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The '''Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA)''' was a ] ] organization whose primary objective was to assassinate ] diplomats and politicians in revenge for the deaths inflicted upon the Armenians during the ]. It also demanded that reparations in the form of money and territory from Turkey (in particular the area promised to the Armenians by ] ] at the ], which never came into effect). <ref name="countrystudy01">Paul M. Pitman and the Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress. '''''Turkey: A Country Study''''', p. 354.</ref> The group also operated under other names such as '''The Orly Group''' and the '''] Organization''' as if to make the allusion of a broader international movement, though it is estimated that fewer than 1,000 belonged to the ASALA and its rival the ] (JCAG) combined. <ref name="countrystudy01" /> It was considered a terrorist organization by the ], the ], and the ]. The '''Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA)''' was a ] ] organization whose primary objective was to assassinate ] diplomats and politicians in order to create an independent Armenia including the ] homeland of eastern ] (in particular the area promised to the Armenians by ] ] at the ], which never came into effect)<ref name="countrystudy01">Paul M. Pitman and the Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress. '''''Turkey: A Country Study''''', p. 354.</ref>. The group also operated under other names such as '''The Orly Group''' and the '''] Organization''' as if to make the allusion of a broader international movement, though it is estimated that fewer than 1,000 belonged to the ASALA and the ] (JCAG, another Armenian militant group with the same objective but this time assasinating Turkish diplomats in revenge for the highly disputed ]) combined<ref name="countrystudy01" />. Although it was considered a terrorist organization by the ], the ], and the ], the support and sympathy to both grpoups among the Armenian community is still widespread.


== History == == History ==


The ASALA was founded in ] in ] during the ] by ] and ] with the help of sympathetic ]. <ref name="countrystudy01" /> At the time, ], and Hagopian believed that the time was right to avenge the deaths of the Armenians who died during the Armenian Genocide and to force the Turkish government to a cede to them the territory of Wilsonian Armenia for the purpose of unification with the existing ]. In reaction to this, the rightist Lebanese Armenian extremists formed the JCAG to rival the ASALA. Neither group was assocoiated with the mainstream Armenian communities in ] nor with the Armenian communities in Turkey. <ref name="countrystudy01" /> The ASALA was founded in ] in ] during the ] by ] and ] with the help of sympathetic ]<ref name="countrystudy01" />. At the time, ], and Hagopian believed that the time was right to force the Turkish government to a cede to them the territory of Wilsonian Armenia for the purpose of unification with the existing ]. In reaction to this, the rightist Lebanese Armenian extremists formed the JCAG with the aim of revenging the disputed Armenian genocide by means of killing Turkish diplomats.


The group's activities were primarily assassinations of Turkish diplomats and politicians in ], whereas the JCAG would operate in the United States and ]. <ref name="countrystudy01" /> Their first acknowledged killing was the assassination of the Turkish diplomat, ], in ] on ], ]. The group's eight point manifesto was published in ]. ASALA's activities were primarily assassinations of Turkish diplomats and politicians in ] and Turkish civilians in Turkey, whereas the JCAG would operate in the United States and ]<ref name="countrystudy01" />. Their first acknowledged killing was the assassination of the Turkish diplomat, ], in ] on ], ]. The group's eight point manifesto was published in ].


Continuous attacks prompted Turkey to blame the ], ], ], ], and the ] of provoking or possibly funding the ASALA, though nothing of this sort was ever found to be true. <ref name="countrystudy02">Paul M. Pitman and the Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress. '''''Turkey: A Country Study''''', p. 283.</ref> With the ] in ] the group lost much of its organization and support. Sympathetic Palestinian organizations including the ] (PLO) withdrew their support and passed materials to the French intelligence services in ], detailing ASALA operatives. ], ], ], ], and the ] were suspected to be provoking or possibly funding the ASALA<ref name="countrystudy02"> Paul M. Pitman and the Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress. '''''Turkey: A Country Study''''', p. 283.</ref>. With the ] in ] the group lost much of its organization and support. Sympathetic Palestinian organizations including the ] (PLO) withdrew their support and passed materials to the French intelligence services in ], detailing ASALA operatives.


