Second Update on Vandalism in Wales
The website of the Armenian community of Great Britain has posted before and after photographs of the recently vandalized Armenian Genocide monument in Cardiff, Wales, stating that the “South Wales Police are investigating the damage.”
Image courtesy Asbarez
The century-old Asbarez Armenian-American daily has also posted an Armenpress article on the destruction and a new photograph that shows the vandalized monument.
And although few would doubt that the hate crime was committed by Turkish nationalist(s), a blogger from Cardiff expresses hope that nationalist Turks are not behind the vandalism:
It’s hard not to feel hatred when something like this happens. In my home town of Cardiff, last November, from generous donations from a local Armenian, a memorial to the Genocide was erected in a public park. During the inauguration we had to listen to disturbing calls of hatred from about 50 Turkish protestors who did everything during the prayers, speeches, and songs, to disturb the ceremony.
It seems they have now stooped to a new low and in line with the UK’s memorial day for holocaust, have decided to hack the cross off from the memorial. I must admit I didn’t think they would do this. Maybe it wasn’t commited by Turks. I hope it wasn’t. The police are searching for information.
mike on 29 Jan 2008 at 1:01 pm #
This was not just an act of senseless vandalism carried out by drunken hooligans. It was clearly premeditated. It was carried out on the eve of a service to remember those killed in the Holocaust and to remember Hrant Dink a Turkish journalist murdered by Turkish Nationalists for his opposition to the penal code in Turkey that prohibits acknowledgement of the Armenian Genocide. The culprit planned the desecration to the extent that he or she carried a sledgehammer to the site for the purpose of destroying the monument.
Hal Savas, a member of the five-man delegation from the Committee for the Protection of Turkish Rights, had asked the Temple of Peace to prevent the ceremony from taking place.
He was offered hospitality by the organisers and the opportunity to speak individually to those attending the ceremony. But chose to disrupt the service by ranting through a megaphone while prayers were being said for the victims of the holocaust. He attempted to drown the words of Martin Shipton who spoke of the work of Hrant Dink.
He denied that the desecration was the work of Turks, suggesting, that it may have been carried out by Armenians seeking to foment hostility against Turks. This suggestion is beneath contempt.
Ashamed on 30 Jan 2008 at 4:16 am #
Vandalizing an Armenian Genocide Monument is nothing, when we saw what hatred full of moslems did in Baghdad, destroying their own mosques. They want us to believe that Islam is a peace loving religion.
Not in my book, I am afraid to say. Just look at their insistence of woman wanting to wear the turban. Maybe they are trying to hide whatever isn’t there under that cover anyway. I really feel sorry, and pity them.