams, Hywel
Williams, Stephen
Donaldson, Jeffrey
Vis, Rudi
McDonnell, Alasdair
McDonnell, John
Bercow, John
Wilson, Sammy
Hemming, John
Simpson, Alan
Cable, Vincent
Turner, Desmond
Illsley, Eric
Abbott, Diane
Williams, Roger
Connarty, Michael
Gummer, John
Swinson, Jo
Keetch, Paul
Engel, Natascha
Morgan, Julie
Davies, Dai
James, Sian C
Harvey, Nick
Jackson, Stewart
Hopkins, Kelvin
Mullin, Chris
Williams, Betty
Griffith, Nia
Amess, David
Leech, John
Llwyd, Elfyn
Francis, Hywel
Field, Mark
Price, Adam
Hunter, Mark
Flynn, Paul
Chaytor, David
Cohen, Harry
Field, Frank
Oaten, Mark
Wyatt, Derek
Willis, Phil
Russell, Bob
Jones, Lynne
Mates, Michael
Dowd, Jim
Bottomley, Peter
McGrady, Eddie
Clark, Katy
Featherstone, Lynne
Baker, Norman
Horwood, Martin
Gidley, Sandra
Hancock, Mike
Tami, Mark
Harris, Evan
Khabra, Piara S
Clegg, Nick
Barrett, John
Austin, John
Main, Anne
Clarke, Tom
Dean, Janet
Havard, Dai
Brown, Lyn
Goodman, Helen
Rogerson, Daniel
Burstow, Paul
Moore, Michael
Howarth, David
Morden, Jessica
Foster, Don
Galloway, George
Pugh, John
Betts, Clive
Williams, Mark
Lamb, Norman
Bryant, Chris
Teather, Sarah
Ennis, Jeff
Riordan, Linda
Clapham, Michael
Davey, Edward

Posted by Seta at 00:36

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