The ASALA's most destructive attack was on ], ] in ] at the ], when its members targeted civilians for the first time. Two militants opened fire in a crowded passenger waiting room. One of shooters took more than 20 hostages while the second was apprehended by police. Altogether, nine people died and 82 were injured. The surviving militant ] condemned the ASALA in the aftermath of the attack and appealed to other members to leave and stop the violence. The Esenboga attack also precipitated a split in the group over tactics, between the Nationalists (''ASALA-Militant'') and the 'Popular Movement' (''ASALA-Mouvement Révolutionnaire''). The ASALA's most destructive attack was on ], ] in ] at the ], when its members targeted civilians in Turkey. Two militants opened fire in a crowded passenger waiting room. One of shooters took more than 20 hostages while the second was apprehended by police. Altogether, 9 people were killed and 82 were injured. The surviving militant ] condemned the ASALA in the aftermath of the attack and appealed to other members to leave and stop the violence. The Esenboga attack also precipitated a split in the group over tactics, between the Nationalists (''ASALA-Militant'') and the 'Popular Movement' (''ASALA-Mouvement Révolutionnaire'').


Hagop Hagopian was assassinated on a sidewalk in an affluent neighborhood in ], Greece on ], ]. It is disputed whether Hagopian was assinated by the French secret services or Hovsep A., Vartan G., Garabed K., and Albert "Sultan-Minas", former ASALA members and close friends of Hagopian. His body was riddled by several shotgun rounds while he walking out with two women at 4:30 in the morning. <ref> Melkonian, Markar. ''My Brother's Road''. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005 pg.187</ref> Tarakchian died of ] in 1980 and the group fell into inactivity. According to Turkish sources, the ASALA was repressed by a series of attacks by the ] (''MIT''), some carried out by ], leader of the ultra-nationalist ], which worked in cooperation with the MIT and with ] "stay-behind" NATO secret paramilitary organizations <ref> {{tr icon}} {{cite news | title=Ağca basit bir kukla değil | publisher=] | date=January 2006 | url=http://www.isn.ethz.ch/php/documents/collection_gladio/newspapers/Agca_Basi_Cumhuriyet_Gladio_190106.pdf}} </ref>. Throughout its history, the ASALA claimed the lives of 31 Turkish diplomats and embassy staff, including wives and children. Hagop Hagopian was assassinated on a sidewalk in an affluent neighborhood in ], Greece on ], ]. He was assinated by Hovsep A., Vartan G., Garabed K., and Albert "Sultan-Minas", former ASALA members and close friends of Hagopian<ref> Melkonian, Markar. ''My Brother's Road''. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005 pg.187</ref>. His body was riddled by several shotgun rounds while he walking out with two women at 4:30 in the morning<ref> Melkonian, Markar. ''My Brother's Road''. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005 pg.187</ref>. Tarakchian died of ] in 1980 and the group fell into inactivity. According to Turkish sources, the ASALA was repressed by a series of counter-attacks by the ] (''MIT''), some carried out by ], leader of the ultra-nationalist ], which worked in cooperation with the MIT and with ] "stay-behind" NATO secret paramilitary organizations <ref> {{tr icon}} {{cite news | title=Ağca basit bir kukla değil | publisher=] | date=January 2006 | url=http://www.isn.ethz.ch/php/documents/collection_gladio/newspapers/Agca_Basi_Cumhuriyet_Gladio_190106.pdf}} </ref>.


Although they publicly distanced themselves from the ASALA <ref name="countrystudy03">Paul M. Pitman and the Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress. '''''Turkey: A Country Study''''', p. 355.</ref>, Turkey's Armenia community also came under attack by Turkish nationalists in reaction to the attacks. For example, the assination of ], the son of Ambassador ] on ], ] by Armenian militants in ], led to the bombing of the church of the Armenian Apostolic Patriarchate in ] on ] in retaliation. Although they publicly distanced themselves from the ASALA <ref name="countrystudy03">Paul M. Pitman and the Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress. '''''Turkey: A Country Study''''', p. 355.</ref>, there has always been doubts about Turkish Armenian community's support to ASALA among the Turkish people. The assination of ], the son of Ambassador ] on ], ] by Armenian militants in ], led to the bombing of the church of the Armenian Apostolic Patriarchate in ] on ] in retaliation, yet nobody died.

