Thirty years ago today, July 27 1983, five young Armenians (ages 19, 20, 21) stormed the Turkish embassy in Lisbon, Portuguese. By sacrificing their lives they wanted to elevate the awareness of Armenian Genocide by Turkish government. Although I don't approve any terrorist attack, but I'd like to bring to my readers attention a slice of history. During the attack the five Armenians along a diplomat's wife and a police officer lost their lives.
In a note delivered to the news media during the takeover, the Armenian Revolutionary Army (as they called themselves) said: `We have decided to blow up this building and remain under the collapse. This is not a suicide nor an expression of insanity, but rather our sacrifice to the altar of freedom.' The note also said that they had resorted to armed struggle because peaceful means for the `pursuit of our just cause' had failed.'
The five Armenians who are known as "Lisbon 5" elevated the awareness and the demands of the Armenians. The Armenian Genocide is referred to the systematic massacre and forced deportation of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire 1915-1923. At the time of the Lisbon attack the international community had turned a deaf ear to the Armenian Cause. Today, after 30 years, the government of 21 countries, including Russia, France as well as 43 states of the United States of America have recognized the massacres as "genocide." Turkey and Azerbaijan still deny the Armenian Genocide.
The above picture is the commemoration of Lisbon 5 in Lebanon at the eve of thirty years of the Turkish embassy attack
I think it is understandable that the five Armenian people wanted to elevate the memory especially in a time where Europe want to align political systems so that peace will be stable.
ReplyDeleteHowever I would hope that the Armenian societies around the world would choose another way, other groups and other heroes to worship and commemorate.