KHACHATUR ABOVYAN ARMENIAN STATE PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY

Pupils of ASPU Basic College (High School) have organized a unique event to mark the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey.

The start was announced with national dances. This was followed by an interesting trial, with Indifference being the symbolic defendant in the dock. Other key players included the judge, prosecutor and the jury. In the presence, eye-witnesses expressed their attitude during the days of the monstrous persecution and slaughter of ethnic Armenians. 

However, later it turned out that they were merely pursuing their own interests under the guise of seeming kindness. Among the witnesses who gave evidence were [Illarion Ivanovich] Vorontsov-Dashkov, a viceroy of the Caucasus, British missionary Joanna Hamilton, German entrepreneur Willie Seeger, Jewish Rabinowitz, the owner of a store in Trabizon.  German Armin T. Wegner took pictures of everything that the terrified witnesses were telling. He felt that he was betraying his country by collecting information about the Genocide and photographing Armenian deportees, as Turkey was an ally of Germany but he sought justice which was more important than treachery.

They witnessed the most heinous crime in human history - annihilation of an entire nation but did not take any preventive steps. 

The court heard all testimonies. But the speech for the Defense was as contradictory and obscure as the behavior of witnesses. “My client has not committed any offense or crime. Can a person appear in the dock for doing nothing?” he said.

The prosecutor was the most merciless in his speech; he condemns the marked indifference of the world towards the slaughter of an entire nation. “This is the case when indifference killed people…” This was followed by jurors saying unanimously, “Guilty, guilty, guilty!” The jury reached a unanimous verdict and found the defendant guilty.

The event was attended by representatives of the teaching staff, teachers, pupils and guests.

“Among the various commemorative events marking the Armenian Genocide centennial this was a unique initiative, and it is difficult for me to speak after this ‘trial.’ But one thing is clear: you are the generation that will never demonstrate indifference to the historical fact,” said Srbuhi Gevorgyan, ASPU Vice-Rector for Educational and Scientific Affairs. Continuing her speech about the Armenian Genocide committed in Ottoman Empire in 1915, she said, “Indifference continued through the 20th and 21st centuries.  Inclinations toward violence and aggressive behaviour do not reduce a bit. Why? What is the problem that prevents people from showing humanism?”

Aida Topuzyan, Head of the Department of Professional Education and Applied Pedagogy, added, in turn, that by not remaining indifferent to the historical reality the pupils gave the audience hope for the future.  She also assured everyone that Armenians will live in the world for many years to come. “We should always look ahead, be strong and rely solely on ourselves,” she said in conclusion.