==Chronology of assasinations==
Throughout its history, the ASALA claimed the lives of 31 Turkish diplomats and embassy staff, including wives and children. 5 ambassadors were killed from 1973 to date. A multitude of attacks were carried out on Turkish private institutions abroad, including banks and travel agencies. Here is a brief chronological list of the ASALA and related militant groups attacks<ref>Feigl, Eric (1986). ''A Myth of Terror'', Ed. Zeitgeschichte Freilassing Salzburg; 1st Printing edition (1986)</ref>:

'''January 27, 1973''' Santa Barbara, California: Armenian Georgeu Yanikian, a U.S. citizen, invites the Turkish consul general, Mehmet Baydar, and the consul, Bahadir Demir, to his home for "tea." The unsuspecting diplomats accept the invitation. Yanikian murders his two guests and is sentenced to life imprisonment. However, he is released later due to illness.

'''October 22, 1975''' Vienna: The Turkish ambassador to Austria, Danis Tunaligil, is assassinated in his study by three Armenian terrorists. ASALA claims responsibility.

'''October 24, 1975''' Paris: The Turkish ambassador to France, Ismail Erez and his driver, Talip Yener, are murdered. ASALA and JCAG dispute the responsibility.

'''February 16, 1976''' Beirut: The first secretary of the Turkish embassy, Oktar Cirit, is assassinated in a restaurant on Hamra Street. ASALA claims responsibility.

'''June 9, 1977''' Vatican City, Rome: The Turkish ambassador to the Holy See, Taha Carim, is shot and dies soon after the attack. JCAG claims responsibility.

'''June 2, 1978''' Madrid: Armenian terrorists attack the car of the Turkish ambassador to Spain, Zeki Kuneralp. His wife, Necla Kuneralp, and retired Turkish Ambassador Besir Balcioglu die immediately in the hail of gunfire. The Spanish driver, Antonio Torres, dies of his injuries in hospital. ASALA and JCAG quarrel over responsibility.

'''October 12, 1979''' The Hague: Ahmet Benler, the son of Ambassador Ozdemir Benler, is assassinated on the street by Armenian terrorists. Ten people look on as the terrorists slaughter the 27-year-old medical student and run away. ASALA and JCAG claim responsibility.

'''December 22, 1979''' London Yilmaz: Colpan, the tourism attache at the Turkish Embassy is assassinated while walking on the Champs Elysees. Several groups, including ASALA, JCAG and the "Commandos of Armenian Militants Against Genocide" wrestle over responsibility.

'''July 31, 1980''' Marseilles: Galip Ozmen, the administrative attache of the Turkish Embassy, and his family are attacked by Armenian terrorists while sitting in their car. Ozmen and his 14-year-old daughter, Neslihan, are killed in the attack. His wife, Sevil, and his 16-year-old son, Kaan, are wounded. Credit for the double killing is claimed by ASALA.

'''December 17, 1980''' Sydney: Two terrorists assassinate Sarik Ariyak, the Turkish consul general, and his bodyguard, Engin Sever. JCAG claims responsibility.

'''March 4, 1981''' Paris: Two terrorists open fire on Resat Morali, the labor attache at the Turkish Embassy, Tecelli Ari, a religious affairs official and Ilkay Karakoc, the Paris representative of Anadolu Bank. Morali and Karakoc try to flee the scene and make it safely to a cafe, but the owner throws them back out onto the street. Karakoc still manages to escape. Morali is murdered in front of the cafe. Ari, who was the first one targeted, dies a short time later. There are countless witnesses, but no one can remember what the murderers looked like. The Shahan Natali Group of ASALA claims responsibility.

'''June 9, 1981''' Geneva: Mehmet Savas Yerguz, a secretary in the Turkish Consulate, is assassinated by Armenian terrorist Madiros Jamgotchian. The arrest of the ASALA terrorist leads to the formation of a new ASALA branch called the Ninth Of June Organization, which will be responsible later on for a new series of attacks.

'''September 24, 1981''' Paris: Four Armenian terrorists occupy the Turkish Consulate. While they were entering the building, the consul, Kaya Inal, and a security guard, Cemal Ozen, are seriously wounded. The terrorists take 56 hostages. They finally allow the wounded Inal and Ozen to be taken to the hospital, but for Ozen it is too late. He dies of injuries in the hospital. When their demand for the release of Armenian terrorists is not accepted, they request political prisoner status. All of the terrorists are from Lebanon and belong to ASALA.

