Tarc And Ictj

[Sasun]

We read in the mission statement of ICTJ

 

The International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) assists countries pursuing accountability for mass atrocity or human rights abuse. The Center works in societies emerging from repressive rule or armed conflict, as well as in established democracies where historical injustices or systemic abuse remain unresolved. It provides comparative information, legal and policy analysis, documentation, and strategic research to governments, nongovernmental organizations, and others. The ICTJ assists in the development of strategies for transitional justice comprising five key elements: prosecuting perpetrators, documenting violations through nonjudicial means such as truth commissions, reforming abusive institutions, providing reparations to victims, and advancing reconciliation. The Center is committed to building local capacity and generally strengthening the emerging field of transitional justice, and works closely with organizations and experts around the world to do so.

 

TARC requested ICTJ to study if the Armenian massacres can be characterized as 'genocide'. ICTJ study proved that 'genocide' is the right term to use. We applaud this decision.

 

It is arguable, however, as to how much weight the ICTJ study carries and how much of its stated mission is realistic and attaintable. Nevertheless, we understand from the above quote that the Armenian government or any non-governmental organization could have made the same request, and the result would be the same, and it would carry the same exact legal power if any. The only difference is that TARC also has Turkish members, so presumably Turks are interested in the research. Being that this is a private group and not endorsed by the Turkish government, this interest is not shared by the government. There is one thing to conclude that TARC in essence has not done anything special that others couldn't achieve.

We remember that the Turkish members unilaterally declined to put their name under the request to study which led to the virtual collapse of TARC. This study eventually having questionable worth has saved TARC from collapsing. Therefore, in my opinion, the initial suspicion of TARC being a means of undermining the Armenian government's and Armenian Diaspora's efforts to achieve international recognition of the Genocide is still real. (A manifestation of this was when the German government refused to consider the Genocide citing that TARC is 'working' on that and there is no need for it to be involved)

 

We shouldn't however rush into conclusion about the inpotence of ICTJ since it is a new organization and you never know what power relationships and opportunities are expecting us tomorrow. The Armenian government could use its services by making a request to also study Armenian massacres in Sumgait, Baku and places in Artsakh. Going back in history, they could also study Hamidian massacres. It would always be good to have a third party study on paper, one day they might just be useful in more real terms.

[THOTH]

well, well...

 

Thanks for the post Sasun...

[Guest Fadi]

Sasun have you read McCarthys answer to ICTJs conclusion ? Mr. Ankara man lost an occasion to shut up.

[Sasun]

I think I have read it, the one that was published in Turkish Daily News, right? He was saying that this decision doesn't mean anything, because even if one individual was killed that could be called a genocide. And crap like that... Is this the one you mean?

[Guest Fadi]

Yeap, that one, the pathetic idiot just made a fool of himself by indirectly claiming that the word genocide had no meanings at all, the same idiot that says that the reason why the Holocaust was a genocide and not the Armenocide, was because Berlin Jews were exterminated and not Istanbuli Armenians. There is no limit for nonesens.