OP-ED: BREADCRUMBS TO NOWHERE
By Lorky Libaridian and Edgar Martirosyan
ianyan Magazine
Jan 31 2012
The recent passage of the French bill criminalizing genocide denial in
France has caused massive rejoicing across the Armenian nation both at
home and abroad. While the emotional reaction of Armenian communities
is understandable given Turkey’s continued state-sponsored decades
long revisionist policies, sadly, there is nothing tangible here
to rejoice. If anything, the Armenian Nation has yet again become a
thankful tool of foreign powers, and while there is an abundance of
appreciation towards Sarkozy and France, what exactly do we have to
be thankful for?
The law itself is fundamentally flawed insofar as it aims to undermine
a most basic tenet of democracy, will likely hamper the issue of
Genocide recognition as opposed to facilitating it, and is merely being
employed by France to address its own narrow self-serving political
ends. On its face, the purpose of the proposed law is to deter and
punish those who deny the historical fact of genocides, including
the Armenian genocide, and in doing so defend the moral interests and
honor of the victims. Sarkozy stated something similar to the latter
in his January 20th letter to Erdogan, writing that the intent of the
bill is to heal wounds and protect the memories of victims. In short,
the law, as its proponents would argue, helps restore “justice.”
But how, exactly, does it do that?
If anything, France’s passage of the genocide denial bill is nothing
more than a resounding endorsement of Turkey’s own notorious Penal
Code 301. Similar to that code, the French law paints in broad brush
strokes and does little to distinguish between a form of denial that
has an element of hate speech (which is the intended purpose of EU
framework decision 2008/913/JHA), and language that is purely denial
without the added quality of hateful or racist sentiments.
Over the past couple of decades there have been an increasing number
of meetings and conferences between Armenian and Turkish academics and
members of civil society seeking to openly discuss their mutual past.
Numerous Turkish scholars now openly accept that massive “atrocities”
took place in the waning days of the Ottoman Empire, with a growing
number of Turkish intellectuals calling it genocide. Though in its
infancy, a movement is now noticeable within Turkey itself towards
eventual recognition and reconciliation; this is occurring within a
larger democratic movement within the country. Laws dictating what can
and cannot be said stifle and run contrary to the basic principles
of open forum and thought, and can arguably erode the progress made
by Turkish civil society as a whole by causing each side to hold on
more tightly to its “truth.” Such a bill has the potential to make
denial itself a patriotic, nationalistic act, moving us further away
from the discourse which has slowly but surely blossomed.
Sarkozy and France have their own political and socio-economic reasons
for passing this bill at this time. Moreover, France’s seemingly
gracious and honorable bill will now be used as political clout
for years to come when Armenian issues are raised. The favor, as it
were, has been called in; France is now considered the great friend
of Armenians. It will be harder now than ever to push France in its
myriad of councils and unions – from PACE to the EU to the UN which
make decisions regarding the Republic of Armenia – to help promote
democracy and justice within Armenia, because, well, the favor has
already been called in.
But it is these issues – democracy and justice – which are most
important to both the Republic of Armenia and the Armenian nation
today. What is the effect of such a bill in France, or say even all
of the countries of the world, if Armenia is neither safe nor secure?
One of the greatest problems facing Armenia’s viability today is the
massive emigration it is experiencing due to a myriad of reasons,
including political, economic, and social inequalities and upheavals.
Of course, France is entirely silent on those issues. Thus, France’s
genocide denial bill is nothing more than crumbs thrown to a struggling
people. We must stop feeding off such crumbs, and demand our rightful
place at the table.
In the end, nothing can bring back the 1.5 million souls that were
lost during the Armenian Genocide. What then, does healing entail?
Recognition by Turkey, and the world? What would best allow us to
honor and memorialize the victims of the Genocide? First, various
organizations and countries must stop using these crimes of humanity
as mere chess pieces in their own political and economic games.
Second, to bring about a world where such atrocities cannot and do not
take place, a more ethical, open and responsible world. And finally,
to have, in spite of our history and all which comes with it, a free,
strong and independent Armenia.
Yet nothing close to any of these will result from the French bill.
Instead, those who question and challenge aloud will be deemed
criminals. As much as this pains those of us who are descendants of
the victims of 1915, we must be able to look beyond that pain and
seek justice not by imposing restrictions similar to those forced upon
our ancestors 97 years ago, but by making sure such restrictions are
never again imposed on others, Turks or otherwise.
Edgar Martirosyan is a practicing Attorney in Los Angeles, California.
Edgar received his B.A. in Political Science from UCLA, and his Juris
Doctor degree from UCLA School of Law. He is a Fellow with Policy Forum
Armenia, and a member of the Board of Directors of ARPA Institute.
Lorky Libaridian is a practicing Physician in San Francisco,
California. Lorky received her B.A. at Yale College, majoring in
Evolutionary Biology and Behavior, and her M.D. at Yale University
School of Medicine. She has worked with various healthcare institutions
in Armenia for almost two decades.
http://www.ianyanmag.com/2012/01/31/op-ed-breadcrumbs-to-nowhere/