'''May 4, 1982''' Cambridge, Massachusetts: Orhan Gunduz, the honorary Turkish consul in Boston, would not bow to the Armenian terrorist ultimatum that he give up his title of honorary consul. He is attacked and murdered. President Ronald Reagan orders an all-out manhunt but to no avail. An eyewitness who gave a description of the murderer is shot down. He survives but falls silent. A 357 magnum, a nine-mm handgun, and a jogging jacket used by the assailant are all left at the scene of the crime. Television stations and newspapers join the manhunt. When the eyewitness is shot down, all help from the public dries up. Gunduz's murderer is never caught.

'''June 7, 1982''' Lisbon: The administrative attache at the Turkish Embassy, Erkut Akbay, and his wife, Nadide Akbay, are assassinated in front of their home. JCAG claims responsibility.

'''August 7, 1982''' Ankara, Esenboga Airport: Two ASALA terrorists open fire in a crowded passenger waiting room. One of the terrorists takes more than 20 hostages while the second is apprehended by police. The killers leave nine people dead and 82 injured. The surviving terrorist, Levon Ekmekjian, realizes the horror of his crime before the execution. He issues a strong appeal to his young comrades to reject the program of murder.

'''August 27, 1982''' Ottawa: Colonel Atilla Altikat, the military attache at the Turkish Embassy, is assassinated in his car. JCAG claims responsibility.

'''September 9, 1982''' Burgaz, Bulgaria: Bora Suelkan, the administrative attache at the Turkish Consulate in Burgaz, is assassinated in front of his home. The assassin leaves the message, "We shot dead the Turkish diplomat: Combat Unions of Justice Against the Armenian Genocide." An anonymous caller claims the assassination is the work of a branch of the ASALA headquarters in Beirut.

'''March 9, 1983''' Belgrade: Turkey's ambassador to Yugoslavia, Galip Balkar, is assassinated in central Belgrade. His driver, Necati Kayar, is shot in the stomach. As the two assailants flee from the scene, they are pursued by Yugoslav citizens. One of the terrorists shoots and wounds a Yugoslav colonel and is in turn apprehended by police. The second terrorist opens fire on civilians who are chasing him, killing a young student. The two terrorists, Kirkor Levonian and Raffi Elbekian, are tried and sentenced.

'''July 14, 1983''' Brussels: Armenian terrorists murder Dursun Aksoy, the administrative attache at the Turkish Embassy. Three groups compete for the "honor" of having organized the death squad: ASALA, JCAG and the ] (ARA).

'''July 27, 1983''' Lisbon: Five Armenian terrorists attempt to storm the Turkish Embassy in Lisbon. Failing to gain access to the chancery, they occupy the residence, taking Deputy Chief of Mission Yurtsev Mihcioglu, his wife and family hostage. When explosives go off, Cahide Mihcioglu, wife of the deputy chief of mission, and four of the terrorists are blown to pieces. Yurtsev Mihciolgu and his son, Atasay, are injured. The fifth terrorist is killed by security forces, while one Portuguese policeman dies in the clash. ARA claims responsibility.

'''April 28, 1984''' Tehran: Two Armenian terrorists riding a motorcycle open fire on Isik Yonder as he drives his wife, Sadiye Yonder, to the Turkish Embassy where she works. Isik Yonder is killed. ASALA claims responsibility.

'''June 20, 1984''' Vienna: A bomb explodes in a car belonging to Erdogan Ozen, an assistant labor and social affairs counselor at the Turkish Embassy in Vienna. Ozen is killed and five others are seriously wounded, including a policeman. ARA terrorists claim credit for the crime.

'''November 19, 1984''' Vienna: Enver Ergun, deputy director of the U.N. Center for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs in Vienna, is assassinated while driving to work. The murderers leave a flag with the initials A.R.A. on his corpse.


