Has the return of Kamp Armen been caught up in the general election?
As a month has now gone by in the process for the return of Kamp Armen, which began with the attempt to demolish the children’s camp, there is still no concrete outcome. The current owner of the property, Fatih Ulusoy, made a statement on May 23, declaring he was donating the camp to the Gedikpaşa Armenian Protestant Church Foundation. So far, Ulusoy has only submitted the written document of donation to the Church Foundation. However, since the official procedure has not been fulfilled, this document has no power.
It has emerged that the meetings between Ulusoy and Tuzla Mayor Şadi Yazıcı have not concluded. Ulusoy made a statement last week, declaring that the technical procedures continued and that the transfer would be completed last week. However, further talks produced no result, and no statement was made to the public regarding which problems or details were discussed. Meetings are expected to continue between the sides.
On the other hand, reports from AKP circles point out that the work to form a coalition and a new government following the general election may further delay the return process.
“The vigil must grow”
Meanwhile, the vigil the Nor Zartonk group initiated against the demolition continues. Norayr Olgar, a Nor Zartonk activist, stated that there was no truth in the statement that the Kamp Armen problem had been solved, and that both the vigil, and life at the camp continued.
Olgar made a call to expand the vigil at the camp, saying, “We share the table of friendship, peace and fraternity. The hope of coexistence which we have created by listening to each other, producing together, and trying to understand each other with our halays, songs, workshops and panels unfortunately forces the resistance into isolation because of the State’s policies of lying and intimidation. However, we continue our vigil and struggle in a manner that befits the memory of Hrant Dink. Despite the difficult conditions, the vigil at the camp continues. We know that what makes us strong is our solidarity. It is only in this manner that our resistance, and our hope of coexistence will grow, and Kamp Armen will be liberated with solidarity and resistance. Against the State’s lies and policy of disregarding our struggle, now is the time to resist at Kamp Armen, which was founded with the labour of thousands of children and Hrant Dink, and to stand in solidarity with the Armenian people. Our vigil for justice must grow.”
