Human Resources Development Center INDEX in Ankara Commemorated 23rd Anniversary of Khojaly Massacre by Recognizing The Letter of Gunel
ANKARA, Turkey, Feb. 26, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Human Resources Development Center INDEX in Ankara is memorializing the 23rd anniversary of an event that took place in the town of Khojaly, a region in Nagorno Karabagh of Azerbaijan. Azeri civilians were mercilessly murdered by forces connected to Armenia on February 26, 1992. In response to the tragedy, the, "Empathy themed Khojaly Massacre Commemoration Program," was organized by Human Resources Development Center INDEX in Ankara.
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On February 21, 2015 at Ankara Chamber of Commerce's Congresium, the organization recognized the letter of Gunel, who is an imaginary child that represents children in the town where the massacre occurred. The letter of Gunel evoked deep emotional feelings to the participants.
Gunel articulated the feelings and sentiments of the nation from February 26th, 1992 though today in the letter, which was written in the language of the children living in the town of Khojaly located in Nagorno Karabagh. The letter describes the vivid experiences of that fateful day through the eyes of a child, Gunel who said, "Armenians have considered our home as their home, our path as their path, our garden as their garden." Gunel asks as a child that cannot understand worldly ideologies, "How does a person do this to another person for the sake of these ideologies." Gunel represents tens of thousands of children like her, who no longer have a father. She asks the questions while running away from her place of birth, holding a rag doll with one hand and the palm of her mother's hand with the other.
The letter that is the voice of hundreds of Azeri children who have been affected by massacre is as follows:
My name is Gunel. Gunel from Karabakh...
My family gave me this name so that I would be as bright as the sun. But I couldn't. One day, the darkness fell upon us and I was not able to shine. Armenians settled in our houses, walked in our streets, played in our gardens.
Was it that easy to be kicked out of our homeland? What did we do to Armenians? I asked. I repeatedly asked. I was asking while we were running away from Armenians with my rag doll in one hand, and my mother's palms in the other. And I am still asking today.
I tried to find an answer in my memories. I remember there were other victims. My grandfather used to tell me.
Once upon a time, there was a great Ottoman Empire. Just like in tales, Armenians and other societies were leading a free and happy life within that empire. But one day they started to act under the delusion of founding the "Great Armenia". That's where it all began. They triggered revolts and even assassinated the ruler of the country. They claimed that they experienced a similar tragedy because of the Ottomans. But it wasn't true. The Ottoman Empire resettled the Armenians, who were involved in those events, in favorable and safer areas.
While my grandfather was telling those things, I asked:
"Why would a nation give such harm to their country where they can live freely?"
My grandfather said, "because of their Greater Armenia ideology".
My child's mind could not understand this answer that day. I didn't know what an ideology is. Now I can see. Ideology meant "me and the other." Ideology meant leaving many dead relatives behind. Most sadly, it meant never seeing my father again.
I was not the only one facing all that sorrow and pain. For "Greater Armenia", many Turkish diplomats were assassinated by the terrorist organization ASALA. Armenian terrorism killed mothers, fathers and children from many Turkish families. The entire world witnessed another massacre in Khojaly. Actually, one nation two states inherited a common tragedy.
I am Gunel from Karabakh. Karabakh constituted one fifth of Azerbaijan, like a finger of one hand. They ripped it off from us. I am Gunel, the heartsick girl who was expatriated from her hometown Karabakh. Now I am asking once again. How would a human do that to another?
For more information watch the following (Turkish) video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PG3p50o0ark
2011 Eurovision winner Azerbaijani artist Nigar Jamal, performed her fascinating song entitled "Broken Dreams," which she sang at Empathy 2015. The photograph and video show 3D Mapping and Projection Mapping technologies that are used in a few of the most important award ceremony broadcastings, such as The Grammys, The Billboard Music Awards and Eurovision in the World.
The night that the Head of the Centre for Development of Human Capital INDEX Resad Abdullayev was honoured, many others were, from statesmen of the two countries to their bureaucrats, from academicians to artists have been congregated.
The video will be shared all around the world with the #empathyforKhojaly hashtag!
Nigar Jamal Broken Dreams
You can view the video at the following link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vz1p7MfklE
#empathyforKhojaly
About INDEX
The organisation was established in 2013 as the association of Azerbaijan Education, Culture and Assistance in order to enable Azerbaijani students to contribute to the interests and the future of Azerbaijan. INDEX aims to assist the young to improve themselves and support the personal career development of Azerbaijani students who studied abroad, especially in Turkey. The organization supports students in increasing their knowledge and skills. To date, it has been a development centre of human capital that has been operating under the new name.
The centre which has been operating since September 27, 2013 under the name of INDEX will continue to provide direction by rallying international support and fostering relationships in partnership with working principles of global companies of civil servants in the Republic of Azerbaijan and Azerbaijani students who study abroad. For more information please visit http://www.indexaz.org
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SOURCE Human Resources Development Center INDEX
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