== References == == References ==
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==External links== ==External links==

===Non-partisan sources=== ===Impartial sources===
*. United States Department of State Publication 10321 *. United States Department of State Publication 10321
*


===From an Armenian perspective=== ===Against perspective===
* *
*
*
*
*
*


===From a Turkish perspective=== ===Supporting perspective===
* *
*


] ]

Revision as of 07:21, 10 August 2006

File:ASALA terrorist logo.jpg
ASALA logo, showing a map of their goal with a rifle in front.

The Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA) was a Marxist-Leninist guerilla organization whose primary objective was to assassinate Turkish diplomats and politicians in order to create an independent Armenia including the Turkish homeland of eastern Anatolia (in particular the area promised to the Armenians by US President Woodrow Wilson at the Treaty of Sevres, which never came into effect). The group also operated under other names such as The Orly Group and the 3 October Organization as if to make the allusion of a broader international movement, though it is estimated that fewer than 1,000 belonged to the ASALA and the Justice Commandos Against Armenian Genocide (JCAG, another Armenian militant group with the same objective but this time assasinating Turkish diplomats in revenge for the highly disputed Armenian Genocide) combined. Although it was considered a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, and the Soviet Union, the support and sympathy to both grpoups among the Armenian community is still widespread.

History

The ASALA was founded in 1975 in Beirut during the Lebanese Civil War by Hagop Tarakchian and Hagop Hagopian with the help of sympathetic Palestinians. At the time, Turkey was in political turmoil, and Hagopian believed that the time was right to force the Turkish government to a cede to them the territory of Wilsonian Armenia for the purpose of unification with the existing Armenian SSR. In reaction to this, the rightist Lebanese Armenian extremists formed the JCAG with the aim of revenging the disputed Armenian genocide by means of killing Turkish diplomats.

ASALA's activities were primarily assassinations of Turkish diplomats and politicians in Western Europe and Turkish civilians in Turkey, whereas the JCAG would operate in the United States and Canada. Their first acknowledged killing was the assassination of the Turkish diplomat, Danış Tunalıgil, in Vienna on October 22, 1975. The group's eight point manifesto was published in 1981.

Republic of Cyprus, Greece, Syria, Lebanon, and the Soviet Union were suspected to be provoking or possibly funding the ASALA. With the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982 the group lost much of its organization and support. Sympathetic Palestinian organizations including the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) withdrew their support and passed materials to the French intelligence services in 1983, detailing ASALA operatives.

The ASALA's most destructive attack was on August 7, 1982 in Ankara at the Esenboga International Airport, when its members targeted civilians in Turkey. Two militants opened fire in a crowded passenger waiting room. One of shooters took more than 20 hostages while the second was apprehended by police. Altogether, 9 people were killed and 82 were injured. The surviving militant Levon Ekmekjian condemned the ASALA in the aftermath of the attack and appealed to other members to leave and stop the violence. The Esenboga attack also precipitated a split in the group over tactics, between the Nationalists (ASALA-Militant) and the 'Popular Movement' (ASALA-Mouvement Révolutionnaire).

Hagop Hagopian was assassinated on a sidewalk in an affluent neighborhood in Athens, Greece on April 28, 1988. He was assinated by Hovsep A., Vartan G., Garabed K., and Albert "Sultan-Minas", former ASALA members and close friends of Hagopian. His body was riddled by several shotgun rounds while he walking out with two women at 4:30 in the morning. Tarakchian died of cancer in 1980 and the group fell into inactivity. According to Turkish sources, the ASALA was repressed by a series of counter-attacks by the Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT), some carried out by Abdullah Çatlı, leader of the ultra-nationalist Grey Wolves, which worked in cooperation with the MIT and with Gladio "stay-behind" NATO secret paramilitary organizations .

Although they publicly distanced themselves from the ASALA , there has always been doubts about Turkish Armenian community's support to ASALA among the Turkish people. The assination of Ahmet Benler, the son of Ambassador Ozdemir Benler on October 12, 1979 by Armenian militants in the Hague, led to the bombing of the church of the Armenian Apostolic Patriarchate in İstanbul on October 19 in retaliation, yet nobody died.

Chronology of assasinations

Throughout its history, the ASALA claimed the lives of 31 Turkish diplomats and embassy staff, including wives and children. 5 ambassadors were killed from 1973 to date. A multitude of attacks were carried out on Turkish private institutions abroad, including banks and travel agencies. Here is a brief chronological list of the ASALA and related militant groups attacks:

January 27, 1973 Santa Barbara, California: Armenian Georgeu Yanikian, a U.S. citizen, invites the Turkish consul general, Mehmet Baydar, and the consul, Bahadir Demir, to his home for "tea." The unsuspecting diplomats accept the invitation. Yanikian murders his two guests and is sentenced to life imprisonment. However, he is released later due to illness.

October 22, 1975 Vienna: The Turkish ambassador to Austria, Danis Tunaligil, is assassinated in his study by three Armenian terrorists. ASALA claims responsibility.

October 24, 1975 Paris: The Turkish ambassador to France, Ismail Erez and his driver, Talip Yener, are murdered. ASALA and JCAG dispute the responsibility.

February 16, 1976 Beirut: The first secretary of the Turkish embassy, Oktar Cirit, is assassinated in a restaurant on Hamra Street. ASALA claims responsibility.

June 9, 1977 Vatican City, Rome: The Turkish ambassador to the Holy See, Taha Carim, is shot and dies soon after the attack. JCAG claims responsibility.

June 2, 1978 Madrid: Armenian terrorists attack the car of the Turkish ambassador to Spain, Zeki Kuneralp. His wife, Necla Kuneralp, and retired Turkish Ambassador Besir Balcioglu die immediately in the hail of gunfire. The Spanish driver, Antonio Torres, dies of his injuries in hospital. ASALA and JCAG quarrel over responsibility.

October 12, 1979 The Hague: Ahmet Benler, the son of Ambassador Ozdemir Benler, is assassinated on the street by Armenian terrorists. Ten people look on as the terrorists slaughter the 27-year-old medical student and run away. ASALA and JCAG claim responsibility.

December 22, 1979 London Yilmaz: Colpan, the tourism attache at the Turkish Embassy is assassinated while walking on the Champs Elysees. Several groups, including ASALA, JCAG and the "Commandos of Armenian Militants Against Genocide" wrestle over responsibility.

July 31, 1980 Marseilles: Galip Ozmen, the administrative attache of the Turkish Embassy, and his family are attacked by Armenian terrorists while sitting in their car. Ozmen and his 14-year-old daughter, Neslihan, are killed in the attack. His wife, Sevil, and his 16-year-old son, Kaan, are wounded. Credit for the double killing is claimed by ASALA.

December 17, 1980 Sydney: Two terrorists assassinate Sarik Ariyak, the Turkish consul general, and his bodyguard, Engin Sever. JCAG claims responsibility.

March 4, 1981 Paris: Two terrorists open fire on Resat Morali, the labor attache at the Turkish Embassy, Tecelli Ari, a religious affairs official and Ilkay Karakoc, the Paris representative of Anadolu Bank. Morali and Karakoc try to flee the scene and make it safely to a cafe, but the owner throws them back out onto the street. Karakoc still manages to escape. Morali is murdered in front of the cafe. Ari, who was the first one targeted, dies a short time later. There are countless witnesses, but no one can remember what the murderers looked like. The Shahan Natali Group of ASALA claims responsibility.

June 9, 1981 Geneva: Mehmet Savas Yerguz, a secretary in the Turkish Consulate, is assassinated by Armenian terrorist Madiros Jamgotchian. The arrest of the ASALA terrorist leads to the formation of a new ASALA branch called the Ninth Of June Organization, which will be responsible later on for a new series of attacks.

September 24, 1981 Paris: Four Armenian terrorists occupy the Turkish Consulate. While they were entering the building, the consul, Kaya Inal, and a security guard, Cemal Ozen, are seriously wounded. The terrorists take 56 hostages. They finally allow the wounded Inal and Ozen to be taken to the hospital, but for Ozen it is too late. He dies of injuries in the hospital. When their demand for the release of Armenian terrorists is not accepted, they request political prisoner status. All of the terrorists are from Lebanon and belong to ASALA.

May 4, 1982 Cambridge, Massachusetts: Orhan Gunduz, the honorary Turkish consul in Boston, would not bow to the Armenian terrorist ultimatum that he give up his title of honorary consul. He is attacked and murdered. President Ronald Reagan orders an all-out manhunt but to no avail. An eyewitness who gave a description of the murderer is shot down. He survives but falls silent. A 357 magnum, a nine-mm handgun, and a jogging jacket used by the assailant are all left at the scene of the crime. Television stations and newspapers join the manhunt. When the eyewitness is shot down, all help from the public dries up. Gunduz's murderer is never caught.

June 7, 1982 Lisbon: The administrative attache at the Turkish Embassy, Erkut Akbay, and his wife, Nadide Akbay, are assassinated in front of their home. JCAG claims responsibility.

August 7, 1982 Ankara, Esenboga Airport: Two ASALA terrorists open fire in a crowded passenger waiting room. One of the terrorists takes more than 20 hostages while the second is apprehended by police. The killers leave nine people dead and 82 injured. The surviving terrorist, Levon Ekmekjian, realizes the horror of his crime before the execution. He issues a strong appeal to his young comrades to reject the program of murder.

August 27, 1982 Ottawa: Colonel Atilla Altikat, the military attache at the Turkish Embassy, is assassinated in his car. JCAG claims responsibility.

September 9, 1982 Burgaz, Bulgaria: Bora Suelkan, the administrative attache at the Turkish Consulate in Burgaz, is assassinated in front of his home. The assassin leaves the message, "We shot dead the Turkish diplomat: Combat Unions of Justice Against the Armenian Genocide." An anonymous caller claims the assassination is the work of a branch of the ASALA headquarters in Beirut.

March 9, 1983 Belgrade: Turkey's ambassador to Yugoslavia, Galip Balkar, is assassinated in central Belgrade. His driver, Necati Kayar, is shot in the stomach. As the two assailants flee from the scene, they are pursued by Yugoslav citizens. One of the terrorists shoots and wounds a Yugoslav colonel and is in turn apprehended by police. The second terrorist opens fire on civilians who are chasing him, killing a young student. The two terrorists, Kirkor Levonian and Raffi Elbekian, are tried and sentenced.

July 14, 1983 Brussels: Armenian terrorists murder Dursun Aksoy, the administrative attache at the Turkish Embassy. Three groups compete for the "honor" of having organized the death squad: ASALA, JCAG and the Armenian Revolutionary Army (ARA).

July 27, 1983 Lisbon: Five Armenian terrorists attempt to storm the Turkish Embassy in Lisbon. Failing to gain access to the chancery, they occupy the residence, taking Deputy Chief of Mission Yurtsev Mihcioglu, his wife and family hostage. When explosives go off, Cahide Mihcioglu, wife of the deputy chief of mission, and four of the terrorists are blown to pieces. Yurtsev Mihciolgu and his son, Atasay, are injured. The fifth terrorist is killed by security forces, while one Portuguese policeman dies in the clash. ARA claims responsibility.

April 28, 1984 Tehran: Two Armenian terrorists riding a motorcycle open fire on Isik Yonder as he drives his wife, Sadiye Yonder, to the Turkish Embassy where she works. Isik Yonder is killed. ASALA claims responsibility.

June 20, 1984 Vienna: A bomb explodes in a car belonging to Erdogan Ozen, an assistant labor and social affairs counselor at the Turkish Embassy in Vienna. Ozen is killed and five others are seriously wounded, including a policeman. ARA terrorists claim credit for the crime.

November 19, 1984 Vienna: Enver Ergun, deputy director of the U.N. Center for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs in Vienna, is assassinated while driving to work. The murderers leave a flag with the initials A.R.A. on his corpse.

References

  1. ^ Paul M. Pitman and the Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress. Turkey: A Country Study, p. 354.
  2. Paul M. Pitman and the Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress. Turkey: A Country Study, p. 283.
  3. Melkonian, Markar. My Brother's Road. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005 pg.187
  4. Melkonian, Markar. My Brother's Road. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005 pg.187
  5. Template:Tr icon "Ağca basit bir kukla değil" (PDF). Cumhuriyet. January 2006.
  6. Paul M. Pitman and the Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress. Turkey: A Country Study, p. 355.
  7. Feigl, Eric (1986). A Myth of Terror, Ed. Zeitgeschichte Freilassing Salzburg; 1st Printing edition (1986)

External links

Impartial sources

Against perspective

Supporting perspective

Categories: