Wikipedia - Benutzerbeiträge [de]

Halil Berktay

2009-08-04T14:23:50Z

Adoniscik: Reverted edits by 92.44.12.131 (talk) to last version by Adoniscik

{{Infobox academic
|name = Halil Berktay
|box_width =
|image =
|image_width = 131
|caption = Prof. Halil Berktay
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1947|08|27}}
|birth_place =
|death_date =
|death_place =
|residence =
|citizenship =
|nationality = Turkish
|ethnicity =
|field = Turkish history
|work_institutions = [[Sabanci University]], [[Ankara University]], [[Middle East Technical University]], [[Harvard University]]
|alma_mater = [[Yale University]], [[Birmingham University]]
|doctoral_advisor =
|doctoral_students =
|known_for =
|influences =
|influenced =
|prizes =
|religion =
|footnotes =
}}

'''Halil Berktay''' is a [[Turkish people|Turkish]] historian at [[Sabancı University]]<ref name=bio>[http://myweb.sabanciuniv.edu/hberktay/ Curriculum vitæ], [[Sabanci University]].</ref> and columnist for the daily ''[[Taraf]]''.<ref>[http://taraf.com.tr/yazar.asp?id=21 Okuma Notlari], ''[[Taraf]]''.</ref>

==Biography==

Berktay was born into an intellectual Turkish Communist family. His father, Erdogan Berktay, was a member of the old clandestine [[Communist Party of Turkey (historical)|Communist Party of Turkey]]. As a result of this influence, Halil Berktay remained a Maoist for two decades, before becoming "an independent left-intellectual".<ref name=hairenik>{{cite news|url=http://www.hairenik.com/armenianweekly/ArmenianWeeklyGenocideInsert2007.pdf |date=2007-04-24|accessdate=2008-09-04|work=Armenian Weekly|first=Halil|last=Berktay|page=4|title=A Genocide, Three Constituencies, Thoughts for the Future (Part I)}} (Talk given at the "Armenians and the Left" symposium on [[March 31]], [[2007]].)</ref>

After graduating from [[Robert College]] in 1964, Berktay studied economics at [[Yale University]] receiving his [[Bachelor of Arts]] in 1968 and [[Master of Arts (postgraduate)|Master of Arts]] in 1969.<ref name=bio/> He went on to earn a PhD from [[Birmingham University]] in 1990.<ref name=bio/> He worked as lecturer at [[Ankara University]] between 1969–1971 and 1978–1983.<ref name=bio/> He took part in the founding of the Yale chapter of the [[Students for a Democratic Society]].<ref name=hairenik/>

Between 1992–1997, he taught at both the [[Middle East Technical University]] and [[Boğaziçi University]]. He was a visiting scholar at [[Harvard University]] in 1997, and taught at [[Sabancı University]] before returning to Harvard in 2006.

Berktay's research areas are the history and [[historiography]] of [[Turkish nationalism]] in the 20th century. He studies social and economic history (including that of [[Europe]], and especially [[medieval history]]) from a [[Comparative history|comparative perspective]]. He has also written on the construction of Turkish national memory.<ref name=bio/>

In September 2005, Berktay and fellow historians, including [[Murat Belge]], [[Edhem Eldem]], [[Selim Deringil]], convened at a controversial conference to discuss the [[fall of the Ottoman Empire]].<ref name=conf>[http://myweb.sabanciuniv.edu/hberktay/conferences/ Conferences], personal Web site, Sabanci University.</ref>

As a supporter of open dialogue in Turkey regarding the Armenian Genocide and Turkey's denial, Berktay has received threats in his country.{{Citation needed|date=July 2009}}

{{quote|Why don’t we reconsider this idea of a commission? The Turkish government appoints ten Turkish historians but also picks and appoints 5 Armenian or Diaspora Armenian historians. And the Armenian government, likewise, appoints 10 Armenian and 5 Turkish or Turkish Diaspora historians. Then these thirty historians collectively appoint ten international historian, non-Turks and non-Armenians. Now in that case we would have real dialogue.|Berktay{{Citation needed|date=July 2009}}}}

== Partial bibliography ==

* ''Kabileden Feodalizme, Kaynak Yayınları'', 1983
* ''Cumhuriyet İdeolojisi ve Fuad Köprülü, Kaynak Yayınları'', 1983
* ''Bir Dönem Kapanırken'', Pencere Yayınları, 1991
* ''New Approaches to State and Peasant in Ottoman History'' (eds. Halil Berktay and Suraiya Faroqhi), ISBN 0714634689

==References==

<references />

{{DEFAULTSORT:Berktay, Halil}}
[[Category:Turkish non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:Turkish historians]]
[[Category:Turkish academics]]
[[Category:1947 births]]
[[Category:Robert College alumni]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Yale University alumni]]

[[he:חליל ברקטאי]]
[[tr:Halil Berktay]]

Halil Berktay

2009-08-04T04:18:25Z

Adoniscik: if it's so well known, you can oblige us with reliable sources Undid revision 305893774 by 92.45.148.186 (talk)

Halil Berktay

2009-07-11T02:30:11Z

Adoniscik: removed unsourced, outright false, debatable info, and editorializing. tightened up and fixed

Intervention des Militärs in der Türkei 1997

2009-01-10T04:32:03Z

Adoniscik: Tolon, Dalan’ı neden aradı?

[[image:Radikal 2008-12-25 fft17 mf89982.jpg|thumb|"I learned a lesson from February 28", ''Radikal'', 25 December 2008.]]
The '''1997 military memorandum ''' in [[Turkey]] led to the stepping down of the [[coalition government]] led by [[Necmettin Erbakan]] of the [[Welfare Party]] on [[February 28]], [[1997]] (referred to as the "28 February operation/process", from a verbatim translation).<ref name=candar/>

Instead of dissolving the parliament or withdrawing the constitution, the [[Turkish Military]] pressured Erbakan to step down.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://washingtontimes.com/news/2005/jun/25/20050625-104911-8659r/
|title=Reforms curb Turkey's armed forces
|work=[[Washington Times]]
|first=Seth
|last=Rosen
|date=2008-07-27
|accessdate=2005-06-25
}}</ref> For this reason, the events were labelled a "postmodern coup" by some.<ref name=candar>{{cite news|url=http://arsiv.sabah.com.tr/1997/06/28/y12.html
|work=[[Sabah]]
|accessdate=2008-07-27
|date=1997-06-27
|title=Post-modern darbe
|first=Cengiz
|last=Çandar
|authorlink=Cengiz Çandar
|language=Turkish
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://arsiv.sabah.com.tr/2007/02/28/siy106.html
|title='Post-modern darbe' tanımının 10 yıllık sırrı
|accessdate=2008-07-27
|date=2007-02-27
|work=[[Sabah]]
|language=Turkish
|first=Metehan
|last=Demir}}</ref>

One hypothesis is that the coup was precipitated by the military's desire to oust Erbakan's coalition partner, [[Tansu Çiller]], who was implicated in the [[Susurluk scandal]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1997/jul/13/opinion/op-12239
|accessdate=2008-12-15
|title=As the 'Coup' Turns: The Army's Real Target
|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]
|date=1997-07-13
|authorlink=Thomas Goltz
|first=Thomas
|last=Goltz
|page=M-2
}}</ref>

It began on 17 January 1997 with a visit from president [[Süleyman Demirel]] to the [[Turkish General Staff]]. Demirel requested a briefing on what had been bothering the military, and general İsmail Hakkı Karadayı enumerated 55 reactionary things. Demirel said half of them were based on hearsay. He encouraged Karadayı to communicate with the Çiller administration, and to soften the memorandum's wording.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.aksiyon.com.tr/detay.php?id=26705
|accessdate=2009-01-06
|title=Karadayı ikili oynamadı muhtemel darbeyi önledi
|language=Turkish
|first=Faruk
|last=Mercan
|issue=636
|date=2007-02-12
|journal=Aksiyon
|publisher=Feza Gazetecilik A.Ş.
}}</ref>

The masterminds behind the operation were generals [[İsmail Hakkı Karadayı]], [[Çevik Bir]], [[Teoman Koman]], Çetin Doğan, Necdet Timur, and Erol Özkasnak.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.stargazete.com/gazete/yazar/tolon-dalan-i-neden-aradi-161001.htm
|accessdate=2009-01-09
|title=Tolon, Dalan’ı neden aradı?
|date=2009-01-09
|first=Şamil
|last=Tayyar
|work=Star
|language=Turkish
}}</ref>

It is alleged that Bülent Orakoğlu of the police intelligence, under Hanefi Avcı, learned about the coup plans.<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.aktifhaber.com/author_article_detail.php?id=4206
|accessdate=2009-01-08
|title=Enis Berberoğlu ve MİT'teki kankası
|first=Cevheri
|last=Guven
|work=Aktif Haber
|date=2008-12-04
|language=Turkish
}}</ref>

==See also==
{{wikisourcelang|tr|28 Şubat Kararları}}
*[[Military coup in Turkey, 1960]]
*[[Military coup in Turkey, 1971]]
*[[Military coup in Turkey, 1980]]

==References==

<references/>

== Further reading ==

* {{cite news|url=http://www.radikal.com.tr/Default.aspx?aType=YazarYazisi&ArticleID=914193&Yazar=MURAT%20YETK%DDN&Date=25.12.2008&CategoryID=98
|accessdate=2008-12-26
|title=Özkök’ten ‘savunma’: Beni 28 Şubat'takiler gibi davranmamakla suçladılar
|section=Politika
|work=[[Radikal]]
|date=2008-12-25
|language=Turkish
|first=Murat
|last=Yetkin
}}

{{Coup d'état}}
{{Turkey-stub}}
[[Category:Conflicts in 1997]]
[[Category:1997 in Turkey|Coup d'état]]
[[Category:Military coups in Turkey]]

[[tr:28 Şubat süreci]]

Intervention des Militärs in der Türkei 1997

2009-01-08T17:48:33Z

Adoniscik:

[[image:Radikal 2008-12-25 fft17 mf89982.jpg|thumb|"I learned a lesson from February 28", ''Radikal'', 25 December 2008.]]
The '''1997 military memorandum ''' (or "28 February operation/process", from a verbatim translation) in [[Turkey]] was the military overthrowing of the [[coalition government]] led by [[Necmettin Erbakan]] of the [[Welfare Party]] on [[February 28]], [[1997]].<ref name=candar/>

Instead of dissolving the parliament or withdrawing the constitution, the [[Turkish Military]] pressured Erbakan to step down.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://washingtontimes.com/news/2005/jun/25/20050625-104911-8659r/
|title=Reforms curb Turkey's armed forces
|work=[[Washington Times]]
|first=Seth
|last=Rosen
|date=2008-07-27
|accessdate=2005-06-25
}}</ref> For this reason, the events were labelled a "postmodern coup" by some.<ref name=candar>{{cite news|url=http://arsiv.sabah.com.tr/1997/06/28/y12.html
|work=[[Sabah]]
|accessdate=2008-07-27
|date=1997-06-27
|title=Post-modern darbe
|first=Cengiz
|last=Çandar
|authorlink=Cengiz Çandar
|language=Turkish
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://arsiv.sabah.com.tr/2007/02/28/siy106.html
|title='Post-modern darbe' tanımının 10 yıllık sırrı
|accessdate=2008-07-27
|date=2007-02-27
|work=[[Sabah]]
|language=Turkish
|first=Metehan
|last=Demir}}</ref>

One hypothesis is that the coup was precipitated by the military's desire to oust Erbakan's coalition partner, [[Tansu Çiller]], who was implicated in the [[Susurluk scandal]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1997/jul/13/opinion/op-12239
|accessdate=2008-12-15
|title=As the 'Coup' Turns: The Army's Real Target
|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]
|date=1997-07-13
|authorlink=Thomas Goltz
|first=Thomas
|last=Goltz
|page=M-2
}}</ref>

It began on 17 January 1997 with a visit from president [[Süleyman Demirel]] to the [[Turkish General Staff]]. Demirel requested a briefing on what had been bothering the military, and general İsmail Hakkı Karadayı enumerated 55 reactionary things. Demirel said half of them were based on hearsay. He encouraged Karadayı to communicate with the Çiller administration, and to soften the memorandum's wording.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.aksiyon.com.tr/detay.php?id=26705
|accessdate=2009-01-06
|title=Karadayı ikili oynamadı muhtemel darbeyi önledi
|language=Turkish
|first=Faruk
|last=Mercan
|issue=636
|date=2007-02-12
|journal=Aksiyon
|publisher=Feza Gazetecilik A.Ş.
}}</ref>

It is alleged that Bülent Orakoğlu of the police intelligence, under Hanefi Avcı, learned about the coup plans.<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.aktifhaber.com/author_article_detail.php?id=4206
|accessdate=2009-01-08
|title=Enis Berberoğlu ve MİT'teki kankası
|first=Cevheri
|last=Guven
|work=Aktif Haber
|date=2008-12-04
|language=Turkish
}}</ref>

==See also==
{{wikisourcelang|tr|28 Şubat Kararları}}
*[[Military coup in Turkey, 1960]]
*[[Military coup in Turkey, 1971]]
*[[Military coup in Turkey, 1980]]

==References==

<references/>

== Further reading ==

* {{cite news|url=http://www.radikal.com.tr/Default.aspx?aType=YazarYazisi&ArticleID=914193&Yazar=MURAT%20YETK%DDN&Date=25.12.2008&CategoryID=98
|accessdate=2008-12-26
|title=Özkök’ten ‘savunma’: Beni 28 Şubat'takiler gibi davranmamakla suçladılar
|section=Politika
|work=[[Radikal]]
|date=2008-12-25
|language=Turkish
|first=Murat
|last=Yetkin
}}

{{Coup d'état}}
{{Turkey-stub}}
[[Category:Conflicts in 1997]]
[[Category:1997 in Turkey|Coup d'état]]
[[Category:Military coups in Turkey]]

[[tr:28 Şubat süreci]]

Intervention des Militärs in der Türkei 1997

2009-01-08T03:47:02Z

Adoniscik:

[[image:Radikal 2008-12-25 fft17 mf89982.jpg|thumb|"I learned a lesson from February 28", ''Radikal'', 25 December 2008.]]
The '''1997 military memorandum ''' (or "28 February operation/process", from a verbatim translation) in [[Turkey]] was the military overthrowing of the [[coalition government]] led by [[Necmettin Erbakan]] of the [[Welfare Party]] on [[February 28]], [[1997]].<ref name=candar/>

Instead of dissolving the parliament or withdrawing the constitution, the [[Turkish Military]] pressured Erbakan to step down.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://washingtontimes.com/news/2005/jun/25/20050625-104911-8659r/
|title=Reforms curb Turkey's armed forces
|work=[[Washington Times]]
|first=Seth
|last=Rosen
|date=2008-07-27
|accessdate=2005-06-25
}}</ref> For this reason, the events were labelled a "postmodern coup" by some.<ref name=candar>{{cite news|url=http://arsiv.sabah.com.tr/1997/06/28/y12.html
|work=[[Sabah]]
|accessdate=2008-07-27
|date=1997-06-27
|title=Post-modern darbe
|first=Cengiz
|last=Çandar
|authorlink=Cengiz Çandar
|language=Turkish
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://arsiv.sabah.com.tr/2007/02/28/siy106.html
|title='Post-modern darbe' tanımının 10 yıllık sırrı
|accessdate=2008-07-27
|date=2007-02-27
|work=[[Sabah]]
|language=Turkish
|first=Metehan
|last=Demir}}</ref>

One hypothesis is that the coup was precipitated by the military's desire to oust Erbakan's coalition partner, [[Tansu Çiller]], who was implicated in the [[Susurluk scandal]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1997/jul/13/opinion/op-12239
|accessdate=2008-12-15
|title=As the 'Coup' Turns: The Army's Real Target
|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]
|date=1997-07-13
|authorlink=Thomas Goltz
|first=Thomas
|last=Goltz
|page=M-2
}}</ref>

It began on 17 January 1997 with a visit from president [[Süleyman Demirel]] to the [[Turkish General Staff]]. Demirel requested a briefing on what had been bothering the military, and general İsmail Hakkı Karadayı enumerated 55 reactionary things. Demirel said half of them were based on hearsay. He encouraged Karadayı to communicate with the Çiller administration, and to soften the memorandum's wording.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.aksiyon.com.tr/detay.php?id=26705
|accessdate=2009-01-06
|title=Karadayı ikili oynamadı muhtemel darbeyi önledi
|language=Turkish
|first=Faruk
|last=Mercan
|issue=636
|date=2007-02-12
|journal=Aksiyon
|publisher=Feza Gazetecilik A.Ş.
}}</ref>

==See also==
{{wikisourcelang|tr|28 Şubat Kararları}}
*[[Military coup in Turkey, 1960]]
*[[Military coup in Turkey, 1971]]
*[[Military coup in Turkey, 1980]]

==References==

<references/>

== Further reading ==

* {{cite news|url=http://www.radikal.com.tr/Default.aspx?aType=YazarYazisi&ArticleID=914193&Yazar=MURAT%20YETK%DDN&Date=25.12.2008&CategoryID=98
|accessdate=2008-12-26
|title=Özkök’ten ‘savunma’: Beni 28 Şubat'takiler gibi davranmamakla suçladılar
|section=Politika
|work=[[Radikal]]
|date=2008-12-25
|language=Turkish
|first=Murat
|last=Yetkin
}}

{{Coup d'état}}
{{Turkey-stub}}
[[Category:Conflicts in 1997]]
[[Category:1997 in Turkey|Coup d'état]]
[[Category:Military coups in Turkey]]

[[tr:28 Şubat süreci]]

Intervention des Militärs in der Türkei 1997

2009-01-08T03:45:15Z

Adoniscik: moved 28 February operation to 1997 military memorandum (Turkey): The current title does not explain what the event is; see Wikipedia:Naming conventions (events) for guidance.

[[image:Radikal 2008-12-25 fft17 mf89982.jpg|thumb|"I learned a lesson from February 28", ''Radikal'', 25 December 2008.]]
The '''28 February operation''' in [[Turkey]] was the military overthrowing of the [[coalition government]] led by [[Necmettin Erbakan]] of the [[Welfare Party]] on [[February 28]], [[1997]].<ref name=candar/>

Instead of dissolving the parliament or withdrawing the constitution, the [[Turkish Military]] pressured Erbakan to step down.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://washingtontimes.com/news/2005/jun/25/20050625-104911-8659r/
|title=Reforms curb Turkey's armed forces
|work=[[Washington Times]]
|first=Seth
|last=Rosen
|date=2008-07-27
|accessdate=2005-06-25
}}</ref> For this reason, the events were labelled a "postmodern coup" by some.<ref name=candar>{{cite news|url=http://arsiv.sabah.com.tr/1997/06/28/y12.html
|work=[[Sabah]]
|accessdate=2008-07-27
|date=1997-06-27
|title=Post-modern darbe
|first=Cengiz
|last=Çandar
|authorlink=Cengiz Çandar
|language=Turkish
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://arsiv.sabah.com.tr/2007/02/28/siy106.html
|title='Post-modern darbe' tanımının 10 yıllık sırrı
|accessdate=2008-07-27
|date=2007-02-27
|work=[[Sabah]]
|language=Turkish
|first=Metehan
|last=Demir}}</ref>

One hypothesis is that the coup was precipitated by the military's desire to oust Erbakan's coalition partner, [[Tansu Çiller]], who was implicated in the [[Susurluk scandal]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1997/jul/13/opinion/op-12239
|accessdate=2008-12-15
|title=As the 'Coup' Turns: The Army's Real Target
|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]
|date=1997-07-13
|authorlink=Thomas Goltz
|first=Thomas
|last=Goltz
|page=M-2
}}</ref>

It began on 17 January 1997 with a visit from president [[Süleyman Demirel]] to the [[Turkish General Staff]]. Demirel requested a briefing on what had been bothering the military, and general İsmail Hakkı Karadayı enumerated 55 reactionary things. Demirel said half of them were based on hearsay. He encouraged Karadayı to communicate with the Çiller administration, and to soften the memorandum's wording.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.aksiyon.com.tr/detay.php?id=26705
|accessdate=2009-01-06
|title=Karadayı ikili oynamadı muhtemel darbeyi önledi
|language=Turkish
|first=Faruk
|last=Mercan
|issue=636
|date=2007-02-12
|journal=Aksiyon
|publisher=Feza Gazetecilik A.Ş.
}}</ref>

==See also==
{{wikisourcelang|tr|28 Şubat Kararları}}
*[[Military coup in Turkey, 1960]]
*[[Military coup in Turkey, 1971]]
*[[Military coup in Turkey, 1980]]

==References==

<references/>

== Further reading ==

* {{cite news|url=http://www.radikal.com.tr/Default.aspx?aType=YazarYazisi&ArticleID=914193&Yazar=MURAT%20YETK%DDN&Date=25.12.2008&CategoryID=98
|accessdate=2008-12-26
|title=Özkök’ten ‘savunma’: Beni 28 Şubat'takiler gibi davranmamakla suçladılar
|section=Politika
|work=[[Radikal]]
|date=2008-12-25
|language=Turkish
|first=Murat
|last=Yetkin
}}

{{Coup d'état}}
{{Turkey-stub}}
[[Category:Conflicts in 1997]]
[[Category:1997 in Turkey|Coup d'état]]
[[Category:Military coups in Turkey]]

[[tr:28 Şubat süreci]]

Emin Çölaşan

2009-01-07T02:21:16Z

Adoniscik: /* Biography */

[[Image:Emincolasan.jpg|thumb|Emin Çölaşan]]
'''Emin Çölaşan''' is a [[Turkish people|Turkish]] [[investigative journalist]] and was a daily columnist in the mass-circulation newspaper ''[[Hürriyet]]'' until his last article dated 14 August 2007ref{{cite web|url=http://hurarsiv.hurriyet.com.tr/goster/haber.aspx?id=7080182yazarid=5
|accessdate=2008-08-03
|title=Vay vay vay!
|work=Hürriyet
|first=Emin
|last=Çölaşan
|date=2007-08-14
}}/ref. He now writes a daily column for the [[Sözcü]] newspaper. He is one of the most controversial names in [[Media of Turkey|Turkey's written press]].

==Biography==
Emin Çölaşan was born on [[14 March]] [[1942]] in [[Ankara]] to a [[Cretan Turks|Cretan Turkish]] family. His father was a general director who had made his mark in the [http://www.meteor.gov.tr/2006/english/eng-main.aspx State Meteorological Service] and his surname, which literally means desert strider, in reference to his grandfather, who was exiled to profound [[Libya]] by Sultan [[Abdülhamid II]]. His maternal grandfather is Refik Şevket İnce, a comrade-in-arms of [[Atatürk]] with ministerial posts held in the 1920s and the 1950s, and who was born in [[Polichnitos]] near [[Mytilene]] in [[Midilli]] ([[Lesbos]] today). The island is a favorite vacation spot for Çölaşan himself.{{Fact|date=August 2008}}

Çölaşan finished his secondary studies in [[TED Ankara College]] and graduated from the [[Middle East Technical University]] with a degree in management studies. For a decade, he worked in various public institutions and he started his career in journalism in 1977 in the newspaper [[Milliyet]] and he shifted in 1985 to [[Hürriyet]] by starting to contribute as a regular columnist, an influential position carried on still. Çölaşan is the author of numerous books, focused primarily on malpractices within governmental and public circles in [[Turkey]], as well as a party and/or instigator in frequent [[polemics]] with his divulgations and statements on various matters.

His spouse, Tansel Çölaşan, is chief advocate of the [[Turkish Council of State]] (Danıştay)ref{{cite web|url=http://www.danistay.gov.tr/resume_tansel_colasan.htm
|accessdate=2008-08-03
|first=Ender
|last=Çetinkaya
|date=2006-09-20
|title=Tansel Çölaşan
|work=Turkish Council of State
|language=Turkish
}} For English see the Council's [http://www.danistay.gov.tr/eng/index.html organization chart]/ref and was an eye-witness and survivor of the May 2006 attack on the council's premises by [[Alparslan Arslan]].ref{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/17/AR2006051701898.html
|author=Borg, Yesim
|coauthor=Vick, Karl
|title=Judge Killed in Attack On Turkish High Court
|work=Washington Post
|date=2006-05-18
|accessdate=2008-08-03
|pages=A19
}}/ref

== Controversies ==
Çölaşan was a virulent critic of the late [[Presidents of Turkey|President of Turkey]], [[Turgut Özal]], targeted in two of his books; ''Turgut'un Serüveni (Turgut's adventure)'' and ''Turgut Nereden Koşuyor? (Where is Turgut running from?)''. {{As of|2007}}, the choice figures for his lasting enmity are [[Mehmet Barlas]], another well-known Turkish columnist, and [[İ. Melih Gökçek]], the [[Justice and Development Party (Turkey)|AKP]] mayor of [[Ankara]]. Çölaşan made a point of pronouncing the mayor's name in full, in reference to [[wikt:tr:ibne|a Turkish four-letter word]]; a practice for which he was fined 40000 Lira.ref{{cite news|url=http://arsiv.gazeteport.com.tr/NEWS/GP_083878
|title=Çölaşan'a kötü haber
|work=Gazeteport
|accessdate=2008-08-03
|date=2007-10-04
|language=Turkish
|first=Sibel
|last=Hürtaş
}}/ref The two finally appeared on a televised debate,ref{{cite news|title=Ankara'nın Gündemi|work=TGRT|date=2007-03-29 (22:00)|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWTwpSGNFLc|language=Turkish|format=video}}/ref which received a warning from the state censorship board for indecency.ref{{cite web|url=http://yenisafak.com.tr/Gundem/?t=04.04.2007i=38813
|accessdate=2008-08-03
|title=RTÜK Çölaşan-Gökçek tartışmasından dolayı TGRT'yi uyardı
|date=2007-04-04
|publisher=Yeni Şafak
|work=Cihan
|language=Turkish
}}/ref Çölaşan also criticized the incumbent AKP government, which is believed to the reason behind his being his fired from the newspaper [[Hürriyet]] on [[August 13]], [[2007]], after 22 years of service.ref{{cite news|url=http://www.bianet.org/english/kategori/english/101206/hurriyet-journalist-colasan-dismissed
|accessdate=2008-08-03
|title=Hürriyet Journalist Cölasan Dismissed
|work=Bianet
|date=2007-08-17
|author=EÖ/EÜ/AG
}}/refref{{cite news|url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121547086122633883.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
|accessdate=2008-08-03
|title=Turkey Versus Turkey
|work=Wall Street Journal
|location=Europe
|first=Soner
|last=Cagaptay
|date=2008-07-08
}}/ref

==References==
references/

==External links==
* [http://hurarsiv.hurriyet.com.tr/yazarlar/default.aspx?ID=5 Archive of articles by Emin Çölaşan]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Colasan, Emin}}
[[Category:1942 births]]
[[Category:European writer stubs]]
[[Category:Turkish journalists]]
[[Category:Turkish writers]]
[[Category:Turkish columnists]]
[[Category:People from Ankara]]
[[Category:TED Ankara College alumni]]
[[Category:Middle East Technical University alumni]]
[[Category:Living people]]

[[tr:Emin Çölaşan]]

Emin Çölaşan

2009-01-07T02:18:44Z

Adoniscik: restore other sourced stuff

[[Image:Emincolasan.jpg|thumb|Emin Çölaşan]]
'''Emin Çölaşan''' is a [[Turkish people|Turkish]] [[investigative journalist]] and was a daily columnist in the mass-circulation newspaper ''[[Hürriyet]]'' until his last article dated 14 August 2007ref{{cite web|url=http://hurarsiv.hurriyet.com.tr/goster/haber.aspx?id=7080182yazarid=5
|accessdate=2008-08-03
|title=Vay vay vay!
|work=Hürriyet
|first=Emin
|last=Çölaşan
|date=2007-08-14
}}/ref. He now writes a daily column for the [[Sözcü]] newspaper. He is one of the most controversial names in [[Media of Turkey|Turkey's written press]].

==Biography==
Emin Çölaşan was born on [[14 March]] [[1942]] in [[Ankara]] to a [[Cretan Turks|Cretan Turkish]] family. His father was a general director who had made his mark in the [http://www.meteor.gov.tr/2006/english/eng-main.aspx State Meteorological Service] and his surname, which literally means ''desert strider'', makes reference to a grandfather who had been exiled in profound [[Libya]] by the sultan [[Abdülhamid II]]. His maternal grandfather is [[Refik Şevket İnce]], a comrade-in-arms of [[Atatürk]] with ministerial posts held in the 1920s and the 1950s, and who was born in [[Polichnitos]] near [[Mytilene]] in [[Midilli]] ([[Lesbos]] today). The island is a favorite vacation spot for Çölaşan himself.{{Fact|date=August 2008}}

Çölaşan finished his secondary studies in [[TED Ankara College]] and graduated from the [[Middle East Technical University]] with a degree in management studies. For a decade, he worked in various public institutions and he started his career in journalism in 1977 in the newspaper [[Milliyet]] and he shifted in 1985 to [[Hürriyet]] by starting to contribute as a regular columnist, an influential position carried on still. Çölaşan is the author of numerous books, focused primarily on malpractices within governmental and public circles in [[Turkey]], as well as a party and/or instigator in frequent [[polemics]] with his divulgations and statements on various matters.

His spouse, Tansel Çölaşan, is chief advocate of the [[Turkish Council of State]] (Danıştay)ref{{cite web|url=http://www.danistay.gov.tr/resume_tansel_colasan.htm
|accessdate=2008-08-03
|first=Ender
|last=Çetinkaya
|date=2006-09-20
|title=Tansel Çölaşan
|work=Turkish Council of State
|language=Turkish
}} For English see the Council's [http://www.danistay.gov.tr/eng/index.html organization chart]/ref and was an eye-witness and survivor of the May 2006 attack on the council's premises by [[Alparslan Arslan]].ref{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/17/AR2006051701898.html
|author=Borg, Yesim
|coauthor=Vick, Karl
|title=Judge Killed in Attack On Turkish High Court
|work=Washington Post
|date=2006-05-18
|accessdate=2008-08-03
|pages=A19
}}/ref

== Controversies ==
Çölaşan was a virulent critic of the late [[Presidents of Turkey|President of Turkey]], [[Turgut Özal]], targeted in two of his books; ''Turgut'un Serüveni (Turgut's adventure)'' and ''Turgut Nereden Koşuyor? (Where is Turgut running from?)''. {{As of|2007}}, the choice figures for his lasting enmity are [[Mehmet Barlas]], another well-known Turkish columnist, and [[İ. Melih Gökçek]], the [[Justice and Development Party (Turkey)|AKP]] mayor of [[Ankara]]. Çölaşan made a point of pronouncing the mayor's name in full, in reference to [[wikt:tr:ibne|a Turkish four-letter word]]; a practice for which he was fined 40000 Lira.ref{{cite news|url=http://arsiv.gazeteport.com.tr/NEWS/GP_083878
|title=Çölaşan'a kötü haber
|work=Gazeteport
|accessdate=2008-08-03
|date=2007-10-04
|language=Turkish
|first=Sibel
|last=Hürtaş
}}/ref The two finally appeared on a televised debate,ref{{cite news|title=Ankara'nın Gündemi|work=TGRT|date=2007-03-29 (22:00)|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWTwpSGNFLc|language=Turkish|format=video}}/ref which received a warning from the state censorship board for indecency.ref{{cite web|url=http://yenisafak.com.tr/Gundem/?t=04.04.2007i=38813
|accessdate=2008-08-03
|title=RTÜK Çölaşan-Gökçek tartışmasından dolayı TGRT'yi uyardı
|date=2007-04-04
|publisher=Yeni Şafak
|work=Cihan
|language=Turkish
}}/ref Çölaşan also criticized the incumbent AKP government, which is believed to the reason behind his being his fired from the newspaper [[Hürriyet]] on [[August 13]], [[2007]], after 22 years of service.ref{{cite news|url=http://www.bianet.org/english/kategori/english/101206/hurriyet-journalist-colasan-dismissed
|accessdate=2008-08-03
|title=Hürriyet Journalist Cölasan Dismissed
|work=Bianet
|date=2007-08-17
|author=EÖ/EÜ/AG
}}/refref{{cite news|url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121547086122633883.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
|accessdate=2008-08-03
|title=Turkey Versus Turkey
|work=Wall Street Journal
|location=Europe
|first=Soner
|last=Cagaptay
|date=2008-07-08
}}/ref

==References==
references/

==External links==
* [http://hurarsiv.hurriyet.com.tr/yazarlar/default.aspx?ID=5 Archive of articles by Emin Çölaşan]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Colasan, Emin}}
[[Category:1942 births]]
[[Category:European writer stubs]]
[[Category:Turkish journalists]]
[[Category:Turkish writers]]
[[Category:Turkish columnists]]
[[Category:People from Ankara]]
[[Category:TED Ankara College alumni]]
[[Category:Middle East Technical University alumni]]
[[Category:Living people]]

[[tr:Emin Çölaşan]]

Emin Çölaşan

2009-01-07T02:17:54Z

Adoniscik: /* Controversies */

[[Image:Emincolasan.jpg|thumb|Emin Çölaşan]]
'''Emin Çölaşan''' is a [[Turkish people|Turkish]] [[investigative journalist]] and was a daily columnist in the mass-circulation newspaper ''[[Hürriyet]]'' until his last article dated 14 August 2007ref{{cite web|url=http://hurarsiv.hurriyet.com.tr/goster/haber.aspx?id=7080182yazarid=5
|accessdate=2008-08-03
|title=Vay vay vay!
|work=Hürriyet
|first=Emin
|last=Çölaşan
|date=2007-08-14
}}/ref. He now writes a daily column for the [[Sözcü]] newspaper. He is one of the most reliable names in [[Media of Turkey|Turkey's written press]].

==Biography==
Emin Çölaşan was born on [[14 March]] [[1942]] in [[Ankara]] to a [[Cretan Turks|Cretan Turkish]] family. His father was a general director who had made his mark in the [http://www.meteor.gov.tr/2006/english/eng-main.aspx State Meteorological Service] and his surname, which literally means ''desert strider'', makes reference to a grandfather who had been exiled in profound [[Libya]] by the sultan [[Abdülhamid II]]. His maternal grandfather is [[Refik Şevket İnce]], a comrade-in-arms of [[Atatürk]] with ministerial posts held in the 1920s and the 1950s, and who was born in [[Polichnitos]] near [[Mytilene]] in [[Midilli]] ([[Lesbos]] today). The island is a favorite vacation spot for Çölaşan himself.{{Fact|date=August 2008}}

Çölaşan finished his secondary studies in [[TED Ankara College]] and graduated from the [[Middle East Technical University]] with a degree in management studies. For a decade, he worked in various public institutions and he started his career in journalism in 1977 in the newspaper [[Milliyet]] and he shifted in 1985 to [[Hürriyet]] by starting to contribute as a regular columnist, an influential position carried on still. Çölaşan is the author of numerous books, focused primarily on malpractices within governmental and public circles in [[Turkey]], as well as a party and/or instigator in frequent [[polemics]] with his divulgations and statements on various matters.

His spouse, Tansel Çölaşan, is chief advocate of the [[Turkish Council of State]] (Danıştay)ref{{cite web|url=http://www.danistay.gov.tr/resume_tansel_colasan.htm
|accessdate=2008-08-03
|first=Ender
|last=Çetinkaya
|date=2006-09-20
|title=Tansel Çölaşan
|work=Turkish Council of State
|language=Turkish
}} For English see the Council's [http://www.danistay.gov.tr/eng/index.html organization chart]/ref and was an eye-witness and survivor of the May 2006 attack on the council's premises by [[Alparslan Arslan]].ref{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/17/AR2006051701898.html
|author=Borg, Yesim
|coauthor=Vick, Karl
|title=Judge Killed in Attack On Turkish High Court
|work=Washington Post
|date=2006-05-18
|accessdate=2008-08-03
|pages=A19
}}/ref

== Controversies ==
Çölaşan is a powerful critic of the late [[Presidents of Turkey|President of Turkey]], [[Turgut Özal]], targeted in two of his books; ''Turgut'un Serüveni (Turgut's adventure)'' and ''Turgut Nereden Koşuyor? (Where is Turgut running from?)''.

Çölaşan also criticized the incumbent AKP government, which is believed to the reason behind his being his fired from the newspaper [[Hürriyet]] on [[August 13]], [[2007]], after 22 years of service.ref{{cite news|url=http://www.bianet.org/english/kategori/english/101206/hurriyet-journalist-colasan-dismissed
|accessdate=2008-08-03
|title=Hürriyet Journalist Cölasan Dismissed
|work=Bianet
|date=2007-08-17
|author=EÖ/EÜ/AG
}}/refref{{cite news|url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121547086122633883.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
|accessdate=2008-08-03
|title=Turkey Versus Turkey
|work=Wall Street Journal
|location=Europe
|first=Soner
|last=Cagaptay
|date=2008-07-08
}}/ref

==References==
references/

==External links==
* [http://hurarsiv.hurriyet.com.tr/yazarlar/default.aspx?ID=5 Archive of articles by Emin Çölaşan]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Colasan, Emin}}
[[Category:1942 births]]
[[Category:European writer stubs]]
[[Category:Turkish journalists]]
[[Category:Turkish writers]]
[[Category:Turkish columnists]]
[[Category:People from Ankara]]
[[Category:TED Ankara College alumni]]
[[Category:Middle East Technical University alumni]]
[[Category:Living people]]

[[tr:Emin Çölaşan]]

Intervention des Militärs in der Türkei 1997

2009-01-06T15:58:07Z

Adoniscik: Karadayı ikili oynamadı muhtemel darbeyi önledi

Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia

2009-01-02T05:09:44Z

Adoniscik: /* Counteroffensive */ Çatlı'yı kullandık ve başarılı oldu

{{Infobox militant organization
|name = Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia {{rtl-lang|hy|Հայաստանի ազատագրութեան հայ գաղտնի բանակ}} 
|logo = Flag of the ASALA.png
|caption = Flag of the ASALA
|dates = [[1975]]<ref name=hunsicker>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=K4XefrTlSygC&pg=PA431&lpg=PA431&dq=%22to+compel+the+Turkish+Government+to+acknowledge+publicly+its+alleged+responsibility+for+the+deaths+of+1.5+million+Armenians+in+1915,+pay+reparations,+and+cede+territory+for+an+Armenian+homeland%22&source=web&ots=pXUcCHSQ_K&sig=g_wv7KBmKIdDoKiZ2P5nF2r952M&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=2&ct=result|title=Understanding International Counter Terrorism|publisher=Universal-Publishers|last=Hunsicker|isbn=158112905X|pages=431|year=2006}}</ref> to [[1986]]<ref name=roy170>Roy, Olivier. ''Turkey Today: A European Nation?'' p. 170. Roy suggests that the Orly incident led to "dissension end[ing] in the settling of scores in which ASALA militants killed each other in their camp at Bekaa (Al-Biqa, Lebanon)... (It) practically disappeared. It resurfaced once again, however, to assassinate important members of the Lebanese section of the Dashnak Party (March 1985 – May 1986)."</ref>
|leader = [[Hagop Hagopian]]<ref name="MIPT"/>
|motives = "To compel the Turkish Government to acknowledge publicly its responsibility for the [[Armenian Genocide|deaths of 1.5 million Armenians]] in 1915, pay reparations, and cede territory for an Armenian homeland."<ref name=hunsicker/>
|area = [[Turkey]], [[United States]], [[Lebanon]], [[Western Europe]], [[Armenia]], and [[Middle East]].
|ideology = [[Marxism-Leninism]], [[Greater Armenia (political concept)|Greater Armenia]]
|crimes = Assassination of a number of Turkish diplomats and their relatives. Bombing of Turkish, French and Swiss targets for varying motives. Several minor bombing attacks against US airline offices in Western Europe. 
|attacks = Armed attack and bombing of the [[Esenboğa International Airport]], [[Ankara]].<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20070930041244/http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=3316 Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA) attacked Airports & Airlines target (August 7, 1982, Turkey)], [[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]</ref> [[Orly airport attack|Bombing of Turkish airline counter]] at [[Orly Airport (Paris)]].<ref name=hunsicker/>
|allies =
|enemies = [[Turkish government]] and [[Turkish diplomats|its representatives]].<ref name="countrystudy" />
|status = Dissolved
}}

The '''Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia''' ('''ASALA''') was a [[Marxism-Leninism|Marxist-Leninist]] [[militant]]<ref>http://www.bartleby.com/67/2679.html</ref> organization, that operated from 1975 to 1986.<ref>Roy, Olivier. ''Turkey Today: A European Nation?'' p. 170. Roy suggests that the Orly incident led to "dissension end[ing] in the settling of scores in which ASALA militants killed each other in their camp at Bekaa (Al-Biqa, Lebanon)... (It) practically disappeared. It resurfaced once again, however, to assassinate important members of the Lebanese section of the Dashnak Party (March 1985 - May 1986)."</ref> The group also operated under other names such as '''The Orly Group''' and the '''3 October Organization'''.<ref name="countrystudy01" /> The intention of ASALA was purportedly "to compel the Turkish Government to acknowledge publicly its alleged responsibility for the [[Armenian Genocide|deaths of 1.5 million Armenians]] in 1915, pay reparations, and cede territory for an Armenian homeland".<ref name="deptstate">{{cite book
| title = [[s:Patterns of Global Terrorism Report/1996|Patterns of Global Terrorism Report - 1996]]
| chapter = Appendix B
| accessdate = 2007-01-26
| author = U.S. Department of State
}}</ref>

The territory to be ceded would be the area promised to the Armenians at the never-[[ratification|ratified]] [[Treaty of Sèvres]] in 1920 by [[President of the United States|US President]] [[Woodrow Wilson]], "[[Wilsonian Armenia]]".<ref name="countrystudy01">Pitman, Paul M. ''Turkey: A Country Study''. Washington D.C.: The Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, 283, 354-355 {{oclc|17841957}}</ref> ASALA was listed as a [[terrorism|terrorist]] organization by the United States in 1980s.<ref name="deptstate" /> The group's mottos were "The armed struggle and right political line are the way to Armenia", "Viva the revolutionary solidarity of oppressed people!"<ref>''G. Yazchian, Three days ago this day was born ASALA'' // Azg daily, Yerevan, January 20, 2005</ref>

==Background==
ASALA was founded in 1975 in [[Beirut]], [[Lebanon]] during the [[Lebanese Civil War]] by [[Hagop Hagopian]] (Harutiun Tagushian) and [[Kevork Ajemian]],<ref>"[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-22427363.html Kevork Ajemian, Prominent Contemporary Writer and Surviving Member of Triumvirate Which Founded ASALA, Dies in Beirut, Lebanon]," ''Armenian Reporter'', [[1999-02-01]]</ref> a prominent contemporary writer, with the help of sympathetic [[Palestinians]].<ref name=countrystudy>"[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/85.htm Political Interest Groups]," ''[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/ Turkey: A Country Study]'' ed. Helen Chapin Metz. Washington D.C.: The Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, 283, 354-355 {{oclc|17841957}}</ref> Consisting primarily of Lebanese-born Armenians of the Diaspora (whose parents and/or grandparents were survivors of the [[Armenian Genocide]]), the organization followed a theoretical model based on [[leftism|leftist ideology]].<ref>Roy, Olivier. ''Turkey Today: A European Nation?'' p. 169.</ref>
The group's activities were primarily assassinations of Turkish diplomats and politicians in [[Western Europe]], in the [[United States]] and the [[Middle East]].<ref name="countrystudy" /> Their first acknowledged killing was the assassination of the Turkish diplomat, [[Daniş Tunalıgil]], in [[Vienna]] on [[October 22]], [[1975]]. A failed attack in [[Geneva]] on [[October 3]], [[1980]], in which two Armenian militants were injured resulted in a new nickname for the group, the 3 October Organization. The ASALA's eight point manifesto was published in 1981.

ASALA, trained in the Beirut camps of [[Palestine Liberation Organization]], is the best known of the guerilla groups responsible for assassinations of at least 36 Turkish diplomats.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,955176,00.html
|accessdate=2008-09-02
|title=Long Memories
|work=TIME
|date=1983-08-08
|author=Iyer, Pico
|volume=32}}</ref>

== Attacks ==
{{See also|List of attacks by the Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia}}

According to [[National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism|MIPT]] website, there had been 84 incidents involving ASALA leaving 46 people dead, and 299 people injured including the following:<ref name="MIPT">[http://web.archive.org/web/20071115020146/http://www.tkb.org/Group.jsp?groupID=258 Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA)], [[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]</ref>
* [[February 16]], [[1976]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Beirut]], Oktar Cirit was killed.
* [[October 12]], [[1979]] in Turkish Embassy in the [[Hague]], Ahmet Benler, the son of the Ambassador Özdemir Benler, was killed (This attack was one of the attacks co-claimed by JCAG.
* [[July 31]], [[1980]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Athens]], Galip Özmen and his 14 year old daughter Neslihan were killed in the Turkish consulate. Galip Özmen's wife Sevil Özmen and their son Kaan survived the attack with injuries.
* [[December 29]], [[1980]] in [[Madrid]], a [[Spain|Spanish]] journalist, assistant director of the "Pueblo" newspaper, [[José Antonio Gurriarán]] was accidentally injured during an October 3 group attack. Then Gurriarán was interested what the group's purposes were; he found and interviewed ASALA members. In 1982 his "La Bomba" book was published, dedicated to the Armenian cause and Armenian militant's struggle.<ref>[http://www.elpais.com/articulo/ultima/GURRIARaN/_JOSe_ANTONIO_/PERIODISTA/Jose/Antonio/Gurriaran/elpepiult/19820404elpepiult_2/Tes/ GENTE José Antonio Gurriarán], ''[[El Pais]]'', [[April 4]], [[1982]]. "Subdirector del diario Pueblo, relatará en su libro La bomba, que será publicado en el próximo mes de abril, el atentado de que fue víctima en la Gran Vía de Madrid el 29 de diciembre de 1980, hecho del que luego se responsabilizaría el grupo armenio Octubre 3. El autor entrevista en el libro a los miembros del comando que activaron las dos cargas de Goma 2."</ref>
* [[March 4]], 1981 in the Turkish Embassy in [[Paris]], Reşat Moralı was killed and Tecelli Arı was injured.
* [[June 9]], 1981 in the Turkish Consulate in [[Geneva]], Mehmet Savaş Yergüz was killed.
* [[September 24]], [[1981]] in Turkish Consulate in Paris, 56 Turks were held hostage in the embassy by ASALA militants (none of the hostages were harmed), Turkish guard Cemal Özen was killed. ASALA members demanded the Turkish government free Armenian political prisoners within 12 hours and fly them to Paris. After 15 hours they surrendered peacefully requesting political asylum from the French government.<ref name=hungary/>
* [[April 28]], [[1984]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Tehran]], [[Iran]], Işık Yönder was killed.

The ASALA's most criticized attack was on [[August 7]], [[1982]] in [[Ankara]] at the [[Esenboğa International Airport]], when its members targeted both diplomats and non-diplomat civilians for the first time. Two militants opened fire in a crowded passenger waiting room. One of the shooters took more than 20 hostages while the second was apprehended by police. Altogether, nine people died and 82 were injured. The arrested 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'') led by Hagopian and the 'Popular Movement' (''ASALA-Mouvement Révolutionnaire'') led by [[Monte Melkonian]]. While Melkonian's faction insisted on attacks strictly against Turkish officials and the Turkish government, Hagopian's group disregarded the losses of unintended victims and regularly executed dissenting members.
On [[August 10]], [[1982]], [[Artin Penik]] a Turk of Armenian descent, set himself on fire in protest of this attack.<ref name="oran"> {{cite news|
| last = Oran
| first = Baskın
| title = The Reconstruction of Armenian Identity in Turkey and the Weekly Agos (Interview with Hrant Dink)
| work = Nouvelles d'Armenie
| date = 2006-12-17
| url = http://www.armenews.com/article.php3?id_article=27696
| accessdate = 2008-09-02 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=Armenian Issue: Chronology | publisher=[[Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism]] | url=http://www.kultur.gov.tr/EN/BelgeGoster.aspx?17A16AE30572D313A781CAA92714FCE0A3216081A23BEF0D | accessdate=2007-02-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=He was an Armenian: Artin Penik|work=Turkish Journal|url=http://www.turkishjournal.com/i.php?newsid=361|accessdate=2007-02-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title = Armenian Dies from Self-Inflicted Burns | work=[[Associated Press]]| date = 1982-08-15 }}</ref>

Prominent Armenian poet [[Silva Kaputikyan]] in [[1983]] wrote "Its raining my sonny" poem dedicated to the memory of ASALA member Ekmekjian.<ref>[[Spurk Journal]], #1-12, 2005, [[Beirut]], p. 35.</ref>

On [[July 15]], [[1983]], the ASALA carried out another attack at the [[Orly Airport]] near [[Paris]], in which 8 people were killed. The attack resulted in a split in ASALA, between those individuals who carried it out, called the "Orly Group," and those who believed the attack to be counter productive.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hetq.am/eng/society/7332/
|accessdate=2008-09-02
|title=He Was a Man Deeply Connected to the Natural World
|work=Hetq Online
|date=2007-11-26
|first=Edik
|last=Baghdasaryan
}}</ref> Afterwards, French forces promptly arrested those involved.<ref>"[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9804E0DF143BF93AA35753C1A965948260 French Hold Armenians In Orly Airport Bombing]," ''[[Associated Press]]'', [[New York Times]], [[October 9]], [[1983]].</ref> Moreover, this attack eliminated the suspected secret agreement that the French socialist government made with ASALA, in which the government would allow ASALA to use France as a base of operations in exchange for refraining from launching attacks on French soil. Belief in this suspected agreement was further bolstered after "Interior Minister [[Gaston Defferre]] called [ASALA's] cause "just," and four Armenians arrested for taking hostages at the Turkish Embassy in September 1981 were given light sentences."<ref>Echikson, William. "[http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/csmonitor_historic/access/260828642.html?dids=260828642:260828642&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Jul+19%2C+1983&author=By+William+Echikson+Special+to+The+Christian+Science+Monitor&pub=Christian+Science+Monitor&desc=Armenian+bombing+at+Orly+ends+pact+between+Socialists+and+terrorists&pqatl=google Armenian bombing at Orly ends pact between Socialists and terrorists]," ''[[Christian Science Monitor]]'', [[July 19]], [[1983]].</ref>

=== Reactions ===
Continuous attacks prompted Turkey to accuse [[Cyprus]], [[Greece]], [[Syria]], [[Lebanon]], and the [[Soviet Union]] of provoking or possibly funding the ASALA.<ref name="countrystudy" /> Although they publicly distanced themselves from the ASALA,<ref name="countrystudy" /> Turkey's Armenian community came under attack by Turkish nationalists in reaction to the group's actions. This became apparent after the assassination of [[Ahmet Benler]] on [[October 12]], [[1979]] by Armenian militants in [[the Hague]]. The reaction to the attack led to the bombing of the church of the Armenian Apostolic Patriarchate in [[Istanbul]] on [[October 19]] in retaliation.<ref name=azadhye>[[Tessa Hofmann|Tessa, Hofmann]]. [http://www.armenian.ch/asa/Docs/faae02.pdf Armenians in Turkey today]</ref>

According to [[Tessa Hofmann]], Turkish officials frequently used the accusation of collaboration with the ASALA and foreign Armenian circles to incriminate extreme left-wing Turkish opposition groups.<ref name=azadhye/>

=== Counteroffensive ===


After the ASALA attack against the [[Esenboğa International Airport]] in August 1982 the then President of Turkey [[Kenan Evren]] issued a decree for the elimination of ASALA. The task was given to the [[National Intelligence Organization]]'s ({{lang-tr|Millî İstihbarat Teşkilâtı}}, MİT) Foreign Operations Department. Evren's own daughter, a member of the MİT, ran the operation together with Foreign Intelligence Department chief Metin (Mete) Günyol, and Istanbul region director Nuri Gündeş.<ref name=kizi>{{cite journal
|url=http://www.aksiyon.com.tr/detay.php?id=15119
|accessdate=2008-12-13
|title=Asala operasyonlarını Kenan Evren'in kızı yönetti
|date=2004-09-06
|first=Faruk
|last=Mercan
|volume=509
|publisher=Feza Gazetecilik A.Ş.
|journal=Aksiyon
|language=Turkish
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sabah.com.tr/2004/09/08/siy112.html
|accessdate=2008-12-13
|title=Evren: Kızım MİT'te çalışıyordu
|date=2004-09-08
|language=Turkish
|work=Sabah
}}</ref>

Levon Ekmekjian was captured and placed in Ankara's Mamak Prison. He was told that he had to choose between confessing and being executed. After being promised that his comrades would not be harmed, he revealed how the ASALA worked to a team lead by MİT's Presidential Liaison and Evren's son-in-law, Erkan Gürvit. He was executed nevertheless.<ref name=kizi/><ref name=efsane>{{cite news|url=http://arsiv.sabah.com.tr/2008/09/28/haber,B5E3B51FA2F94618A781886CB7B3B590.html
|accessdate=2008-12-25
|title=ASALA operasyonları efsane mi?
|date=2008-09-28
|work=Sabah
|first=Ecevit
|last=Kilic
|language=Turkish
}}</ref>

In the early Spring of 1983 two teams were sent to France and Lebanon. Günyol tapped [[contract killer]] [[Abdullah Çatlı]], who had just finished serving a prison sentence in Switzerland for [[drug trafficking]], to lead the French contingent. Günyol says he did not reveal his identity to Çatlı, who referred to him as "Colonel", thinking Günyol used to be a soldier.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://arsiv.sabah.com.tr/2007/10/17//haber,D6295FFF00984E8D827CBD646EDB8918.html
|accessdate=2009-01-02
|title=Çatlı'yı kullandık ve başarılı oldu
|date=2007-10-17
|quote=Benim gerçek kimliğim mi? Bunu hiçbir zaman bilmedi. Bana 'Albayım' derdi, çünkü beni askerlikten ayrılmış sanıyordu
|first=Ali Kemal
|last=Erdem
|work=Sabah
|language=Turkish
}}</ref>

A second French unit was assembled under MİT operative Sabah Ketene. The Lebanese contingent, consisting only of MİT operatives and members of the “Special Warfare Department” ([[special forces]]), was led by MİT officer Hiram Abas.<ref name=efsane/>

Çatlı's team was ineffectual. The bomb planted in Ara Toranyan's car on 22 March 1983 did not explode. A follow-up attempt also failed. Toranyan said they had planted the bomb in the wrong car. Likewise, Henri Papazyan's car bomb on 1 May 1984 did not explode. Çatlı claimed credit for killing Hagop Hagopian, however he was in a French prison (again, on narcotics charges) at the time of the attack. Papazyan is now believed to have been killed as a result of infighting. The second French team (led by Ketene) did carry out some attacks (which Çatlı also claimed credit for), such as the 1984 Alfortville monument and Salle Pleyel concert room attacks. It is unknown whether the Lebanese contingent did anything at all.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://arsiv.sabah.com.tr/2008/09/28/haber,6BC4820941214D84A08DD404742B2C6F.html
|accessdate=2008-12-25
|title=Boş konser salonu bombalandı
|date=2008-09-28
|work=Sabah
|first=Ecevit
|last=Kilic
|language=Turkish
}}</ref>

After the ASALA counteroffensives, Çatlı gravitated to the police force, under the leadership of [[Mehmet Ağar]]. Meanwhile, the MİT established its own Counter-Terrorism department, which considered Çatlı and Ağar competitors. The MİT attempted to purge the two in an "accident"; the [[Susurluk scandal|Susurluk car crash]]. Ağar was forewarned so he was able to save his life by not taking the car that Çatlı died in.

== Dissolution==
With the [[1982 Lebanon War|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 last attack, on 19 December 1991, targeted the bullet-proof limousine carrying the Turkish Ambassador to [[Budapest]]. The ambassador was not injured in the attack, which was claimed by ASALA in [[Paris]].<ref name=hungary>{{cite web |url=http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=6723 |title=ASALA attacked Diplomatic target|date=1981-12-19|location=Hungary|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070827173744/http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=6723|archivedate=2007-08-27|work=[[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]}}</ref>

ASALA's founder Hagop Hagopian was assassinated on a sidewalk in an affluent neighborhood in [[Athens]], [[Greece]] on April 28, 1988. His assailants, Hovsep A., Vartan G., Garabed K., and Albert "Sultan-Minas", were all former ASALA members and lieutenants of Hagopian. His body was riddled with several bullets while he was walking with two women at 4:30 in the morning.<ref>Melkonian, Markar. ''My Brother's Road: An American's Fateful Journey to Armenia''. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005 pg. 187.</ref> Tarakchian died of [[cancer]] in [[1980]]. Assassinations of former members continued in [[Armenia]] into the late 1990s.<ref>Melkonian, Markar. ''My Brother's Road: An American's Fateful Journey to Armenia''. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005, pp. 277-278.</ref>

According to [[National Intelligence Agency]] official Nuri Gündeş, ASALA was dissolved after its financial backing was withdrawn by the Armenian diaspora after the 1983 [[Orly airport attack]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://arama.hurriyet.com.tr/arsivnews.aspx?id=-599507
|accessdate=2008-12-21
|title=Thanks to Nuri Gündeş
|work=[[Turkish Daily News]]
|publisher=[[Hürriyet]]
|date=2008-12-21
|first=Mehmet Ali
|last=Birand
|quote=It was the raid of Paris's Orly Airport in 1983 that finished the ASALA off. Feeling ill at ease by the raid, the French and U.S. Armenians who used to support ASALA monetarily stopped the aid and the issue was closed. I know this through French authorities that were involved. The ones that were instrumental in the stopping of the aid were MİT and the Foreign Ministry. Otherwise, ASALA did not yield because it was afraid of the Turkish bullies. They were stopped because they had gone too far with their murders.}}</ref>

==References==

{{Reflist|2}}

{{Defunct Armed Armenian Organizations}}

[[Category:1975 establishments]]
[[Category:Defunct Armenian paramilitary organizations]]
[[Category:Armenian Genocide]]
[[Category:Guerrilla organizations]]

[[az:ASALA]]
[[bg:АСАЛА]]
[[ca:ASALA]]
[[de:Asala]]
[[es:Ejército Secreto Armenio para la Liberación de Armenia]]
[[fr:Armée secrète arménienne de libération de l'Arménie]]
[[hy:Հայաստանի ազատագրության հայ գաղտնի բանակ]]
[[it:Esercito Segreto armeno per la Liberazione dell'Armenia]]
[[nl:Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia]]
[[ja:アルメニア解放秘密軍]]
[[pl:ASALA]]
[[ru:Армянская секретная армия освобождения Армении]]
[[simple:Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia]]
[[sl:Armenska tajna armada za osvoboditev Armenije]]
[[sv:ASALA]]
[[tr:ASALA]]

Intervention des Militärs in der Türkei 1997

2008-12-26T16:56:33Z

Adoniscik: "I learned a lesson from February 28", ''Radikal'', 25 December 2008.

[[image:Radikal 2008-12-25 fft17 mf89982.jpg|thumb|"I learned a lesson from February 28", ''Radikal'', 25 December 2008.]]
The '''28 February operation''' in [[Turkey]] was the military overthrowing of the [[coalition government]] led by [[Necmettin Erbakan]] of the [[Welfare Party]] on [[February 28]], [[1997]].<ref name=candar/>

Instead of dissolving the parliament or withdrawing the constitution, the [[Turkish Military]] pressured Erbakan to step down.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://washingtontimes.com/news/2005/jun/25/20050625-104911-8659r/
|title=Reforms curb Turkey's armed forces
|work=[[Washington Times]]
|first=Seth
|last=Rosen
|date=2008-07-27
|accessdate=2005-06-25
}}</ref> For this reason, the events were labelled a "postmodern coup" by some.<ref name=candar>{{cite news|url=http://arsiv.sabah.com.tr/1997/06/28/y12.html
|work=[[Sabah]]
|accessdate=2008-07-27
|date=1997-06-27
|title=Post-modern darbe
|first=Cengiz
|last=Çandar
|authorlink=Cengiz Çandar
|language=Turkish
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://arsiv.sabah.com.tr/2007/02/28/siy106.html
|title='Post-modern darbe' tanımının 10 yıllık sırrı
|accessdate=2008-07-27
|date=2007-02-27
|work=[[Sabah]]
|language=Turkish
|first=Metehan
|last=Demir}}</ref>

One hypothesis is that the coup was precipitated by the military's desire to oust Erbakan's coalition partner, [[Tansu Çiller]], who was implicated in the [[Susurluk scandal]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1997/jul/13/opinion/op-12239
|accessdate=2008-12-15
|title=As the 'Coup' Turns: The Army's Real Target
|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]
|date=1997-07-13
|authorlink=Thomas Goltz
|first=Thomas
|last=Goltz
|page=M-2
}}</ref>

==See also==
{{wikisourcelang|tr|28 Şubat Kararları}}
*[[Military coup in Turkey, 1960]]
*[[Military coup in Turkey, 1971]]
*[[Military coup in Turkey, 1980]]

==References==

<references/>

== Further reading ==

* {{cite news|url=http://www.radikal.com.tr/Default.aspx?aType=YazarYazisi&ArticleID=914193&Yazar=MURAT%20YETK%DDN&Date=25.12.2008&CategoryID=98
|accessdate=2008-12-26
|title=Özkök’ten ‘savunma’: Beni 28 Şubat'takiler gibi davranmamakla suçladılar
|section=Politika
|work=[[Radikal]]
|date=2008-12-25
|language=Turkish
|first=Murat
|last=Yetkin
}}

{{Coup d'état}}
{{Turkey-stub}}
[[Category:Conflicts in 1997]]
[[Category:1997 in Turkey|Coup d'état]]
[[Category:Military coups in Turkey]]

[[tr:28 Şubat süreci]]

Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia

2008-12-26T02:40:56Z

Adoniscik: /* Counteroffensive */

{{Infobox militant organization
|name = Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia {{rtl-lang|hy|Հայաստանի ազատագրութեան հայ գաղտնի բանակ}} 
|logo = Flag of the ASALA.png
|caption = Flag of the ASALA
|dates = [[1975]]<ref name=hunsicker>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=K4XefrTlSygC&pg=PA431&lpg=PA431&dq=%22to+compel+the+Turkish+Government+to+acknowledge+publicly+its+alleged+responsibility+for+the+deaths+of+1.5+million+Armenians+in+1915,+pay+reparations,+and+cede+territory+for+an+Armenian+homeland%22&source=web&ots=pXUcCHSQ_K&sig=g_wv7KBmKIdDoKiZ2P5nF2r952M&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=2&ct=result|title=Understanding International Counter Terrorism|publisher=Universal-Publishers|last=Hunsicker|isbn=158112905X|pages=431|year=2006}}</ref> to [[1986]]<ref name=roy170>Roy, Olivier. ''Turkey Today: A European Nation?'' p. 170. Roy suggests that the Orly incident led to "dissension end[ing] in the settling of scores in which ASALA militants killed each other in their camp at Bekaa (Al-Biqa, Lebanon)... (It) practically disappeared. It resurfaced once again, however, to assassinate important members of the Lebanese section of the Dashnak Party (March 1985 – May 1986)."</ref>
|leader = [[Hagop Hagopian]]<ref name="MIPT"/>
|motives = "To compel the Turkish Government to acknowledge publicly its responsibility for the [[Armenian Genocide|deaths of 1.5 million Armenians]] in 1915, pay reparations, and cede territory for an Armenian homeland."<ref name=hunsicker/>
|area = [[Turkey]], [[United States]], [[Lebanon]], [[Western Europe]], [[Armenia]], and [[Middle East]].
|ideology = [[Marxism-Leninism]], [[Greater Armenia (political concept)|Greater Armenia]]
|crimes = Assassination of a number of Turkish diplomats and their relatives. Bombing of Turkish, French and Swiss targets for varying motives. Several minor bombing attacks against US airline offices in Western Europe. 
|attacks = Armed attack and bombing of the [[Esenboğa International Airport]], [[Ankara]].<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20070930041244/http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=3316 Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA) attacked Airports & Airlines target (August 7, 1982, Turkey)], [[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]</ref> [[Orly airport attack|Bombing of Turkish airline counter]] at [[Orly Airport (Paris)]].<ref name=hunsicker/>
|allies =
|enemies = [[Turkish government]] and [[Turkish diplomats|its representatives]].<ref name="countrystudy" />
|status = Dissolved
}}

The '''Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia''' ('''ASALA''') was a [[Marxism-Leninism|Marxist-Leninist]] [[militant]]<ref>http://www.bartleby.com/67/2679.html</ref> organization, that operated from 1975 to 1986.<ref>Roy, Olivier. ''Turkey Today: A European Nation?'' p. 170. Roy suggests that the Orly incident led to "dissension end[ing] in the settling of scores in which ASALA militants killed each other in their camp at Bekaa (Al-Biqa, Lebanon)... (It) practically disappeared. It resurfaced once again, however, to assassinate important members of the Lebanese section of the Dashnak Party (March 1985 - May 1986)."</ref> The group also operated under other names such as '''The Orly Group''' and the '''3 October Organization'''.<ref name="countrystudy01" /> The intention of ASALA was purportedly "to compel the Turkish Government to acknowledge publicly its alleged responsibility for the [[Armenian Genocide|deaths of 1.5 million Armenians]] in 1915, pay reparations, and cede territory for an Armenian homeland".<ref name="deptstate">{{cite book
| title = [[s:Patterns of Global Terrorism Report/1996|Patterns of Global Terrorism Report - 1996]]
| chapter = Appendix B
| accessdate = 2007-01-26
| author = U.S. Department of State
}}</ref>

The territory to be ceded would be the area promised to the Armenians at the never-[[ratification|ratified]] [[Treaty of Sèvres]] in 1920 by [[President of the United States|US President]] [[Woodrow Wilson]], "[[Wilsonian Armenia]]".<ref name="countrystudy01">Pitman, Paul M. ''Turkey: A Country Study''. Washington D.C.: The Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, 283, 354-355 {{oclc|17841957}}</ref> ASALA was listed as a [[terrorism|terrorist]] organization by the United States in 1980s.<ref name="deptstate" /> The group's mottos were "The armed struggle and right political line are the way to Armenia", "Viva the revolutionary solidarity of oppressed people!"<ref>''G. Yazchian, Three days ago this day was born ASALA'' // Azg daily, Yerevan, January 20, 2005</ref>

==Background==
ASALA was founded in 1975 in [[Beirut]], [[Lebanon]] during the [[Lebanese Civil War]] by [[Hagop Hagopian]] (Harutiun Tagushian) and [[Kevork Ajemian]],<ref>"[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-22427363.html Kevork Ajemian, Prominent Contemporary Writer and Surviving Member of Triumvirate Which Founded ASALA, Dies in Beirut, Lebanon]," ''Armenian Reporter'', [[1999-02-01]]</ref> a prominent contemporary writer, with the help of sympathetic [[Palestinians]].<ref name=countrystudy>"[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/85.htm Political Interest Groups]," ''[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/ Turkey: A Country Study]'' ed. Helen Chapin Metz. Washington D.C.: The Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, 283, 354-355 {{oclc|17841957}}</ref> Consisting primarily of Lebanese-born Armenians of the Diaspora (whose parents and/or grandparents were survivors of the [[Armenian Genocide]]), the organization followed a theoretical model based on [[leftism|leftist ideology]].<ref>Roy, Olivier. ''Turkey Today: A European Nation?'' p. 169.</ref>
The group's activities were primarily assassinations of Turkish diplomats and politicians in [[Western Europe]], in the [[United States]] and the [[Middle East]].<ref name="countrystudy" /> Their first acknowledged killing was the assassination of the Turkish diplomat, [[Daniş Tunalıgil]], in [[Vienna]] on [[October 22]], [[1975]]. A failed attack in [[Geneva]] on [[October 3]], [[1980]], in which two Armenian militants were injured resulted in a new nickname for the group, the 3 October Organization. The ASALA's eight point manifesto was published in 1981.

ASALA, trained in the Beirut camps of [[Palestine Liberation Organization]], is the best known of the guerilla groups responsible for assassinations of at least 36 Turkish diplomats.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,955176,00.html
|accessdate=2008-09-02
|title=Long Memories
|work=TIME
|date=1983-08-08
|author=Iyer, Pico
|volume=32}}</ref>

== Attacks ==
{{See also|List of attacks by the Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia}}

According to [[National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism|MIPT]] website, there had been 84 incidents involving ASALA leaving 46 people dead, and 299 people injured including the following:<ref name="MIPT">[http://web.archive.org/web/20071115020146/http://www.tkb.org/Group.jsp?groupID=258 Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA)], [[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]</ref>
* [[February 16]], [[1976]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Beirut]], Oktar Cirit was killed.
* [[October 12]], [[1979]] in Turkish Embassy in the [[Hague]], Ahmet Benler, the son of the Ambassador Özdemir Benler, was killed (This attack was one of the attacks co-claimed by JCAG.
* [[July 31]], [[1980]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Athens]], Galip Özmen and his 14 year old daughter Neslihan were killed in the Turkish consulate. Galip Özmen's wife Sevil Özmen and their son Kaan survived the attack with injuries.
* [[December 29]], [[1980]] in [[Madrid]], a [[Spain|Spanish]] journalist, assistant director of the "Pueblo" newspaper, [[José Antonio Gurriarán]] was accidentally injured during an October 3 group attack. Then Gurriarán was interested what the group's purposes were; he found and interviewed ASALA members. In 1982 his "La Bomba" book was published, dedicated to the Armenian cause and Armenian militant's struggle.<ref>[http://www.elpais.com/articulo/ultima/GURRIARaN/_JOSe_ANTONIO_/PERIODISTA/Jose/Antonio/Gurriaran/elpepiult/19820404elpepiult_2/Tes/ GENTE José Antonio Gurriarán], ''[[El Pais]]'', [[April 4]], [[1982]]. "Subdirector del diario Pueblo, relatará en su libro La bomba, que será publicado en el próximo mes de abril, el atentado de que fue víctima en la Gran Vía de Madrid el 29 de diciembre de 1980, hecho del que luego se responsabilizaría el grupo armenio Octubre 3. El autor entrevista en el libro a los miembros del comando que activaron las dos cargas de Goma 2."</ref>
* [[March 4]], 1981 in the Turkish Embassy in [[Paris]], Reşat Moralı was killed and Tecelli Arı was injured.
* [[June 9]], 1981 in the Turkish Consulate in [[Geneva]], Mehmet Savaş Yergüz was killed.
* [[September 24]], [[1981]] in Turkish Consulate in Paris, 56 Turks were held hostage in the embassy by ASALA militants (none of the hostages were harmed), Turkish guard Cemal Özen was killed. ASALA members demanded the Turkish government free Armenian political prisoners within 12 hours and fly them to Paris. After 15 hours they surrendered peacefully requesting political asylum from the French government.<ref name=hungary/>
* [[April 28]], [[1984]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Tehran]], [[Iran]], Işık Yönder was killed.

The ASALA's most criticized attack was on [[August 7]], [[1982]] in [[Ankara]] at the [[Esenboğa International Airport]], when its members targeted both diplomats and non-diplomat civilians for the first time. Two militants opened fire in a crowded passenger waiting room. One of the shooters took more than 20 hostages while the second was apprehended by police. Altogether, nine people died and 82 were injured. The arrested 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'') led by Hagopian and the 'Popular Movement' (''ASALA-Mouvement Révolutionnaire'') led by [[Monte Melkonian]]. While Melkonian's faction insisted on attacks strictly against Turkish officials and the Turkish government, Hagopian's group disregarded the losses of unintended victims and regularly executed dissenting members.
On [[August 10]], [[1982]], [[Artin Penik]] a Turk of Armenian descent, set himself on fire in protest of this attack.<ref name="oran"> {{cite news|
| last = Oran
| first = Baskın
| title = The Reconstruction of Armenian Identity in Turkey and the Weekly Agos (Interview with Hrant Dink)
| work = Nouvelles d'Armenie
| date = 2006-12-17
| url = http://www.armenews.com/article.php3?id_article=27696
| accessdate = 2008-09-02 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=Armenian Issue: Chronology | publisher=[[Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism]] | url=http://www.kultur.gov.tr/EN/BelgeGoster.aspx?17A16AE30572D313A781CAA92714FCE0A3216081A23BEF0D | accessdate=2007-02-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=He was an Armenian: Artin Penik|work=Turkish Journal|url=http://www.turkishjournal.com/i.php?newsid=361|accessdate=2007-02-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title = Armenian Dies from Self-Inflicted Burns | work=[[Associated Press]]| date = 1982-08-15 }}</ref>

Prominent Armenian poet [[Silva Kaputikyan]] in [[1983]] wrote "Its raining my sonny" poem dedicated to the memory of ASALA member Ekmekjian.<ref>[[Spurk Journal]], #1-12, 2005, [[Beirut]], p. 35.</ref>

On [[July 15]], [[1983]], the ASALA carried out another attack at the [[Orly Airport]] near [[Paris]], in which 8 people were killed. The attack resulted in a split in ASALA, between those individuals who carried it out, called the "Orly Group," and those who believed the attack to be counter productive.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hetq.am/eng/society/7332/
|accessdate=2008-09-02
|title=He Was a Man Deeply Connected to the Natural World
|work=Hetq Online
|date=2007-11-26
|first=Edik
|last=Baghdasaryan
}}</ref> Afterwards, French forces promptly arrested those involved.<ref>"[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9804E0DF143BF93AA35753C1A965948260 French Hold Armenians In Orly Airport Bombing]," ''[[Associated Press]]'', [[New York Times]], [[October 9]], [[1983]].</ref> Moreover, this attack eliminated the suspected secret agreement that the French socialist government made with ASALA, in which the government would allow ASALA to use France as a base of operations in exchange for refraining from launching attacks on French soil. Belief in this suspected agreement was further bolstered after "Interior Minister [[Gaston Defferre]] called [ASALA's] cause "just," and four Armenians arrested for taking hostages at the Turkish Embassy in September 1981 were given light sentences."<ref>Echikson, William. "[http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/csmonitor_historic/access/260828642.html?dids=260828642:260828642&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Jul+19%2C+1983&author=By+William+Echikson+Special+to+The+Christian+Science+Monitor&pub=Christian+Science+Monitor&desc=Armenian+bombing+at+Orly+ends+pact+between+Socialists+and+terrorists&pqatl=google Armenian bombing at Orly ends pact between Socialists and terrorists]," ''[[Christian Science Monitor]]'', [[July 19]], [[1983]].</ref>

=== Reactions ===
Continuous attacks prompted Turkey to accuse [[Cyprus]], [[Greece]], [[Syria]], [[Lebanon]], and the [[Soviet Union]] of provoking or possibly funding the ASALA.<ref name="countrystudy" /> Although they publicly distanced themselves from the ASALA,<ref name="countrystudy" /> Turkey's Armenian community came under attack by Turkish nationalists in reaction to the group's actions. This became apparent after the assassination of [[Ahmet Benler]] on [[October 12]], [[1979]] by Armenian militants in [[the Hague]]. The reaction to the attack led to the bombing of the church of the Armenian Apostolic Patriarchate in [[Istanbul]] on [[October 19]] in retaliation.<ref name=azadhye>[[Tessa Hofmann|Tessa, Hofmann]]. [http://www.armenian.ch/asa/Docs/faae02.pdf Armenians in Turkey today]</ref>

According to [[Tessa Hofmann]], Turkish officials frequently used the accusation of collaboration with the ASALA and foreign Armenian circles to incriminate extreme left-wing Turkish opposition groups.<ref name=azadhye/>

=== Counteroffensive ===


After the ASALA attack against the [[Esenboğa International Airport]] in August 1982 the then President of Turkey [[Kenan Evren]] issued a decree for the elimination of ASALA. The task was given to the [[National Intelligence Organization]]'s ({{lang-tr|Millî İstihbarat Teşkilâtı}}, MİT) Foreign Operations Department. Evren's own daughter, a member of the MİT, ran the operation together with Foreign Intelligence Department chief Metin (Mete) Günyol, and Istanbul region director Nuri Gündeş.<ref name=kizi>{{cite journal
|url=http://www.aksiyon.com.tr/detay.php?id=15119
|accessdate=2008-12-13
|title=Asala operasyonlarını Kenan Evren'in kızı yönetti
|date=2004-09-06
|first=Faruk
|last=Mercan
|volume=509
|publisher=Feza Gazetecilik A.Ş.
|journal=Aksiyon
|language=Turkish
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sabah.com.tr/2004/09/08/siy112.html
|accessdate=2008-12-13
|title=Evren: Kızım MİT'te çalışıyordu
|date=2004-09-08
|language=Turkish
|work=Sabah
}}</ref>

Levon Ekmekjian was captured and placed in Ankara's Mamak Prison. He was told that he had to choose between confessing and being executed. After being promised that his comrades would not be harmed, he revealed how the ASALA worked to a team lead by MİT's Presidential Liaison and Evren's son-in-law, Erkan Gürvit. He was executed nevertheless.<ref name=kizi/><ref name=efsane>{{cite news|url=http://arsiv.sabah.com.tr/2008/09/28/haber,B5E3B51FA2F94618A781886CB7B3B590.html
|accessdate=2008-12-25
|title=ASALA operasyonları efsane mi?
|date=2008-09-28
|work=Sabah
|first=Ecevit
|last=Kilic
|language=Turkish
}}</ref>

In the early Spring of 1983 two teams were sent to France and Lebanon. Günyol tapped [[contract killer]] [[Abdullah Çatlı]], who had just finished serving a prison sentence in Switzerland for [[drug trafficking]], to lead the French contingent. A second French unit was assembled under MİT operative Sabah Ketene. The Lebanese contingent, consisting only of MİT operatives and members of the “Special Warfare Department” ([[special forces]]), was led by MİT officer Hiram Abas.<ref name=efsane/>

Çatlı's team was ineffectual. A bomb was planted in Ara Toranyan's car on 22 March 1983. It did not explode. A follow-up attempt also failed. Toranyan said they had planted the bomb in the wrong car. Likewise, Henri Papazyan's car bomb on 1 May 1984 did not explode. Çatlı claimed credit for killing Hagop Hagopian, however he was in a French prison (again, on narcotics charges) at the time of the attack. Papazyan is now believed to have been killed as a result of infighting. The second French team (led by Ketene) did carry out some attacks (which Çatlı also claimed credit for), such as the 1984 Alfortville monument and Salle Pleyel concert room attacks. It is unknown whether the Lebanese contingent did anything at all.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://arsiv.sabah.com.tr/2008/09/28/haber,6BC4820941214D84A08DD404742B2C6F.html
|accessdate=2008-12-25
|title=Boş konser salonu bombalandı
|date=2008-09-28
|work=Sabah
|first=Ecevit
|last=Kilic
|language=Turkish
}}</ref>

== Dissolution==
With the [[1982 Lebanon War|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 last attack, on 19 December 1991, targeted the bullet-proof limousine carrying the Turkish Ambassador to [[Budapest]]. The ambassador was not injured in the attack, which was claimed by ASALA in [[Paris]].<ref name=hungary>{{cite web |url=http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=6723 |title=ASALA attacked Diplomatic target|date=1981-12-19|location=Hungary|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070827173744/http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=6723|archivedate=2007-08-27|work=[[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]}}</ref>

ASALA's founder Hagop Hagopian was assassinated on a sidewalk in an affluent neighborhood in [[Athens]], [[Greece]] on April 28, 1988. His assailants, Hovsep A., Vartan G., Garabed K., and Albert "Sultan-Minas", were all former ASALA members and lieutenants of Hagopian. His body was riddled with several bullets while he was walking with two women at 4:30 in the morning.<ref>Melkonian, Markar. ''My Brother's Road: An American's Fateful Journey to Armenia''. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005 pg. 187.</ref> Tarakchian died of [[cancer]] in [[1980]]. Assassinations of former members continued in [[Armenia]] into the late 1990s.<ref>Melkonian, Markar. ''My Brother's Road: An American's Fateful Journey to Armenia''. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005, pp. 277-278.</ref>

According to [[National Intelligence Agency]] official Nuri Gündeş, ASALA was dissolved after its financial backing was withdrawn by the Armenian diaspora after the 1983 [[Orly airport attack]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://arama.hurriyet.com.tr/arsivnews.aspx?id=-599507
|accessdate=2008-12-21
|title=Thanks to Nuri Gündeş
|work=[[Turkish Daily News]]
|publisher=[[Hürriyet]]
|date=2008-12-21
|first=Mehmet Ali
|last=Birand
|quote=It was the raid of Paris's Orly Airport in 1983 that finished the ASALA off. Feeling ill at ease by the raid, the French and U.S. Armenians who used to support ASALA monetarily stopped the aid and the issue was closed. I know this through French authorities that were involved. The ones that were instrumental in the stopping of the aid were MİT and the Foreign Ministry. Otherwise, ASALA did not yield because it was afraid of the Turkish bullies. They were stopped because they had gone too far with their murders.}}</ref>

==References==

{{Reflist|2}}

{{Defunct Armed Armenian Organizations}}

[[Category:1975 establishments]]
[[Category:Defunct Armenian paramilitary organizations]]
[[Category:Armenian Genocide]]
[[Category:Guerrilla organizations]]

[[az:ASALA]]
[[bg:АСАЛА]]
[[ca:ASALA]]
[[de:Asala]]
[[es:Ejército Secreto Armenio para la Liberación de Armenia]]
[[fr:Armée secrète arménienne de libération de l'Arménie]]
[[hy:Հայաստանի ազատագրության հայ գաղտնի բանակ]]
[[it:Esercito Segreto armeno per la Liberazione dell'Armenia]]
[[nl:Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia]]
[[ja:アルメニア解放秘密軍]]
[[pl:ASALA]]
[[ru:Армянская секретная армия освобождения Армении]]
[[simple:Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia]]
[[sl:Armenska tajna armada za osvoboditev Armenije]]
[[sv:ASALA]]
[[tr:ASALA]]

Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia

2008-12-25T22:12:00Z

Adoniscik:

{{Infobox militant organization
|name = Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia {{rtl-lang|hy|Հայաստանի ազատագրութեան հայ գաղտնի բանակ}} 
|logo = Flag of the ASALA.png
|caption = Flag of the ASALA
|dates = [[1975]]<ref name=hunsicker>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=K4XefrTlSygC&pg=PA431&lpg=PA431&dq=%22to+compel+the+Turkish+Government+to+acknowledge+publicly+its+alleged+responsibility+for+the+deaths+of+1.5+million+Armenians+in+1915,+pay+reparations,+and+cede+territory+for+an+Armenian+homeland%22&source=web&ots=pXUcCHSQ_K&sig=g_wv7KBmKIdDoKiZ2P5nF2r952M&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=2&ct=result|title=Understanding International Counter Terrorism|publisher=Universal-Publishers|last=Hunsicker|isbn=158112905X|pages=431|year=2006}}</ref> to [[1986]]<ref name=roy170>Roy, Olivier. ''Turkey Today: A European Nation?'' p. 170. Roy suggests that the Orly incident led to "dissension end[ing] in the settling of scores in which ASALA militants killed each other in their camp at Bekaa (Al-Biqa, Lebanon)... (It) practically disappeared. It resurfaced once again, however, to assassinate important members of the Lebanese section of the Dashnak Party (March 1985 – May 1986)."</ref>
|leader = [[Hagop Hagopian]]<ref name="MIPT"/>
|motives = "To compel the Turkish Government to acknowledge publicly its responsibility for the [[Armenian Genocide|deaths of 1.5 million Armenians]] in 1915, pay reparations, and cede territory for an Armenian homeland."<ref name=hunsicker/>
|area = [[Turkey]], [[United States]], [[Lebanon]], [[Western Europe]], [[Armenia]], and [[Middle East]].
|ideology = [[Marxism-Leninism]], [[Greater Armenia (political concept)|Greater Armenia]]
|crimes = Assassination of a number of Turkish diplomats and their relatives. Bombing of Turkish, French and Swiss targets for varying motives. Several minor bombing attacks against US airline offices in Western Europe. 
|attacks = Armed attack and bombing of the [[Esenboğa International Airport]], [[Ankara]].<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20070930041244/http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=3316 Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA) attacked Airports & Airlines target (August 7, 1982, Turkey)], [[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]</ref> [[Orly airport attack|Bombing of Turkish airline counter]] at [[Orly Airport (Paris)]].<ref name=hunsicker/>
|allies =
|enemies = [[Turkish government]] and [[Turkish diplomats|its representatives]].<ref name="countrystudy" />
|status = Dissolved
}}

The '''Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia''' ('''ASALA''') was a [[Marxism-Leninism|Marxist-Leninist]] [[militant]]<ref>http://www.bartleby.com/67/2679.html</ref> organization, that operated from 1975 to 1986.<ref>Roy, Olivier. ''Turkey Today: A European Nation?'' p. 170. Roy suggests that the Orly incident led to "dissension end[ing] in the settling of scores in which ASALA militants killed each other in their camp at Bekaa (Al-Biqa, Lebanon)... (It) practically disappeared. It resurfaced once again, however, to assassinate important members of the Lebanese section of the Dashnak Party (March 1985 - May 1986)."</ref> The group also operated under other names such as '''The Orly Group''' and the '''3 October Organization'''.<ref name="countrystudy01" /> The intention of ASALA was purportedly "to compel the Turkish Government to acknowledge publicly its alleged responsibility for the [[Armenian Genocide|deaths of 1.5 million Armenians]] in 1915, pay reparations, and cede territory for an Armenian homeland".<ref name="deptstate">{{cite book
| title = [[s:Patterns of Global Terrorism Report/1996|Patterns of Global Terrorism Report - 1996]]
| chapter = Appendix B
| accessdate = 2007-01-26
| author = U.S. Department of State
}}</ref>

The territory to be ceded would be the area promised to the Armenians at the never-[[ratification|ratified]] [[Treaty of Sèvres]] in 1920 by [[President of the United States|US President]] [[Woodrow Wilson]], "[[Wilsonian Armenia]]".<ref name="countrystudy01">Pitman, Paul M. ''Turkey: A Country Study''. Washington D.C.: The Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, 283, 354-355 {{oclc|17841957}}</ref> ASALA was listed as a [[terrorism|terrorist]] organization by the United States in 1980s.<ref name="deptstate" /> The group's mottos were "The armed struggle and right political line are the way to Armenia", "Viva the revolutionary solidarity of oppressed people!"<ref>''G. Yazchian, Three days ago this day was born ASALA'' // Azg daily, Yerevan, January 20, 2005</ref>

==Background==
ASALA was founded in 1975 in [[Beirut]], [[Lebanon]] during the [[Lebanese Civil War]] by [[Hagop Hagopian]] (Harutiun Tagushian) and [[Kevork Ajemian]],<ref>"[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-22427363.html Kevork Ajemian, Prominent Contemporary Writer and Surviving Member of Triumvirate Which Founded ASALA, Dies in Beirut, Lebanon]," ''Armenian Reporter'', [[1999-02-01]]</ref> a prominent contemporary writer, with the help of sympathetic [[Palestinians]].<ref name=countrystudy>"[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/85.htm Political Interest Groups]," ''[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/ Turkey: A Country Study]'' ed. Helen Chapin Metz. Washington D.C.: The Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, 283, 354-355 {{oclc|17841957}}</ref> Consisting primarily of Lebanese-born Armenians of the Diaspora (whose parents and/or grandparents were survivors of the [[Armenian Genocide]]), the organization followed a theoretical model based on [[leftism|leftist ideology]].<ref>Roy, Olivier. ''Turkey Today: A European Nation?'' p. 169.</ref>
The group's activities were primarily assassinations of Turkish diplomats and politicians in [[Western Europe]], in the [[United States]] and the [[Middle East]].<ref name="countrystudy" /> Their first acknowledged killing was the assassination of the Turkish diplomat, [[Daniş Tunalıgil]], in [[Vienna]] on [[October 22]], [[1975]]. A failed attack in [[Geneva]] on [[October 3]], [[1980]], in which two Armenian militants were injured resulted in a new nickname for the group, the 3 October Organization. The ASALA's eight point manifesto was published in 1981.

ASALA, trained in the Beirut camps of [[Palestine Liberation Organization]], is the best known of the guerilla groups responsible for assassinations of at least 36 Turkish diplomats.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,955176,00.html
|accessdate=2008-09-02
|title=Long Memories
|work=TIME
|date=1983-08-08
|author=Iyer, Pico
|volume=32}}</ref>

== Attacks ==
{{See also|List of attacks by the Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia}}

According to [[National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism|MIPT]] website, there had been 84 incidents involving ASALA leaving 46 people dead, and 299 people injured including the following:<ref name="MIPT">[http://web.archive.org/web/20071115020146/http://www.tkb.org/Group.jsp?groupID=258 Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA)], [[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]</ref>
* [[February 16]], [[1976]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Beirut]], Oktar Cirit was killed.
* [[October 12]], [[1979]] in Turkish Embassy in the [[Hague]], Ahmet Benler, the son of the Ambassador Özdemir Benler, was killed (This attack was one of the attacks co-claimed by JCAG.
* [[July 31]], [[1980]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Athens]], Galip Özmen and his 14 year old daughter Neslihan were killed in the Turkish consulate. Galip Özmen's wife Sevil Özmen and their son Kaan survived the attack with injuries.
* [[December 29]], [[1980]] in [[Madrid]], a [[Spain|Spanish]] journalist, assistant director of the "Pueblo" newspaper, [[José Antonio Gurriarán]] was accidentally injured during an October 3 group attack. Then Gurriarán was interested what the group's purposes were; he found and interviewed ASALA members. In 1982 his "La Bomba" book was published, dedicated to the Armenian cause and Armenian militant's struggle.<ref>[http://www.elpais.com/articulo/ultima/GURRIARaN/_JOSe_ANTONIO_/PERIODISTA/Jose/Antonio/Gurriaran/elpepiult/19820404elpepiult_2/Tes/ GENTE José Antonio Gurriarán], ''[[El Pais]]'', [[April 4]], [[1982]]. "Subdirector del diario Pueblo, relatará en su libro La bomba, que será publicado en el próximo mes de abril, el atentado de que fue víctima en la Gran Vía de Madrid el 29 de diciembre de 1980, hecho del que luego se responsabilizaría el grupo armenio Octubre 3. El autor entrevista en el libro a los miembros del comando que activaron las dos cargas de Goma 2."</ref>
* [[March 4]], 1981 in the Turkish Embassy in [[Paris]], Reşat Moralı was killed and Tecelli Arı was injured.
* [[June 9]], 1981 in the Turkish Consulate in [[Geneva]], Mehmet Savaş Yergüz was killed.
* [[September 24]], [[1981]] in Turkish Consulate in Paris, 56 Turks were held hostage in the embassy by ASALA militants (none of the hostages were harmed), Turkish guard Cemal Özen was killed. ASALA members demanded the Turkish government free Armenian political prisoners within 12 hours and fly them to Paris. After 15 hours they surrendered peacefully requesting political asylum from the French government.<ref name=hungary/>
* [[April 28]], [[1984]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Tehran]], [[Iran]], Işık Yönder was killed.

The ASALA's most criticized attack was on [[August 7]], [[1982]] in [[Ankara]] at the [[Esenboğa International Airport]], when its members targeted both diplomats and non-diplomat civilians for the first time. Two militants opened fire in a crowded passenger waiting room. One of the shooters took more than 20 hostages while the second was apprehended by police. Altogether, nine people died and 82 were injured. The arrested 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'') led by Hagopian and the 'Popular Movement' (''ASALA-Mouvement Révolutionnaire'') led by [[Monte Melkonian]]. While Melkonian's faction insisted on attacks strictly against Turkish officials and the Turkish government, Hagopian's group disregarded the losses of unintended victims and regularly executed dissenting members.
On [[August 10]], [[1982]], [[Artin Penik]] a Turk of Armenian descent, set himself on fire in protest of this attack.<ref name="oran"> {{cite news|
| last = Oran
| first = Baskın
| title = The Reconstruction of Armenian Identity in Turkey and the Weekly Agos (Interview with Hrant Dink)
| work = Nouvelles d'Armenie
| date = 2006-12-17
| url = http://www.armenews.com/article.php3?id_article=27696
| accessdate = 2008-09-02 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=Armenian Issue: Chronology | publisher=[[Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism]] | url=http://www.kultur.gov.tr/EN/BelgeGoster.aspx?17A16AE30572D313A781CAA92714FCE0A3216081A23BEF0D | accessdate=2007-02-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=He was an Armenian: Artin Penik|work=Turkish Journal|url=http://www.turkishjournal.com/i.php?newsid=361|accessdate=2007-02-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title = Armenian Dies from Self-Inflicted Burns | work=[[Associated Press]]| date = 1982-08-15 }}</ref>

Prominent Armenian poet [[Silva Kaputikyan]] in [[1983]] wrote "Its raining my sonny" poem dedicated to the memory of ASALA member Ekmekjian.<ref>[[Spurk Journal]], #1-12, 2005, [[Beirut]], p. 35.</ref>

On [[July 15]], [[1983]], the ASALA carried out another attack at the [[Orly Airport]] near [[Paris]], in which 8 people were killed. The attack resulted in a split in ASALA, between those individuals who carried it out, called the "Orly Group," and those who believed the attack to be counter productive.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hetq.am/eng/society/7332/
|accessdate=2008-09-02
|title=He Was a Man Deeply Connected to the Natural World
|work=Hetq Online
|date=2007-11-26
|first=Edik
|last=Baghdasaryan
}}</ref> Afterwards, French forces promptly arrested those involved.<ref>"[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9804E0DF143BF93AA35753C1A965948260 French Hold Armenians In Orly Airport Bombing]," ''[[Associated Press]]'', [[New York Times]], [[October 9]], [[1983]].</ref> Moreover, this attack eliminated the suspected secret agreement that the French socialist government made with ASALA, in which the government would allow ASALA to use France as a base of operations in exchange for refraining from launching attacks on French soil. Belief in this suspected agreement was further bolstered after "Interior Minister [[Gaston Defferre]] called [ASALA's] cause "just," and four Armenians arrested for taking hostages at the Turkish Embassy in September 1981 were given light sentences."<ref>Echikson, William. "[http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/csmonitor_historic/access/260828642.html?dids=260828642:260828642&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Jul+19%2C+1983&author=By+William+Echikson+Special+to+The+Christian+Science+Monitor&pub=Christian+Science+Monitor&desc=Armenian+bombing+at+Orly+ends+pact+between+Socialists+and+terrorists&pqatl=google Armenian bombing at Orly ends pact between Socialists and terrorists]," ''[[Christian Science Monitor]]'', [[July 19]], [[1983]].</ref>

=== Reactions ===
Continuous attacks prompted Turkey to accuse [[Cyprus]], [[Greece]], [[Syria]], [[Lebanon]], and the [[Soviet Union]] of provoking or possibly funding the ASALA.<ref name="countrystudy" /> Although they publicly distanced themselves from the ASALA,<ref name="countrystudy" /> Turkey's Armenian community came under attack by Turkish nationalists in reaction to the group's actions. This became apparent after the assassination of [[Ahmet Benler]] on [[October 12]], [[1979]] by Armenian militants in [[the Hague]]. The reaction to the attack led to the bombing of the church of the Armenian Apostolic Patriarchate in [[Istanbul]] on [[October 19]] in retaliation.<ref name=azadhye>[[Tessa Hofmann|Tessa, Hofmann]]. [http://www.armenian.ch/asa/Docs/faae02.pdf Armenians in Turkey today]</ref>

According to [[Tessa Hofmann]], Turkish officials frequently used the accusation of collaboration with the ASALA and foreign Armenian circles to incriminate extreme left-wing Turkish opposition groups.<ref name=azadhye/>

=== Counteroffensive ===


After the ASALA attack against the [[Esenboğa International Airport]] in August 1982 the then President of Turkey [[Kenan Evren]] issued a decree for the elimination of ASALA. The task was given to the [[National Intelligence Organization]]'s ({{lang-tr|Millî İstihbarat Teşkilâtı}}, MİT) Foreign Operations Department. Evren's own daughter, a member of the MİT, ran the operation together with Foreign Intelligence Department chief Metin (Mete) Günyol, and Istanbul region director Nuri Gündeş.<ref name=kizi>{{cite journal
|url=http://www.aksiyon.com.tr/detay.php?id=15119
|accessdate=2008-12-13
|title=Asala operasyonlarını Kenan Evren'in kızı yönetti
|date=2004-09-06
|first=Faruk
|last=Mercan
|volume=509
|publisher=Feza Gazetecilik A.Ş.
|journal=Aksiyon
|language=Turkish
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sabah.com.tr/2004/09/08/siy112.html
|accessdate=2008-12-13
|title=Evren: Kızım MİT'te çalışıyordu
|date=2004-09-08
|language=Turkish
|work=Sabah
}}</ref>

Levon Ekmekjian was captured and placed in Ankara's Mamak Prison. He was told that he had to choose between confessing and being executed. After being promised that his comrades would not be harmed, he revealed how the ASALA worked to a team lead by MİT's Presidential Liaison and Evren's son-in-law, Erkan Gürvit. He was executed nevertheless.<ref name=kizi/><ref name=efsane>{{cite news|url=http://arsiv.sabah.com.tr/2008/09/28/haber,B5E3B51FA2F94618A781886CB7B3B590.html
|accessdate=2008-12-25
|title=ASALA operasyonları efsane mi?
|date=2008-09-28
|work=Sabah
|first=Ecevit
|last=Kilic
|language=Turkish
}}</ref>

In the early Spring of 1983 two teams were sent to France and Lebanon. Günyol tapped [[contract killer]] [[Abdullah Çatlı]], who had just finished serving a prison sentence in Switzerland for [[drug trafficking]], to lead the French contingent. A second French unit was assembled under MİT operative Sabah Ketene. The Lebanese contingent, consisting only of MİT operatives and members of the “Special Warfare Department” ([[special forces]]), was led by MİT officer Hiram Abas.<ref name=efsane/>

Çatlı's team was ineffectual. A bomb was planted in Ara Toranyan's car on 22 March 1983. It did not explode. A follow-up attempt also failed. Toranyan said they had planted the bomb in the wrong car. Likewise, Henri Papazyan's car bomb on 1 May 1984 did not explode. Çatlı claimed credit for killing Hagop Hagopian, however he was in a French prison (again, on narcotics charges) at the time of the attack. Papazyan is now believed to been killed as a result of infighting. The second French team (led by Ketene) did carry out some attacks (which Çatlı also claimed credit for), such as the 1984 Alfortville monument and Salle Pleyel concert room attacks. It is unknown whether the Lebanese contingent did anything at all.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://arsiv.sabah.com.tr/2008/09/28/haber,6BC4820941214D84A08DD404742B2C6F.html
|accessdate=2008-12-25
|title=Boş konser salonu bombalandı
|date=2008-09-28
|work=Sabah
|first=Ecevit
|last=Kilic
|language=Turkish
}}</ref>

== Dissolution==
With the [[1982 Lebanon War|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 last attack, on 19 December 1991, targeted the bullet-proof limousine carrying the Turkish Ambassador to [[Budapest]]. The ambassador was not injured in the attack, which was claimed by ASALA in [[Paris]].<ref name=hungary>{{cite web |url=http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=6723 |title=ASALA attacked Diplomatic target|date=1981-12-19|location=Hungary|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070827173744/http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=6723|archivedate=2007-08-27|work=[[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]}}</ref>

ASALA's founder Hagop Hagopian was assassinated on a sidewalk in an affluent neighborhood in [[Athens]], [[Greece]] on April 28, 1988. His assailants, Hovsep A., Vartan G., Garabed K., and Albert "Sultan-Minas", were all former ASALA members and lieutenants of Hagopian. His body was riddled with several bullets while he was walking with two women at 4:30 in the morning.<ref>Melkonian, Markar. ''My Brother's Road: An American's Fateful Journey to Armenia''. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005 pg. 187.</ref> Tarakchian died of [[cancer]] in [[1980]]. Assassinations of former members continued in [[Armenia]] into the late 1990s.<ref>Melkonian, Markar. ''My Brother's Road: An American's Fateful Journey to Armenia''. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005, pp. 277-278.</ref>

According to [[National Intelligence Agency]] official Nuri Gündeş, ASALA was dissolved after its financial backing was withdrawn by the Armenian diaspora after the 1983 [[Orly airport attack]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://arama.hurriyet.com.tr/arsivnews.aspx?id=-599507
|accessdate=2008-12-21
|title=Thanks to Nuri Gündeş
|work=[[Turkish Daily News]]
|publisher=[[Hürriyet]]
|date=2008-12-21
|first=Mehmet Ali
|last=Birand
|quote=It was the raid of Paris's Orly Airport in 1983 that finished the ASALA off. Feeling ill at ease by the raid, the French and U.S. Armenians who used to support ASALA monetarily stopped the aid and the issue was closed. I know this through French authorities that were involved. The ones that were instrumental in the stopping of the aid were MİT and the Foreign Ministry. Otherwise, ASALA did not yield because it was afraid of the Turkish bullies. They were stopped because they had gone too far with their murders.}}</ref>

==References==

{{Reflist|2}}

{{Defunct Armed Armenian Organizations}}

[[Category:1975 establishments]]
[[Category:Defunct Armenian paramilitary organizations]]
[[Category:Armenian Genocide]]
[[Category:Guerrilla organizations]]

[[az:ASALA]]
[[bg:АСАЛА]]
[[ca:ASALA]]
[[de:Asala]]
[[es:Ejército Secreto Armenio para la Liberación de Armenia]]
[[fr:Armée secrète arménienne de libération de l'Arménie]]
[[hy:Հայաստանի ազատագրության հայ գաղտնի բանակ]]
[[it:Esercito Segreto armeno per la Liberazione dell'Armenia]]
[[nl:Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia]]
[[ja:アルメニア解放秘密軍]]
[[pl:ASALA]]
[[ru:Армянская секретная армия освобождения Армении]]
[[simple:Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia]]
[[sl:Armenska tajna armada za osvoboditev Armenije]]
[[sv:ASALA]]
[[tr:ASALA]]

Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia

2008-12-25T22:11:18Z

Adoniscik: /* Counteroffensive */

{{Infobox militant organization
|name = Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia {{rtl-lang|hy|Հայաստանի ազատագրութեան հայ գաղտնի բանակ}} 
|logo = Flag of the ASALA.png
|caption = Flag of the ASALA
|dates = [[1975]]<ref name=hunsicker>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=K4XefrTlSygC&pg=PA431&lpg=PA431&dq=%22to+compel+the+Turkish+Government+to+acknowledge+publicly+its+alleged+responsibility+for+the+deaths+of+1.5+million+Armenians+in+1915,+pay+reparations,+and+cede+territory+for+an+Armenian+homeland%22&source=web&ots=pXUcCHSQ_K&sig=g_wv7KBmKIdDoKiZ2P5nF2r952M&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=2&ct=result|title=Understanding International Counter Terrorism|publisher=Universal-Publishers|last=Hunsicker|isbn=158112905X|pages=431|year=2006}}</ref> to [[1986]]<ref name=roy170>Roy, Olivier. ''Turkey Today: A European Nation?'' p. 170. Roy suggests that the Orly incident led to "dissension end[ing] in the settling of scores in which ASALA militants killed each other in their camp at Bekaa (Al-Biqa, Lebanon)... (It) practically disappeared. It resurfaced once again, however, to assassinate important members of the Lebanese section of the Dashnak Party (March 1985 – May 1986)."</ref>
|leader = [[Hagop Hagopian]]<ref name="MIPT"/>
|motives = "To compel the Turkish Government to acknowledge publicly its responsibility for the [[Armenian Genocide|deaths of 1.5 million Armenians]] in 1915, pay reparations, and cede territory for an Armenian homeland."<ref name=hunsicker/>
|area = [[Turkey]], [[United States]], [[Lebanon]], [[Western Europe]], [[Armenia]], and [[Middle East]].
|ideology = [[Marxism-Leninism]], [[Greater Armenia (political concept)|Greater Armenia]]
|crimes = Assassination of a number of Turkish diplomats and their relatives. Bombing of Turkish, French and Swiss targets for varying motives. Several minor bombing attacks against US airline offices in Western Europe. 
|attacks = Armed attack and bombing of the [[Esenboğa International Airport]], [[Ankara]].<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20070930041244/http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=3316 Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA) attacked Airports & Airlines target (August 7, 1982, Turkey)], [[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]</ref> [[Orly airport attack|Bombing of Turkish airline counter]] at [[Orly Airport (Paris)]].<ref name=hunsicker/>
|allies =
|enemies = [[Turkish government]] and [[Turkish diplomats|its representatives]].<ref name="countrystudy" />
|status = Dissolved
}}

The '''Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia''' ('''ASALA''') was a [[Marxism-Leninism|Marxist-Leninist]] [[militant]]<ref>http://www.bartleby.com/67/2679.html</ref> organization, that operated from 1975 to 1986.<ref>Roy, Olivier. ''Turkey Today: A European Nation?'' p. 170. Roy suggests that the Orly incident led to "dissension end[ing] in the settling of scores in which ASALA militants killed each other in their camp at Bekaa (Al-Biqa, Lebanon)... (It) practically disappeared. It resurfaced once again, however, to assassinate important members of the Lebanese section of the Dashnak Party (March 1985 - May 1986)."</ref> The group also operated under other names such as '''The Orly Group''' and the '''3 October Organization'''.<ref name="countrystudy01" /> The intention of ASALA was purportedly "to compel the Turkish Government to acknowledge publicly its alleged responsibility for the [[Armenian Genocide|deaths of 1.5 million Armenians]] in 1915, pay reparations, and cede territory for an Armenian homeland".<ref name="deptstate">{{cite book
| title = [[s:Patterns of Global Terrorism Report/1996|Patterns of Global Terrorism Report - 1996]]
| chapter = Appendix B
| accessdate = 2007-01-26
| author = U.S. Department of State
}}</ref>

The territory to be ceded would be the area promised to the Armenians at the never-[[ratification|ratified]] [[Treaty of Sèvres]] in 1920 by [[President of the United States|US President]] [[Woodrow Wilson]], "[[Wilsonian Armenia]]".<ref name="countrystudy01">Pitman, Paul M. ''Turkey: A Country Study''. Washington D.C.: The Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, 283, 354-355 {{oclc|17841957}}</ref> ASALA was listed as a [[terrorism|terrorist]] organization by the United States in 1980s.<ref name="deptstate" /> The group's mottos were "The armed struggle and right political line are the way to Armenia", "Viva the revolutionary solidarity of oppressed people!"<ref>''G. Yazchian, Three days ago this day was born ASALA'' // Azg daily, Yerevan, January 20, 2005</ref>.

==Background==
ASALA was founded in 1975 in [[Beirut]], [[Lebanon]] during the [[Lebanese Civil War]] by [[Hagop Hagopian]] (Harutiun Tagushian) and [[Kevork Ajemian]],<ref>"[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-22427363.html Kevork Ajemian, Prominent Contemporary Writer and Surviving Member of Triumvirate Which Founded ASALA, Dies in Beirut, Lebanon]," ''Armenian Reporter'', [[1999-02-01]]</ref> a prominent contemporary writer, with the help of sympathetic [[Palestinians]].<ref name=countrystudy>"[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/85.htm Political Interest Groups]," ''[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/ Turkey: A Country Study]'' ed. Helen Chapin Metz. Washington D.C.: The Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, 283, 354-355 {{oclc|17841957}}</ref> Consisting primarily of Lebanese-born Armenians of the Diaspora (whose parents and/or grandparents were survivors of the [[Armenian Genocide]]), the organization followed a theoretical model based on [[leftism|leftist ideology]].<ref>Roy, Olivier. ''Turkey Today: A European Nation?'' p. 169.</ref>
The group's activities were primarily assassinations of Turkish diplomats and politicians in [[Western Europe]], in the [[United States]] and the [[Middle East]].<ref name="countrystudy" /> Their first acknowledged killing was the assassination of the Turkish diplomat, [[Daniş Tunalıgil]], in [[Vienna]] on [[October 22]], [[1975]]. A failed attack in [[Geneva]] on [[October 3]], [[1980]], in which two Armenian militants were injured resulted in a new nickname for the group, the 3 October Organization. The ASALA's eight point manifesto was published in 1981.

ASALA, trained in the Beirut camps of [[Palestine Liberation Organization]], is the best known of the guerilla groups responsible for assassinations of at least 36 Turkish diplomats.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,955176,00.html
|accessdate=2008-09-02
|title=Long Memories
|work=TIME
|date=1983-08-08
|author=Iyer, Pico
|volume=32}}</ref>

== Attacks ==
{{See also|List of attacks by the Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia}}

According to [[National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism|MIPT]] website, there had been 84 incidents involving ASALA leaving 46 people dead, and 299 people injured including the following:<ref name="MIPT">[http://web.archive.org/web/20071115020146/http://www.tkb.org/Group.jsp?groupID=258 Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA)], [[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]</ref>
* [[February 16]], [[1976]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Beirut]], Oktar Cirit was killed.
* [[October 12]], [[1979]] in Turkish Embassy in the [[Hague]], Ahmet Benler, the son of the Ambassador Özdemir Benler, was killed (This attack was one of the attacks co-claimed by JCAG.
* [[July 31]], [[1980]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Athens]], Galip Özmen and his 14 year old daughter Neslihan were killed in the Turkish consulate. Galip Özmen's wife Sevil Özmen and their son Kaan survived the attack with injuries.
* [[December 29]], [[1980]] in [[Madrid]], a [[Spain|Spanish]] journalist, assistant director of the "Pueblo" newspaper, [[José Antonio Gurriarán]] was accidentally injured during an October 3 group attack. Then Gurriarán was interested what the group's purposes were; he found and interviewed ASALA members. In 1982 his "La Bomba" book was published, dedicated to the Armenian cause and Armenian militant's struggle.<ref>[http://www.elpais.com/articulo/ultima/GURRIARaN/_JOSe_ANTONIO_/PERIODISTA/Jose/Antonio/Gurriaran/elpepiult/19820404elpepiult_2/Tes/ GENTE José Antonio Gurriarán], ''[[El Pais]]'', [[April 4]], [[1982]]. "Subdirector del diario Pueblo, relatará en su libro La bomba, que será publicado en el próximo mes de abril, el atentado de que fue víctima en la Gran Vía de Madrid el 29 de diciembre de 1980, hecho del que luego se responsabilizaría el grupo armenio Octubre 3. El autor entrevista en el libro a los miembros del comando que activaron las dos cargas de Goma 2."</ref>
* [[March 4]], 1981 in the Turkish Embassy in [[Paris]], Reşat Moralı was killed and Tecelli Arı was injured.
* [[June 9]], 1981 in the Turkish Consulate in [[Geneva]], Mehmet Savaş Yergüz was killed.
* [[September 24]], [[1981]] in Turkish Consulate in Paris, 56 Turks were held hostage in the embassy by ASALA militants (none of the hostages were harmed), Turkish guard Cemal Özen was killed. ASALA members demanded the Turkish government free Armenian political prisoners within 12 hours and fly them to Paris. After 15 hours they surrendered peacefully requesting political asylum from the French government.<ref name=hungary/>
* [[April 28]], [[1984]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Tehran]], [[Iran]], Işık Yönder was killed.

The ASALA's most criticized attack was on [[August 7]], [[1982]] in [[Ankara]] at the [[Esenboğa International Airport]], when its members targeted both diplomats and non-diplomat civilians for the first time. Two militants opened fire in a crowded passenger waiting room. One of the shooters took more than 20 hostages while the second was apprehended by police. Altogether, nine people died and 82 were injured. The arrested 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'') led by Hagopian and the 'Popular Movement' (''ASALA-Mouvement Révolutionnaire'') led by [[Monte Melkonian]]. While Melkonian's faction insisted on attacks strictly against Turkish officials and the Turkish government, Hagopian's group disregarded the losses of unintended victims and regularly executed dissenting members.
On [[August 10]], [[1982]], [[Artin Penik]] a Turk of Armenian descent, set himself on fire in protest of this attack.<ref name="oran"> {{cite news|
| last = Oran
| first = Baskın
| title = The Reconstruction of Armenian Identity in Turkey and the Weekly Agos (Interview with Hrant Dink)
| work = Nouvelles d'Armenie
| date = 2006-12-17
| url = http://www.armenews.com/article.php3?id_article=27696
| accessdate = 2008-09-02 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=Armenian Issue: Chronology | publisher=[[Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism]] | url=http://www.kultur.gov.tr/EN/BelgeGoster.aspx?17A16AE30572D313A781CAA92714FCE0A3216081A23BEF0D | accessdate=2007-02-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=He was an Armenian: Artin Penik|work=Turkish Journal|url=http://www.turkishjournal.com/i.php?newsid=361|accessdate=2007-02-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title = Armenian Dies from Self-Inflicted Burns | work=[[Associated Press]]| date = 1982-08-15 }}</ref>

Prominent Armenian poet [[Silva Kaputikyan]] in [[1983]] wrote "Its raining my sonny" poem dedicated to the memory of ASALA member Ekmekjian.<ref>[[Spurk Journal]], #1-12, 2005, [[Beirut]], p. 35.</ref>

On [[July 15]], [[1983]], the ASALA carried out another attack at the [[Orly Airport]] near [[Paris]], in which 8 people were killed. The attack resulted in a split in ASALA, between those individuals who carried it out, called the "Orly Group," and those who believed the attack to be counter productive.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hetq.am/eng/society/7332/
|accessdate=2008-09-02
|title=He Was a Man Deeply Connected to the Natural World
|work=Hetq Online
|date=2007-11-26
|first=Edik
|last=Baghdasaryan
}}</ref> Afterwards, French forces promptly arrested those involved.<ref>"[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9804E0DF143BF93AA35753C1A965948260 French Hold Armenians In Orly Airport Bombing]," ''[[Associated Press]]'', [[New York Times]], [[October 9]], [[1983]].</ref> Moreover, this attack eliminated the suspected secret agreement that the French socialist government made with ASALA, in which the government would allow ASALA to use France as a base of operations in exchange for refraining from launching attacks on French soil. Belief in this suspected agreement was further bolstered after "Interior Minister [[Gaston Defferre]] called [ASALA's] cause "just," and four Armenians arrested for taking hostages at the Turkish Embassy in September 1981 were given light sentences."<ref>Echikson, William. "[http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/csmonitor_historic/access/260828642.html?dids=260828642:260828642&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Jul+19%2C+1983&author=By+William+Echikson+Special+to+The+Christian+Science+Monitor&pub=Christian+Science+Monitor&desc=Armenian+bombing+at+Orly+ends+pact+between+Socialists+and+terrorists&pqatl=google Armenian bombing at Orly ends pact between Socialists and terrorists]," ''[[Christian Science Monitor]]'', [[July 19]], [[1983]].</ref>

=== Reactions ===
Continuous attacks prompted Turkey to accuse [[Cyprus]], [[Greece]], [[Syria]], [[Lebanon]], and the [[Soviet Union]] of provoking or possibly funding the ASALA.<ref name="countrystudy" /> Although they publicly distanced themselves from the ASALA,<ref name="countrystudy" /> Turkey's Armenian community came under attack by Turkish nationalists in reaction to the group's actions. This became apparent after the assassination of [[Ahmet Benler]] on [[October 12]], [[1979]] by Armenian militants in [[the Hague]]. The reaction to the attack led to the bombing of the church of the Armenian Apostolic Patriarchate in [[Istanbul]] on [[October 19]] in retaliation.<ref name=azadhye>[[Tessa Hofmann|Tessa, Hofmann]]. [http://www.armenian.ch/asa/Docs/faae02.pdf Armenians in Turkey today]</ref>

According to [[Tessa Hofmann]], Turkish officials frequently used the accusation of collaboration with the ASALA and foreign Armenian circles to incriminate extreme left-wing Turkish opposition groups.<ref name=azadhye/>

=== Counteroffensive ===


After the ASALA attack against the [[Esenboğa International Airport]] in August 1982 the then President of Turkey [[Kenan Evren]] issued a decree for the elimination of ASALA. The task was given to the [[National Intelligence Organization]]'s ({{lang-tr|Millî İstihbarat Teşkilâtı}}, MİT) Foreign Operations Department. Evren's own daughter, a member of the MİT, ran the operation together with Foreign Intelligence Department chief Metin (Mete) Günyol, and Istanbul region director Nuri Gündeş.<ref name=kizi>{{cite journal
|url=http://www.aksiyon.com.tr/detay.php?id=15119
|accessdate=2008-12-13
|title=Asala operasyonlarını Kenan Evren'in kızı yönetti
|date=2004-09-06
|first=Faruk
|last=Mercan
|volume=509
|publisher=Feza Gazetecilik A.Ş.
|journal=Aksiyon
|language=Turkish
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sabah.com.tr/2004/09/08/siy112.html
|accessdate=2008-12-13
|title=Evren: Kızım MİT'te çalışıyordu
|date=2004-09-08
|language=Turkish
|work=Sabah
}}</ref>

Levon Ekmekjian was captured and placed in Ankara's Mamak Prison. He was told that he had to choose between confessing and being executed. After being promised that his comrades would not be harmed, he revealed how the ASALA worked to a team lead by MİT's Presidential Liaison and Evren's son-in-law, Erkan Gürvit. He was executed nevertheless.<ref name=kizi/><ref name=efsane>{{cite news|url=http://arsiv.sabah.com.tr/2008/09/28/haber,B5E3B51FA2F94618A781886CB7B3B590.html
|accessdate=2008-12-25
|title=ASALA operasyonları efsane mi?
|date=2008-09-28
|work=Sabah
|first=Ecevit
|last=Kilic
|language=Turkish
}}</ref>

In the early Spring of 1983 two teams were sent to France and Lebanon. Günyol tapped [[contract killer]] [[Abdullah Çatlı]], who had just finished serving a prison sentence in Switzerland for [[drug trafficking]], to lead the French contingent. A second French unit was assembled under MİT operative Sabah Ketene. The Lebanese contingent, consisting only of MİT operatives and members of the “Special Warfare Department” ([[special forces]]), was led by MİT officer Hiram Abas.<ref name=efsane/>

Çatlı's team was ineffectual. A bomb was planted in Ara Toranyan's car on 22 March 1983. It did not explode. A follow-up attempt also failed. Toranyan said they had planted the bomb in the wrong car. Likewise, Henri Papazyan's car bomb on 1 May 1984 did not explode. Çatlı claimed credit for killing Hagop Hagopian, however he was in a French prison (again, on narcotics charges) at the time of the attack. Papazyan is now believed to been killed as a result of infighting. The second French team (led by Ketene) did carry out some attacks (which Çatlı also claimed credit for), such as the 1984 Alfortville monument and Salle Pleyel concert room attacks. It is unknown whether the Lebanese contingent did anything at all.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://arsiv.sabah.com.tr/2008/09/28/haber,6BC4820941214D84A08DD404742B2C6F.html
|accessdate=2008-12-25
|title=Boş konser salonu bombalandı
|date=2008-09-28
|work=Sabah
|first=Ecevit
|last=Kilic
|language=Turkish
}}</ref>

== Dissolution==
With the [[1982 Lebanon War|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 last attack, on 19 December 1991, targeted the bullet-proof limousine carrying the Turkish Ambassador to [[Budapest]]. The ambassador was not injured in the attack, which was claimed by ASALA in [[Paris]].<ref name=hungary>{{cite web |url=http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=6723 |title=ASALA attacked Diplomatic target|date=1981-12-19|location=Hungary|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070827173744/http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=6723|archivedate=2007-08-27|work=[[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]}}</ref>

ASALA's founder Hagop Hagopian was assassinated on a sidewalk in an affluent neighborhood in [[Athens]], [[Greece]] on April 28, 1988. His assailants, Hovsep A., Vartan G., Garabed K., and Albert "Sultan-Minas", were all former ASALA members and lieutenants of Hagopian. His body was riddled with several bullets while he was walking with two women at 4:30 in the morning.<ref>Melkonian, Markar. ''My Brother's Road: An American's Fateful Journey to Armenia''. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005 pg. 187.</ref> Tarakchian died of [[cancer]] in [[1980]]. Assassinations of former members continued in [[Armenia]] into the late 1990s.<ref>Melkonian, Markar. ''My Brother's Road: An American's Fateful Journey to Armenia''. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005, pp. 277-278.</ref>

According to [[National Intelligence Agency]] official Nuri Gündeş, ASALA was dissolved after its financial backing was withdrawn by the Armenian diaspora after the 1983 [[Orly airport attack]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://arama.hurriyet.com.tr/arsivnews.aspx?id=-599507
|accessdate=2008-12-21
|title=Thanks to Nuri Gündeş
|work=[[Turkish Daily News]]
|publisher=[[Hürriyet]]
|date=2008-12-21
|first=Mehmet Ali
|last=Birand
|quote=It was the raid of Paris's Orly Airport in 1983 that finished the ASALA off. Feeling ill at ease by the raid, the French and U.S. Armenians who used to support ASALA monetarily stopped the aid and the issue was closed. I know this through French authorities that were involved. The ones that were instrumental in the stopping of the aid were MİT and the Foreign Ministry. Otherwise, ASALA did not yield because it was afraid of the Turkish bullies. They were stopped because they had gone too far with their murders.}}</ref>

==References==

{{Reflist|2}}

{{Defunct Armed Armenian Organizations}}

[[Category:1975 establishments]]
[[Category:Defunct Armenian paramilitary organizations]]
[[Category:Armenian Genocide]]
[[Category:Guerrilla organizations]]

[[az:ASALA]]
[[bg:АСАЛА]]
[[ca:ASALA]]
[[de:Asala]]
[[es:Ejército Secreto Armenio para la Liberación de Armenia]]
[[fr:Armée secrète arménienne de libération de l'Arménie]]
[[hy:Հայաստանի ազատագրության հայ գաղտնի բանակ]]
[[it:Esercito Segreto armeno per la Liberazione dell'Armenia]]
[[nl:Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia]]
[[ja:アルメニア解放秘密軍]]
[[pl:ASALA]]
[[ru:Армянская секретная армия освобождения Армении]]
[[simple:Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia]]
[[sl:Armenska tajna armada za osvoboditev Armenije]]
[[sv:ASALA]]
[[tr:ASALA]]

Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia

2008-12-25T20:48:46Z

Adoniscik: Hagop Hagopian

{{Infobox militant organization
|name = Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia {{rtl-lang|hy|Հայաստանի ազատագրութեան հայ գաղտնի բանակ}} 
|logo = Flag of the ASALA.png
|caption = Flag of the ASALA
|dates = [[1975]]<ref name=hunsicker>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=K4XefrTlSygC&pg=PA431&lpg=PA431&dq=%22to+compel+the+Turkish+Government+to+acknowledge+publicly+its+alleged+responsibility+for+the+deaths+of+1.5+million+Armenians+in+1915,+pay+reparations,+and+cede+territory+for+an+Armenian+homeland%22&source=web&ots=pXUcCHSQ_K&sig=g_wv7KBmKIdDoKiZ2P5nF2r952M&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=2&ct=result|title=Understanding International Counter Terrorism|publisher=Universal-Publishers|last=Hunsicker|isbn=158112905X|pages=431|year=2006}}</ref> to [[1986]]<ref name=roy170>Roy, Olivier. ''Turkey Today: A European Nation?'' p. 170. Roy suggests that the Orly incident led to "dissension end[ing] in the settling of scores in which ASALA militants killed each other in their camp at Bekaa (Al-Biqa, Lebanon)... (It) practically disappeared. It resurfaced once again, however, to assassinate important members of the Lebanese section of the Dashnak Party (March 1985 – May 1986)."</ref>
|leader = [[Hagop Hagopian]]<ref name="MIPT"/>
|motives = "To compel the Turkish Government to acknowledge publicly its responsibility for the [[Armenian Genocide|deaths of 1.5 million Armenians]] in 1915, pay reparations, and cede territory for an Armenian homeland."<ref name=hunsicker/>
|area = [[Turkey]], [[United States]], [[Lebanon]], [[Western Europe]], [[Armenia]], and [[Middle East]].
|ideology = [[Marxism-Leninism]], [[Greater Armenia (political concept)|Greater Armenia]]
|crimes = Assassination of a number of Turkish diplomats and their relatives. Bombing of Turkish, French and Swiss targets for varying motives. Several minor bombing attacks against US airline offices in Western Europe. 
|attacks = Armed attack and bombing of the [[Esenboğa International Airport]], [[Ankara]].<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20070930041244/http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=3316 Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA) attacked Airports & Airlines target (August 7, 1982, Turkey)], [[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]</ref> [[Orly airport attack|Bombing of Turkish airline counter]] at [[Orly Airport (Paris)]].<ref name=hunsicker/>
|allies =
|enemies = [[Turkish government]] and [[Turkish diplomats|its representatives]].<ref name="countrystudy" />
|status = Dissolved
}}

The '''Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia''' ('''ASALA''') was a [[Marxism-Leninism|Marxist-Leninist]] [[militant]]<ref>http://www.bartleby.com/67/2679.html</ref> organization, that operated from 1975 to 1986.<ref>Roy, Olivier. ''Turkey Today: A European Nation?'' p. 170. Roy suggests that the Orly incident led to "dissension end[ing] in the settling of scores in which ASALA militants killed each other in their camp at Bekaa (Al-Biqa, Lebanon)... (It) practically disappeared. It resurfaced once again, however, to assassinate important members of the Lebanese section of the Dashnak Party (March 1985 - May 1986)."</ref> The group also operated under other names such as '''The Orly Group''' and the '''3 October Organization'''.<ref name="countrystudy01" /> The intention of ASALA was purportedly "to compel the Turkish Government to acknowledge publicly its alleged responsibility for the [[Armenian Genocide|deaths of 1.5 million Armenians]] in 1915, pay reparations, and cede territory for an Armenian homeland".<ref name="deptstate">{{cite book
| title = [[s:Patterns of Global Terrorism Report/1996|Patterns of Global Terrorism Report - 1996]]
| chapter = Appendix B
| accessdate = 2007-01-26
| author = U.S. Department of State
}}</ref>

The territory to be ceded would be the area promised to the Armenians at the never-[[ratification|ratified]] [[Treaty of Sèvres]] in 1920 by [[President of the United States|US President]] [[Woodrow Wilson]], "[[Wilsonian Armenia]]".<ref name="countrystudy01">Pitman, Paul M. ''Turkey: A Country Study''. Washington D.C.: The Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, 283, 354-355 {{oclc|17841957}}</ref> ASALA was listed as a [[terrorism|terrorist]] organization by the United States in 1980s.<ref name="deptstate" /> The group's mottos were "The armed struggle and right political line are the way to Armenia", "Viva the revolutionary solidarity of oppressed people!"<ref>''G. Yazchian, Three days ago this day was born ASALA'' // Azg daily, Yerevan, January 20, 2005</ref>.

==Background==
ASALA was founded in 1975 in [[Beirut]], [[Lebanon]] during the [[Lebanese Civil War]] by [[Hagop Hagopian]] (Harutiun Tagushian) and [[Kevork Ajemian]],<ref>"[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-22427363.html Kevork Ajemian, Prominent Contemporary Writer and Surviving Member of Triumvirate Which Founded ASALA, Dies in Beirut, Lebanon]," ''Armenian Reporter'', [[1999-02-01]]</ref> a prominent contemporary writer, with the help of sympathetic [[Palestinians]].<ref name=countrystudy>"[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/85.htm Political Interest Groups]," ''[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/ Turkey: A Country Study]'' ed. Helen Chapin Metz. Washington D.C.: The Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, 283, 354-355 {{oclc|17841957}}</ref> Consisting primarily of Lebanese-born Armenians of the Diaspora (whose parents and/or grandparents were survivors of the [[Armenian Genocide]]), the organization followed a theoretical model based on [[leftism|leftist ideology]].<ref>Roy, Olivier. ''Turkey Today: A European Nation?'' p. 169.</ref>
The group's activities were primarily assassinations of Turkish diplomats and politicians in [[Western Europe]], in the [[United States]] and the [[Middle East]].<ref name="countrystudy" /> Their first acknowledged killing was the assassination of the Turkish diplomat, [[Daniş Tunalıgil]], in [[Vienna]] on [[October 22]], [[1975]]. A failed attack in [[Geneva]] on [[October 3]], [[1980]], in which two Armenian militants were injured resulted in a new nickname for the group, the 3 October Organization. The ASALA's eight point manifesto was published in 1981.

ASALA, trained in the Beirut camps of [[Palestine Liberation Organization]], is the best known of the guerilla groups responsible for assassinations of at least 36 Turkish diplomats.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,955176,00.html
|accessdate=2008-09-02
|title=Long Memories
|work=TIME
|date=1983-08-08
|author=Iyer, Pico
|volume=32}}</ref>

== Attacks ==
{{See also|List of attacks by the Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia}}

According to [[National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism|MIPT]] website, there had been 84 incidents involving ASALA leaving 46 people dead, and 299 people injured including the following:<ref name="MIPT">[http://web.archive.org/web/20071115020146/http://www.tkb.org/Group.jsp?groupID=258 Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA)], [[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]</ref>
* [[February 16]], [[1976]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Beirut]], Oktar Cirit was killed.
* [[October 12]], [[1979]] in Turkish Embassy in the [[Hague]], Ahmet Benler, the son of the Ambassador Özdemir Benler, was killed (This attack was one of the attacks co-claimed by JCAG.
* [[July 31]], [[1980]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Athens]], Galip Özmen and his 14 year old daughter Neslihan were killed in the Turkish consulate. Galip Özmen's wife Sevil Özmen and their son Kaan survived the attack with injuries.
* [[December 29]], [[1980]] in [[Madrid]], a [[Spain|Spanish]] journalist, assistant director of the "Pueblo" newspaper, [[José Antonio Gurriarán]] was accidentally injured during an October 3 group attack. Then Gurriarán was interested what the group's purposes were; he found and interviewed ASALA members. In 1982 his "La Bomba" book was published, dedicated to the Armenian cause and Armenian militant's struggle.<ref>[http://www.elpais.com/articulo/ultima/GURRIARaN/_JOSe_ANTONIO_/PERIODISTA/Jose/Antonio/Gurriaran/elpepiult/19820404elpepiult_2/Tes/ GENTE José Antonio Gurriarán], ''[[El Pais]]'', [[April 4]], [[1982]]. "Subdirector del diario Pueblo, relatará en su libro La bomba, que será publicado en el próximo mes de abril, el atentado de que fue víctima en la Gran Vía de Madrid el 29 de diciembre de 1980, hecho del que luego se responsabilizaría el grupo armenio Octubre 3. El autor entrevista en el libro a los miembros del comando que activaron las dos cargas de Goma 2."</ref>
* [[March 4]], 1981 in the Turkish Embassy in [[Paris]], Reşat Moralı was killed and Tecelli Arı was injured.
* [[June 9]], 1981 in the Turkish Consulate in [[Geneva]], Mehmet Savaş Yergüz was killed.
* [[September 24]], [[1981]] in Turkish Consulate in Paris, 56 Turks were held hostage in the embassy by ASALA militants (none of the hostages were harmed), Turkish guard Cemal Özen was killed. ASALA members demanded the Turkish government free Armenian political prisoners within 12 hours and fly them to Paris. After 15 hours they surrendered peacefully requesting political asylum from the French government.<ref name=hungary/>
* [[April 28]], [[1984]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Tehran]], [[Iran]], Işık Yönder was killed.

The ASALA's most criticized attack was on [[August 7]], [[1982]] in [[Ankara]] at the [[Esenboğa International Airport]], when its members targeted both diplomats and non-diplomat civilians for the first time. Two militants opened fire in a crowded passenger waiting room. One of the shooters took more than 20 hostages while the second was apprehended by police. Altogether, nine people died and 82 were injured. The arrested 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'') led by Hagopian and the 'Popular Movement' (''ASALA-Mouvement Révolutionnaire'') led by [[Monte Melkonian]]. While Melkonian's faction insisted on attacks strictly against Turkish officials and the Turkish government, Hagopian's group disregarded the losses of unintended victims and regularly executed dissenting members.
On [[August 10]], [[1982]], [[Artin Penik]] a Turk of Armenian descent, set himself on fire in protest of this attack.<ref name="oran"> {{cite news|
| last = Oran
| first = Baskın
| title = The Reconstruction of Armenian Identity in Turkey and the Weekly Agos (Interview with Hrant Dink)
| work = Nouvelles d'Armenie
| date = 2006-12-17
| url = http://www.armenews.com/article.php3?id_article=27696
| accessdate = 2008-09-02 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=Armenian Issue: Chronology | publisher=[[Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism]] | url=http://www.kultur.gov.tr/EN/BelgeGoster.aspx?17A16AE30572D313A781CAA92714FCE0A3216081A23BEF0D | accessdate=2007-02-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=He was an Armenian: Artin Penik|work=Turkish Journal|url=http://www.turkishjournal.com/i.php?newsid=361|accessdate=2007-02-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title = Armenian Dies from Self-Inflicted Burns | work=[[Associated Press]]| date = 1982-08-15 }}</ref>

Prominent Armenian poet [[Silva Kaputikyan]] in [[1983]] wrote "Its raining my sonny" poem dedicated to the memory of ASALA member Ekmekjian.<ref>[[Spurk Journal]], #1-12, 2005, [[Beirut]], p. 35.</ref>

On [[July 15]], [[1983]], the ASALA carried out another attack at the [[Orly Airport]] near [[Paris]], in which 8 people were killed. The attack resulted in a split in ASALA, between those individuals who carried it out, called the "Orly Group," and those who believed the attack to be counter productive.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hetq.am/eng/society/7332/
|accessdate=2008-09-02
|title=He Was a Man Deeply Connected to the Natural World
|work=Hetq Online
|date=2007-11-26
|first=Edik
|last=Baghdasaryan
}}</ref> Afterwards, French forces promptly arrested those involved.<ref>"[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9804E0DF143BF93AA35753C1A965948260 French Hold Armenians In Orly Airport Bombing]," ''[[Associated Press]]'', [[New York Times]], [[October 9]], [[1983]].</ref> Moreover, this attack eliminated the suspected secret agreement that the French socialist government made with ASALA, in which the government would allow ASALA to use France as a base of operations in exchange for refraining from launching attacks on French soil. Belief in this suspected agreement was further bolstered after "Interior Minister [[Gaston Defferre]] called [ASALA's] cause "just," and four Armenians arrested for taking hostages at the Turkish Embassy in September 1981 were given light sentences."<ref>Echikson, William. "[http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/csmonitor_historic/access/260828642.html?dids=260828642:260828642&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Jul+19%2C+1983&author=By+William+Echikson+Special+to+The+Christian+Science+Monitor&pub=Christian+Science+Monitor&desc=Armenian+bombing+at+Orly+ends+pact+between+Socialists+and+terrorists&pqatl=google Armenian bombing at Orly ends pact between Socialists and terrorists]," ''[[Christian Science Monitor]]'', [[July 19]], [[1983]].</ref>

=== Reactions ===
Continuous attacks prompted Turkey to accuse [[Cyprus]], [[Greece]], [[Syria]], [[Lebanon]], and the [[Soviet Union]] of provoking or possibly funding the ASALA.<ref name="countrystudy" /> Although they publicly distanced themselves from the ASALA,<ref name="countrystudy" /> Turkey's Armenian community came under attack by Turkish nationalists in reaction to the group's actions. This became apparent after the assassination of [[Ahmet Benler]] on [[October 12]], [[1979]] by Armenian militants in [[the Hague]]. The reaction to the attack led to the bombing of the church of the Armenian Apostolic Patriarchate in [[Istanbul]] on [[October 19]] in retaliation.<ref name=azadhye>[[Tessa Hofmann|Tessa, Hofmann]]. [http://www.armenian.ch/asa/Docs/faae02.pdf Armenians in Turkey today]</ref>

According to [[Tessa Hofmann]], Turkish officials frequently used the accusation of collaboration with the ASALA and foreign Armenian circles to incriminate extreme left-wing Turkish opposition groups.<ref name=azadhye/>

=== Counteroffensive ===


After the ASALA attack against the [[Esenboğa International Airport]] in August 1982 the then President of Turkey [[Kenan Evren]] issued a decree for the elimination of ASALA. The task was given to the [[National Intelligence Organization]]'s ({{lang-tr|Millî İstihbarat Teşkilâtı}}, MİT) Foreign Operations Department. Evren's own daughter, a member of the MİT, ran the operation together with Foreign Intelligence Department chief Metin (Mete) Günyol, and Istanbul region director Nuri Gündeş.<ref name=kizi>{{cite journal
|url=http://www.aksiyon.com.tr/detay.php?id=15119
|accessdate=2008-12-13
|title=Asala operasyonlarını Kenan Evren'in kızı yönetti
|date=2004-09-06
|first=Faruk
|last=Mercan
|volume=509
|publisher=Feza Gazetecilik A.Ş.
|journal=Aksiyon
|language=Turkish
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sabah.com.tr/2004/09/08/siy112.html
|accessdate=2008-12-13
|title=Evren: Kızım MİT'te çalışıyordu
|date=2004-09-08
|language=Turkish
|work=Sabah
}}</ref>

Levon Ekmekjian was captured and placed in Ankara's Mamak Prison. He was told that he had to choose between confessing and being executed. After being promised that his comrades would not be harmed, he revealed how the ASALA worked to a team lead by MİT's Presidential Liaison and Evren's son-in-law, Erkan Gürvit. He was executed nevertheless.<ref name=kizi/><ref name=efsane>{{cite news|url=http://arsiv.sabah.com.tr/2008/09/28/haber,B5E3B51FA2F94618A781886CB7B3B590.html
|accessdate=2008-12-25
|title=ASALA operasyonları efsane mi?
|date=2008-09-28
|work=Sabah
|first=Ecevit
|last=Kilic
|language=Turkish
}}</ref>

In the early Spring of 1983 two teams were sent to France and Lebanon. Günyol tapped [[contract killer]] [[Abdullah Çatlı]], who had just finished serving a prison sentence in Switzerland for [[drug trafficking]], to lead the French contingent. A second French unit was assembled under MİT operative Sabah Ketene. The Lebanese contingent, consisting only of MİT operatives and members of the “Special Warfare Department” ([[special forces]]), was led by MİT officer Hiram Abas.<ref name=efsane/>

Çatlı's team was ineffectual. A bomb was planted in Ara Toranyan's car on 22 March 1983. It did not explode. A follow-up attempt also failed. Toranyan said they had planted the bomb in the wrong car. Likewise, Henri Papazyan's car bomb on 1 May 1984 did not explode. Çatlı did claim credit for killing Hagop Hagopian, however he was in a French prison (again, on narcotics charges) at the time of the attack. Papazyan is now believed to been killed as a result of infighting. The second French (led by Ketene) did carry out some attacks (which Çatlı also claimed credit for), such as the 1984 Alfortville monument and Salle Pleyel concert room attacks. It is unknown whether the Lebanese contingent did anything at all.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://arsiv.sabah.com.tr/2008/09/28/haber,6BC4820941214D84A08DD404742B2C6F.html
|accessdate=2008-12-25
|title=Boş konser salonu bombalandı
|date=2008-09-28
|work=Sabah
|first=Ecevit
|last=Kilic
|language=Turkish
}}</ref>

== Dissolution==
With the [[1982 Lebanon War|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 last attack, on 19 December 1991, targeted the bullet-proof limousine carrying the Turkish Ambassador to [[Budapest]]. The ambassador was not injured in the attack, which was claimed by ASALA in [[Paris]].<ref name=hungary>{{cite web |url=http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=6723 |title=ASALA attacked Diplomatic target|date=1981-12-19|location=Hungary|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070827173744/http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=6723|archivedate=2007-08-27|work=[[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]}}</ref>

ASALA's founder Hagop Hagopian was assassinated on a sidewalk in an affluent neighborhood in [[Athens]], [[Greece]] on April 28, 1988. His assailants, Hovsep A., Vartan G., Garabed K., and Albert "Sultan-Minas", were all former ASALA members and lieutenants of Hagopian. His body was riddled with several bullets while he was walking with two women at 4:30 in the morning.<ref>Melkonian, Markar. ''My Brother's Road: An American's Fateful Journey to Armenia''. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005 pg. 187.</ref> Tarakchian died of [[cancer]] in [[1980]]. Assassinations of former members continued in [[Armenia]] into the late 1990s.<ref>Melkonian, Markar. ''My Brother's Road: An American's Fateful Journey to Armenia''. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005, pp. 277-278.</ref>

According to [[National Intelligence Agency]] official Nuri Gündeş, ASALA was dissolved after its financial backing was withdrawn by the Armenian diaspora after the 1983 [[Orly airport attack]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://arama.hurriyet.com.tr/arsivnews.aspx?id=-599507
|accessdate=2008-12-21
|title=Thanks to Nuri Gündeş
|work=[[Turkish Daily News]]
|publisher=[[Hürriyet]]
|date=2008-12-21
|first=Mehmet Ali
|last=Birand
|quote=It was the raid of Paris's Orly Airport in 1983 that finished the ASALA off. Feeling ill at ease by the raid, the French and U.S. Armenians who used to support ASALA monetarily stopped the aid and the issue was closed. I know this through French authorities that were involved. The ones that were instrumental in the stopping of the aid were MİT and the Foreign Ministry. Otherwise, ASALA did not yield because it was afraid of the Turkish bullies. They were stopped because they had gone too far with their murders.}}</ref>

==References==

{{Reflist|2}}

{{Defunct Armed Armenian Organizations}}

[[Category:1975 establishments]]
[[Category:Defunct Armenian paramilitary organizations]]
[[Category:Armenian Genocide]]
[[Category:Guerrilla organizations]]

[[az:ASALA]]
[[bg:АСАЛА]]
[[ca:ASALA]]
[[de:Asala]]
[[es:Ejército Secreto Armenio para la Liberación de Armenia]]
[[fr:Armée secrète arménienne de libération de l'Arménie]]
[[hy:Հայաստանի ազատագրության հայ գաղտնի բանակ]]
[[it:Esercito Segreto armeno per la Liberazione dell'Armenia]]
[[nl:Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia]]
[[ja:アルメニア解放秘密軍]]
[[pl:ASALA]]
[[ru:Армянская секретная армия освобождения Армении]]
[[simple:Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia]]
[[sl:Armenska tajna armada za osvoboditev Armenije]]
[[sv:ASALA]]
[[tr:ASALA]]

Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia

2008-12-25T20:05:30Z

Adoniscik: /* Counteroffensive */ Boş konser salonu bombalandı

{{Infobox militant organization
|name = Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia {{rtl-lang|hy|Հայաստանի ազատագրութեան հայ գաղտնի բանակ}} 
|logo = Flag of the ASALA.png
|caption = Flag of the ASALA
|dates = [[1975]]<ref name=hunsicker>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=K4XefrTlSygC&pg=PA431&lpg=PA431&dq=%22to+compel+the+Turkish+Government+to+acknowledge+publicly+its+alleged+responsibility+for+the+deaths+of+1.5+million+Armenians+in+1915,+pay+reparations,+and+cede+territory+for+an+Armenian+homeland%22&source=web&ots=pXUcCHSQ_K&sig=g_wv7KBmKIdDoKiZ2P5nF2r952M&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=2&ct=result|title=Understanding International Counter Terrorism|publisher=Universal-Publishers|last=Hunsicker|isbn=158112905X|pages=431|year=2006}}</ref> to [[1986]]<ref name=roy170>Roy, Olivier. ''Turkey Today: A European Nation?'' p. 170. Roy suggests that the Orly incident led to "dissension end[ing] in the settling of scores in which ASALA militants killed each other in their camp at Bekaa (Al-Biqa, Lebanon)... (It) practically disappeared. It resurfaced once again, however, to assassinate important members of the Lebanese section of the Dashnak Party (March 1985 – May 1986)."</ref>
|leader = [[Hagop Hagopian]]<ref name="MIPT"/>
|motives = "To compel the Turkish Government to acknowledge publicly its responsibility for the [[Armenian Genocide|deaths of 1.5 million Armenians]] in 1915, pay reparations, and cede territory for an Armenian homeland."<ref name=hunsicker/>
|area = [[Turkey]], [[United States]], [[Lebanon]], [[Western Europe]], [[Armenia]], and [[Middle East]].
|ideology = [[Marxism-Leninism]], [[Greater Armenia (political concept)|Greater Armenia]]
|crimes = Assassination of a number of Turkish diplomats and their relatives. Bombing of Turkish, French and Swiss targets for varying motives. Several minor bombing attacks against US airline offices in Western Europe. 
|attacks = Armed attack and bombing of the [[Esenboğa International Airport]], [[Ankara]].<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20070930041244/http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=3316 Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA) attacked Airports & Airlines target (August 7, 1982, Turkey)], [[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]</ref> [[Orly airport attack|Bombing of Turkish airline counter]] at [[Orly Airport (Paris)]].<ref name=hunsicker/>
|allies =
|enemies = [[Turkish government]] and [[Turkish diplomats|its representatives]].<ref name="countrystudy" />
|status = Dissolved
}}

The '''Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia''' ('''ASALA''') was a [[Marxism-Leninism|Marxist-Leninist]] [[militant]]<ref>http://www.bartleby.com/67/2679.html</ref> organization, that operated from 1975 to 1986.<ref>Roy, Olivier. ''Turkey Today: A European Nation?'' p. 170. Roy suggests that the Orly incident led to "dissension end[ing] in the settling of scores in which ASALA militants killed each other in their camp at Bekaa (Al-Biqa, Lebanon)... (It) practically disappeared. It resurfaced once again, however, to assassinate important members of the Lebanese section of the Dashnak Party (March 1985 - May 1986)."</ref> The group also operated under other names such as '''The Orly Group''' and the '''3 October Organization'''.<ref name="countrystudy01" /> The intention of ASALA was purportedly "to compel the Turkish Government to acknowledge publicly its alleged responsibility for the [[Armenian Genocide|deaths of 1.5 million Armenians]] in 1915, pay reparations, and cede territory for an Armenian homeland".<ref name="deptstate">{{cite book
| title = [[s:Patterns of Global Terrorism Report/1996|Patterns of Global Terrorism Report - 1996]]
| chapter = Appendix B
| accessdate = 2007-01-26
| author = U.S. Department of State
}}</ref>

The territory to be ceded would be the area promised to the Armenians at the never-[[ratification|ratified]] [[Treaty of Sèvres]] in 1920 by [[President of the United States|US President]] [[Woodrow Wilson]], "[[Wilsonian Armenia]]".<ref name="countrystudy01">Pitman, Paul M. ''Turkey: A Country Study''. Washington D.C.: The Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, 283, 354-355 {{oclc|17841957}}</ref> ASALA was listed as a [[terrorism|terrorist]] organization by the United States in 1980s.<ref name="deptstate" /> The group's mottos were "The armed struggle and right political line are the way to Armenia", "Viva the revolutionary solidarity of oppressed people!"<ref>''G. Yazchian, Three days ago this day was born ASALA'' // Azg daily, Yerevan, January 20, 2005</ref>.

==Background==
ASALA was founded in 1975 in [[Beirut]], [[Lebanon]] during the [[Lebanese Civil War]] by [[Hagop Hagopian]] (Harutiun Tagushian) and [[Kevork Ajemian]],<ref>"[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-22427363.html Kevork Ajemian, Prominent Contemporary Writer and Surviving Member of Triumvirate Which Founded ASALA, Dies in Beirut, Lebanon]," ''Armenian Reporter'', [[1999-02-01]]</ref> a prominent contemporary writer, with the help of sympathetic [[Palestinians]].<ref name=countrystudy>"[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/85.htm Political Interest Groups]," ''[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/ Turkey: A Country Study]'' ed. Helen Chapin Metz. Washington D.C.: The Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, 283, 354-355 {{oclc|17841957}}</ref> Consisting primarily of Lebanese-born Armenians of the Diaspora (whose parents and/or grandparents were survivors of the [[Armenian Genocide]]), the organization followed a theoretical model based on [[leftism|leftist ideology]].<ref>Roy, Olivier. ''Turkey Today: A European Nation?'' p. 169.</ref>
The group's activities were primarily assassinations of Turkish diplomats and politicians in [[Western Europe]], in the [[United States]] and the [[Middle East]].<ref name="countrystudy" /> Their first acknowledged killing was the assassination of the Turkish diplomat, [[Daniş Tunalıgil]], in [[Vienna]] on [[October 22]], [[1975]]. A failed attack in [[Geneva]] on [[October 3]], [[1980]], in which two Armenian militants were injured resulted in a new nickname for the group, the 3 October Organization. The ASALA's eight point manifesto was published in 1981.

ASALA, trained in the Beirut camps of [[Palestine Liberation Organization]], is the best known of the guerilla groups responsible for assassinations of at least 36 Turkish diplomats.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,955176,00.html
|accessdate=2008-09-02
|title=Long Memories
|work=TIME
|date=1983-08-08
|author=Iyer, Pico
|volume=32}}</ref>

== Attacks ==
{{See also|List of attacks by the Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia}}

According to [[National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism|MIPT]] website, there had been 84 incidents involving ASALA leaving 46 people dead, and 299 people injured including the following:<ref name="MIPT">[http://web.archive.org/web/20071115020146/http://www.tkb.org/Group.jsp?groupID=258 Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA)], [[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]</ref>
* [[February 16]], [[1976]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Beirut]], Oktar Cirit was killed.
* [[October 12]], [[1979]] in Turkish Embassy in the [[Hague]], Ahmet Benler, the son of the Ambassador Özdemir Benler, was killed (This attack was one of the attacks co-claimed by JCAG.
* [[July 31]], [[1980]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Athens]], Galip Özmen and his 14 year old daughter Neslihan were killed in the Turkish consulate. Galip Özmen's wife Sevil Özmen and their son Kaan survived the attack with injuries.
* [[December 29]], [[1980]] in [[Madrid]], a [[Spain|Spanish]] journalist, assistant director of the "Pueblo" newspaper, [[José Antonio Gurriarán]] was accidentally injured during an October 3 group attack. Then Gurriarán was interested what the group's purposes were; he found and interviewed ASALA members. In 1982 his "La Bomba" book was published, dedicated to the Armenian cause and Armenian militant's struggle.<ref>[http://www.elpais.com/articulo/ultima/GURRIARaN/_JOSe_ANTONIO_/PERIODISTA/Jose/Antonio/Gurriaran/elpepiult/19820404elpepiult_2/Tes/ GENTE José Antonio Gurriarán], ''[[El Pais]]'', [[April 4]], [[1982]]. "Subdirector del diario Pueblo, relatará en su libro La bomba, que será publicado en el próximo mes de abril, el atentado de que fue víctima en la Gran Vía de Madrid el 29 de diciembre de 1980, hecho del que luego se responsabilizaría el grupo armenio Octubre 3. El autor entrevista en el libro a los miembros del comando que activaron las dos cargas de Goma 2."</ref>
* [[March 4]], 1981 in the Turkish Embassy in [[Paris]], Reşat Moralı was killed and Tecelli Arı was injured.
* [[June 9]], 1981 in the Turkish Consulate in [[Geneva]], Mehmet Savaş Yergüz was killed.
* [[September 24]], [[1981]] in Turkish Consulate in Paris, 56 Turks were held hostage in the embassy by ASALA militants (none of the hostages were harmed), Turkish guard Cemal Özen was killed. ASALA members demanded the Turkish government free Armenian political prisoners within 12 hours and fly them to Paris. After 15 hours they surrendered peacefully requesting political asylum from the French government.<ref name=hungary/>
* [[April 28]], [[1984]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Tehran]], [[Iran]], Işık Yönder was killed.

The ASALA's most criticized attack was on [[August 7]], [[1982]] in [[Ankara]] at the [[Esenboğa International Airport]], when its members targeted both diplomats and non-diplomat civilians for the first time. Two militants opened fire in a crowded passenger waiting room. One of the shooters took more than 20 hostages while the second was apprehended by police. Altogether, nine people died and 82 were injured. The arrested 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'') led by Hagopian and the 'Popular Movement' (''ASALA-Mouvement Révolutionnaire'') led by [[Monte Melkonian]]. While Melkonian's faction insisted on attacks strictly against Turkish officials and the Turkish government, Hagopian's group disregarded the losses of unintended victims and regularly executed dissenting members.
On [[August 10]], [[1982]], [[Artin Penik]] a Turk of Armenian descent, set himself on fire in protest of this attack.<ref name="oran"> {{cite news|
| last = Oran
| first = Baskın
| title = The Reconstruction of Armenian Identity in Turkey and the Weekly Agos (Interview with Hrant Dink)
| work = Nouvelles d'Armenie
| date = 2006-12-17
| url = http://www.armenews.com/article.php3?id_article=27696
| accessdate = 2008-09-02 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=Armenian Issue: Chronology | publisher=[[Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism]] | url=http://www.kultur.gov.tr/EN/BelgeGoster.aspx?17A16AE30572D313A781CAA92714FCE0A3216081A23BEF0D | accessdate=2007-02-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=He was an Armenian: Artin Penik|work=Turkish Journal|url=http://www.turkishjournal.com/i.php?newsid=361|accessdate=2007-02-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title = Armenian Dies from Self-Inflicted Burns | work=[[Associated Press]]| date = 1982-08-15 }}</ref>

Prominent Armenian poet [[Silva Kaputikyan]] in [[1983]] wrote "Its raining my sonny" poem dedicated to the memory of ASALA member Ekmekjian.<ref>[[Spurk Journal]], #1-12, 2005, [[Beirut]], p. 35.</ref>

On [[July 15]], [[1983]], the ASALA carried out another attack at the [[Orly Airport]] near [[Paris]], in which 8 people were killed. The attack resulted in a split in ASALA, between those individuals who carried it out, called the "Orly Group," and those who believed the attack to be counter productive.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hetq.am/eng/society/7332/
|accessdate=2008-09-02
|title=He Was a Man Deeply Connected to the Natural World
|work=Hetq Online
|date=2007-11-26
|first=Edik
|last=Baghdasaryan
}}</ref> Afterwards, French forces promptly arrested those involved.<ref>"[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9804E0DF143BF93AA35753C1A965948260 French Hold Armenians In Orly Airport Bombing]," ''[[Associated Press]]'', [[New York Times]], [[October 9]], [[1983]].</ref> Moreover, this attack eliminated the suspected secret agreement that the French socialist government made with ASALA, in which the government would allow ASALA to use France as a base of operations in exchange for refraining from launching attacks on French soil. Belief in this suspected agreement was further bolstered after "Interior Minister [[Gaston Defferre]] called [ASALA's] cause "just," and four Armenians arrested for taking hostages at the Turkish Embassy in September 1981 were given light sentences."<ref>Echikson, William. "[http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/csmonitor_historic/access/260828642.html?dids=260828642:260828642&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Jul+19%2C+1983&author=By+William+Echikson+Special+to+The+Christian+Science+Monitor&pub=Christian+Science+Monitor&desc=Armenian+bombing+at+Orly+ends+pact+between+Socialists+and+terrorists&pqatl=google Armenian bombing at Orly ends pact between Socialists and terrorists]," ''[[Christian Science Monitor]]'', [[July 19]], [[1983]].</ref>

=== Reactions ===
Continuous attacks prompted Turkey to accuse [[Cyprus]], [[Greece]], [[Syria]], [[Lebanon]], and the [[Soviet Union]] of provoking or possibly funding the ASALA.<ref name="countrystudy" /> Although they publicly distanced themselves from the ASALA,<ref name="countrystudy" /> Turkey's Armenian community came under attack by Turkish nationalists in reaction to the group's actions. This became apparent after the assassination of [[Ahmet Benler]] on [[October 12]], [[1979]] by Armenian militants in [[the Hague]]. The reaction to the attack led to the bombing of the church of the Armenian Apostolic Patriarchate in [[Istanbul]] on [[October 19]] in retaliation.<ref name=azadhye>[[Tessa Hofmann|Tessa, Hofmann]]. [http://www.armenian.ch/asa/Docs/faae02.pdf Armenians in Turkey today]</ref>

According to [[Tessa Hofmann]], Turkish officials frequently used the accusation of collaboration with the ASALA and foreign Armenian circles to incriminate extreme left-wing Turkish opposition groups.<ref name=azadhye/>

=== Counteroffensive ===


After the ASALA attack against the [[Esenboğa International Airport]] in August 1982 the then President of Turkey [[Kenan Evren]] issued a decree for the elimination of ASALA. The task was given to the [[National Intelligence Organization]]'s ({{lang-tr|Millî İstihbarat Teşkilâtı}}, MİT) Foreign Operations Department. Evren's own daughter, a member of the MİT, ran the operation together with Foreign Intelligence Department chief Metin (Mete) Günyol, and Istanbul region director Nuri Gündeş.<ref name=kizi>{{cite journal
|url=http://www.aksiyon.com.tr/detay.php?id=15119
|accessdate=2008-12-13
|title=Asala operasyonlarını Kenan Evren'in kızı yönetti
|date=2004-09-06
|first=Faruk
|last=Mercan
|volume=509
|publisher=Feza Gazetecilik A.Ş.
|journal=Aksiyon
|language=Turkish
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sabah.com.tr/2004/09/08/siy112.html
|accessdate=2008-12-13
|title=Evren: Kızım MİT'te çalışıyordu
|date=2004-09-08
|language=Turkish
|work=Sabah
}}</ref>

Levon Ekmekjian was captured and placed in Ankara's Mamak Prison. He was told that he had to choose between confessing and being executed. After being promised that his comrades would not be harmed, he revealed how the ASALA worked to a team lead by MİT's Presidential Liaison and Evren's son-in-law, Erkan Gürvit. He was executed nevertheless.<ref name=kizi/><ref name=efsane>{{cite news|url=http://arsiv.sabah.com.tr/2008/09/28/haber,B5E3B51FA2F94618A781886CB7B3B590.html
|accessdate=2008-12-25
|title=ASALA operasyonları efsane mi?
|date=2008-09-28
|work=Sabah
|first=Ecevit
|last=Kilic
|language=Turkish
}}</ref>

In the early Spring of 1983 two teams were sent to France and Lebanon. Günyol tapped [[contract killer]] [[Abdullah Çatlı]], who had just finished serving a prison sentence in Switzerland for [[drug trafficking]], to lead the French contingent. A second French unit was assembled under MİT operative Sabah Ketene. The Lebanese contingent, consisting only of MİT operatives and members of the “Special Warfare Department” ([[special forces]]), was led by MİT officer Hiram Abas.<ref name=efsane/>

Çatlı's team was ineffectual. A bomb was planted in Ara Toranyan's car on 22 March 1983. It did not explode. A follow-up attempt also failed. Toranyan said they had planted the bomb in the wrong car. Likewise, Henri Papazyan's car bomb on 1 May 1984 did not explode. Çatlı did claim credit for killing Agop Agopyan, however he was in a French prison (again, on narcotics charges) at the time of the attack. Agopyan is now believed to been killed as a result of infighting. The second French (led by Ketene) did carry out some attacks (which Çatlı also claimed credit for), such as the 1984 Alfortville monument and Salle Pleyel concert room attacks. It is unknown whether the Lebanese contingent did anything at all.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://arsiv.sabah.com.tr/2008/09/28/haber,6BC4820941214D84A08DD404742B2C6F.html
|accessdate=2008-12-25
|title=Boş konser salonu bombalandı
|date=2008-09-28
|work=Sabah
|first=Ecevit
|last=Kilic
|language=Turkish
}}</ref>

== Dissolution==
With the [[1982 Lebanon War|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 last attack, on 19 December 1991, targeted the bullet-proof limousine carrying the Turkish Ambassador to [[Budapest]]. The ambassador was not injured in the attack, which was claimed by ASALA in [[Paris]].<ref name=hungary>{{cite web |url=http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=6723 |title=ASALA attacked Diplomatic target|date=1981-12-19|location=Hungary|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070827173744/http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=6723|archivedate=2007-08-27|work=[[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]}}</ref>

ASALA's founder Hagop Hagopian was assassinated on a sidewalk in an affluent neighborhood in [[Athens]], [[Greece]] on April 28, 1988. His assailants, Hovsep A., Vartan G., Garabed K., and Albert "Sultan-Minas", were all former ASALA members and lieutenants of Hagopian. His body was riddled with several bullets while he was walking with two women at 4:30 in the morning.<ref>Melkonian, Markar. ''My Brother's Road: An American's Fateful Journey to Armenia''. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005 pg. 187.</ref> Tarakchian died of [[cancer]] in [[1980]]. Assassinations of former members continued in [[Armenia]] into the late 1990s.<ref>Melkonian, Markar. ''My Brother's Road: An American's Fateful Journey to Armenia''. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005, pp. 277-278.</ref>

According to [[National Intelligence Agency]] official Nuri Gündeş, ASALA was dissolved after its financial backing was withdrawn by the Armenian diaspora after the 1983 [[Orly airport attack]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://arama.hurriyet.com.tr/arsivnews.aspx?id=-599507
|accessdate=2008-12-21
|title=Thanks to Nuri Gündeş
|work=[[Turkish Daily News]]
|publisher=[[Hürriyet]]
|date=2008-12-21
|first=Mehmet Ali
|last=Birand
|quote=It was the raid of Paris's Orly Airport in 1983 that finished the ASALA off. Feeling ill at ease by the raid, the French and U.S. Armenians who used to support ASALA monetarily stopped the aid and the issue was closed. I know this through French authorities that were involved. The ones that were instrumental in the stopping of the aid were MİT and the Foreign Ministry. Otherwise, ASALA did not yield because it was afraid of the Turkish bullies. They were stopped because they had gone too far with their murders.}}</ref>

==References==

{{Reflist|2}}

{{Defunct Armed Armenian Organizations}}

[[Category:1975 establishments]]
[[Category:Defunct Armenian paramilitary organizations]]
[[Category:Armenian Genocide]]
[[Category:Guerrilla organizations]]

[[az:ASALA]]
[[bg:АСАЛА]]
[[ca:ASALA]]
[[de:Asala]]
[[es:Ejército Secreto Armenio para la Liberación de Armenia]]
[[fr:Armée secrète arménienne de libération de l'Arménie]]
[[hy:Հայաստանի ազատագրության հայ գաղտնի բանակ]]
[[it:Esercito Segreto armeno per la Liberazione dell'Armenia]]
[[nl:Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia]]
[[ja:アルメニア解放秘密軍]]
[[pl:ASALA]]
[[ru:Армянская секретная армия освобождения Армении]]
[[simple:Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia]]
[[sl:Armenska tajna armada za osvoboditev Armenije]]
[[sv:ASALA]]
[[tr:ASALA]]

Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia

2008-12-25T19:48:04Z

Adoniscik: /* Counteroffensive */ ASALA operasyonları efsane mi?

{{Infobox militant organization
|name = Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia {{rtl-lang|hy|Հայաստանի ազատագրութեան հայ գաղտնի բանակ}} 
|logo = Flag of the ASALA.png
|caption = Flag of the ASALA
|dates = [[1975]]<ref name=hunsicker>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=K4XefrTlSygC&pg=PA431&lpg=PA431&dq=%22to+compel+the+Turkish+Government+to+acknowledge+publicly+its+alleged+responsibility+for+the+deaths+of+1.5+million+Armenians+in+1915,+pay+reparations,+and+cede+territory+for+an+Armenian+homeland%22&source=web&ots=pXUcCHSQ_K&sig=g_wv7KBmKIdDoKiZ2P5nF2r952M&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=2&ct=result|title=Understanding International Counter Terrorism|publisher=Universal-Publishers|last=Hunsicker|isbn=158112905X|pages=431|year=2006}}</ref> to [[1986]]<ref name=roy170>Roy, Olivier. ''Turkey Today: A European Nation?'' p. 170. Roy suggests that the Orly incident led to "dissension end[ing] in the settling of scores in which ASALA militants killed each other in their camp at Bekaa (Al-Biqa, Lebanon)... (It) practically disappeared. It resurfaced once again, however, to assassinate important members of the Lebanese section of the Dashnak Party (March 1985 – May 1986)."</ref>
|leader = [[Hagop Hagopian]]<ref name="MIPT"/>
|motives = "To compel the Turkish Government to acknowledge publicly its responsibility for the [[Armenian Genocide|deaths of 1.5 million Armenians]] in 1915, pay reparations, and cede territory for an Armenian homeland."<ref name=hunsicker/>
|area = [[Turkey]], [[United States]], [[Lebanon]], [[Western Europe]], [[Armenia]], and [[Middle East]].
|ideology = [[Marxism-Leninism]], [[Greater Armenia (political concept)|Greater Armenia]]
|crimes = Assassination of a number of Turkish diplomats and their relatives. Bombing of Turkish, French and Swiss targets for varying motives. Several minor bombing attacks against US airline offices in Western Europe. 
|attacks = Armed attack and bombing of the [[Esenboğa International Airport]], [[Ankara]].<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20070930041244/http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=3316 Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA) attacked Airports & Airlines target (August 7, 1982, Turkey)], [[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]</ref> [[Orly airport attack|Bombing of Turkish airline counter]] at [[Orly Airport (Paris)]].<ref name=hunsicker/>
|allies =
|enemies = [[Turkish government]] and [[Turkish diplomats|its representatives]].<ref name="countrystudy" />
|status = Dissolved
}}

The '''Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia''' ('''ASALA''') was a [[Marxism-Leninism|Marxist-Leninist]] [[militant]]<ref>http://www.bartleby.com/67/2679.html</ref> organization, that operated from 1975 to 1986.<ref>Roy, Olivier. ''Turkey Today: A European Nation?'' p. 170. Roy suggests that the Orly incident led to "dissension end[ing] in the settling of scores in which ASALA militants killed each other in their camp at Bekaa (Al-Biqa, Lebanon)... (It) practically disappeared. It resurfaced once again, however, to assassinate important members of the Lebanese section of the Dashnak Party (March 1985 - May 1986)."</ref> The group also operated under other names such as '''The Orly Group''' and the '''3 October Organization'''.<ref name="countrystudy01" /> The intention of ASALA was purportedly "to compel the Turkish Government to acknowledge publicly its alleged responsibility for the [[Armenian Genocide|deaths of 1.5 million Armenians]] in 1915, pay reparations, and cede territory for an Armenian homeland".<ref name="deptstate">{{cite book
| title = [[s:Patterns of Global Terrorism Report/1996|Patterns of Global Terrorism Report - 1996]]
| chapter = Appendix B
| accessdate = 2007-01-26
| author = U.S. Department of State
}}</ref>

The territory to be ceded would be the area promised to the Armenians at the never-[[ratification|ratified]] [[Treaty of Sèvres]] in 1920 by [[President of the United States|US President]] [[Woodrow Wilson]], "[[Wilsonian Armenia]]".<ref name="countrystudy01">Pitman, Paul M. ''Turkey: A Country Study''. Washington D.C.: The Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, 283, 354-355 {{oclc|17841957}}</ref> ASALA was listed as a [[terrorism|terrorist]] organization by the United States in 1980s.<ref name="deptstate" /> The group's mottos were "The armed struggle and right political line are the way to Armenia", "Viva the revolutionary solidarity of oppressed people!"<ref>''G. Yazchian, Three days ago this day was born ASALA'' // Azg daily, Yerevan, January 20, 2005</ref>.

==Background==
ASALA was founded in 1975 in [[Beirut]], [[Lebanon]] during the [[Lebanese Civil War]] by [[Hagop Hagopian]] (Harutiun Tagushian) and [[Kevork Ajemian]],<ref>"[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-22427363.html Kevork Ajemian, Prominent Contemporary Writer and Surviving Member of Triumvirate Which Founded ASALA, Dies in Beirut, Lebanon]," ''Armenian Reporter'', [[1999-02-01]]</ref> a prominent contemporary writer, with the help of sympathetic [[Palestinians]].<ref name=countrystudy>"[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/85.htm Political Interest Groups]," ''[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/ Turkey: A Country Study]'' ed. Helen Chapin Metz. Washington D.C.: The Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, 283, 354-355 {{oclc|17841957}}</ref> Consisting primarily of Lebanese-born Armenians of the Diaspora (whose parents and/or grandparents were survivors of the [[Armenian Genocide]]), the organization followed a theoretical model based on [[leftism|leftist ideology]].<ref>Roy, Olivier. ''Turkey Today: A European Nation?'' p. 169.</ref>
The group's activities were primarily assassinations of Turkish diplomats and politicians in [[Western Europe]], in the [[United States]] and the [[Middle East]].<ref name="countrystudy" /> Their first acknowledged killing was the assassination of the Turkish diplomat, [[Daniş Tunalıgil]], in [[Vienna]] on [[October 22]], [[1975]]. A failed attack in [[Geneva]] on [[October 3]], [[1980]], in which two Armenian militants were injured resulted in a new nickname for the group, the 3 October Organization. The ASALA's eight point manifesto was published in 1981.

ASALA, trained in the Beirut camps of [[Palestine Liberation Organization]], is the best known of the guerilla groups responsible for assassinations of at least 36 Turkish diplomats.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,955176,00.html
|accessdate=2008-09-02
|title=Long Memories
|work=TIME
|date=1983-08-08
|author=Iyer, Pico
|volume=32}}</ref>

== Attacks ==
{{See also|List of attacks by the Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia}}

According to [[National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism|MIPT]] website, there had been 84 incidents involving ASALA leaving 46 people dead, and 299 people injured including the following:<ref name="MIPT">[http://web.archive.org/web/20071115020146/http://www.tkb.org/Group.jsp?groupID=258 Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA)], [[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]</ref>
* [[February 16]], [[1976]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Beirut]], Oktar Cirit was killed.
* [[October 12]], [[1979]] in Turkish Embassy in the [[Hague]], Ahmet Benler, the son of the Ambassador Özdemir Benler, was killed (This attack was one of the attacks co-claimed by JCAG.
* [[July 31]], [[1980]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Athens]], Galip Özmen and his 14 year old daughter Neslihan were killed in the Turkish consulate. Galip Özmen's wife Sevil Özmen and their son Kaan survived the attack with injuries.
* [[December 29]], [[1980]] in [[Madrid]], a [[Spain|Spanish]] journalist, assistant director of the "Pueblo" newspaper, [[José Antonio Gurriarán]] was accidentally injured during an October 3 group attack. Then Gurriarán was interested what the group's purposes were; he found and interviewed ASALA members. In 1982 his "La Bomba" book was published, dedicated to the Armenian cause and Armenian militant's struggle.<ref>[http://www.elpais.com/articulo/ultima/GURRIARaN/_JOSe_ANTONIO_/PERIODISTA/Jose/Antonio/Gurriaran/elpepiult/19820404elpepiult_2/Tes/ GENTE José Antonio Gurriarán], ''[[El Pais]]'', [[April 4]], [[1982]]. "Subdirector del diario Pueblo, relatará en su libro La bomba, que será publicado en el próximo mes de abril, el atentado de que fue víctima en la Gran Vía de Madrid el 29 de diciembre de 1980, hecho del que luego se responsabilizaría el grupo armenio Octubre 3. El autor entrevista en el libro a los miembros del comando que activaron las dos cargas de Goma 2."</ref>
* [[March 4]], 1981 in the Turkish Embassy in [[Paris]], Reşat Moralı was killed and Tecelli Arı was injured.
* [[June 9]], 1981 in the Turkish Consulate in [[Geneva]], Mehmet Savaş Yergüz was killed.
* [[September 24]], [[1981]] in Turkish Consulate in Paris, 56 Turks were held hostage in the embassy by ASALA militants (none of the hostages were harmed), Turkish guard Cemal Özen was killed. ASALA members demanded the Turkish government free Armenian political prisoners within 12 hours and fly them to Paris. After 15 hours they surrendered peacefully requesting political asylum from the French government.<ref name=hungary/>
* [[April 28]], [[1984]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Tehran]], [[Iran]], Işık Yönder was killed.

The ASALA's most criticized attack was on [[August 7]], [[1982]] in [[Ankara]] at the [[Esenboğa International Airport]], when its members targeted both diplomats and non-diplomat civilians for the first time. Two militants opened fire in a crowded passenger waiting room. One of the shooters took more than 20 hostages while the second was apprehended by police. Altogether, nine people died and 82 were injured. The arrested 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'') led by Hagopian and the 'Popular Movement' (''ASALA-Mouvement Révolutionnaire'') led by [[Monte Melkonian]]. While Melkonian's faction insisted on attacks strictly against Turkish officials and the Turkish government, Hagopian's group disregarded the losses of unintended victims and regularly executed dissenting members.
On [[August 10]], [[1982]], [[Artin Penik]] a Turk of Armenian descent, set himself on fire in protest of this attack.<ref name="oran"> {{cite news|
| last = Oran
| first = Baskın
| title = The Reconstruction of Armenian Identity in Turkey and the Weekly Agos (Interview with Hrant Dink)
| work = Nouvelles d'Armenie
| date = 2006-12-17
| url = http://www.armenews.com/article.php3?id_article=27696
| accessdate = 2008-09-02 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=Armenian Issue: Chronology | publisher=[[Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism]] | url=http://www.kultur.gov.tr/EN/BelgeGoster.aspx?17A16AE30572D313A781CAA92714FCE0A3216081A23BEF0D | accessdate=2007-02-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=He was an Armenian: Artin Penik|work=Turkish Journal|url=http://www.turkishjournal.com/i.php?newsid=361|accessdate=2007-02-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title = Armenian Dies from Self-Inflicted Burns | work=[[Associated Press]]| date = 1982-08-15 }}</ref>

Prominent Armenian poet [[Silva Kaputikyan]] in [[1983]] wrote "Its raining my sonny" poem dedicated to the memory of ASALA member Ekmekjian.<ref>[[Spurk Journal]], #1-12, 2005, [[Beirut]], p. 35.</ref>

On [[July 15]], [[1983]], the ASALA carried out another attack at the [[Orly Airport]] near [[Paris]], in which 8 people were killed. The attack resulted in a split in ASALA, between those individuals who carried it out, called the "Orly Group," and those who believed the attack to be counter productive.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hetq.am/eng/society/7332/
|accessdate=2008-09-02
|title=He Was a Man Deeply Connected to the Natural World
|work=Hetq Online
|date=2007-11-26
|first=Edik
|last=Baghdasaryan
}}</ref> Afterwards, French forces promptly arrested those involved.<ref>"[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9804E0DF143BF93AA35753C1A965948260 French Hold Armenians In Orly Airport Bombing]," ''[[Associated Press]]'', [[New York Times]], [[October 9]], [[1983]].</ref> Moreover, this attack eliminated the suspected secret agreement that the French socialist government made with ASALA, in which the government would allow ASALA to use France as a base of operations in exchange for refraining from launching attacks on French soil. Belief in this suspected agreement was further bolstered after "Interior Minister [[Gaston Defferre]] called [ASALA's] cause "just," and four Armenians arrested for taking hostages at the Turkish Embassy in September 1981 were given light sentences."<ref>Echikson, William. "[http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/csmonitor_historic/access/260828642.html?dids=260828642:260828642&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Jul+19%2C+1983&author=By+William+Echikson+Special+to+The+Christian+Science+Monitor&pub=Christian+Science+Monitor&desc=Armenian+bombing+at+Orly+ends+pact+between+Socialists+and+terrorists&pqatl=google Armenian bombing at Orly ends pact between Socialists and terrorists]," ''[[Christian Science Monitor]]'', [[July 19]], [[1983]].</ref>

=== Reactions ===
Continuous attacks prompted Turkey to accuse [[Cyprus]], [[Greece]], [[Syria]], [[Lebanon]], and the [[Soviet Union]] of provoking or possibly funding the ASALA.<ref name="countrystudy" /> Although they publicly distanced themselves from the ASALA,<ref name="countrystudy" /> Turkey's Armenian community came under attack by Turkish nationalists in reaction to the group's actions. This became apparent after the assassination of [[Ahmet Benler]] on [[October 12]], [[1979]] by Armenian militants in [[the Hague]]. The reaction to the attack led to the bombing of the church of the Armenian Apostolic Patriarchate in [[Istanbul]] on [[October 19]] in retaliation.<ref name=azadhye>[[Tessa Hofmann|Tessa, Hofmann]]. [http://www.armenian.ch/asa/Docs/faae02.pdf Armenians in Turkey today]</ref>

According to [[Tessa Hofmann]], Turkish officials frequently used the accusation of collaboration with the ASALA and foreign Armenian circles to incriminate extreme left-wing Turkish opposition groups.<ref name=azadhye/>

=== Counteroffensive ===


After the ASALA attack against the [[Esenboğa International Airport]] in August 1982 the then President of Turkey [[Kenan Evren]] issued a decree for the elimination of ASALA. The task was given to the [[National Intelligence Organization]]'s ({{lang-tr|Millî İstihbarat Teşkilâtı}}, MİT) Foreign Operations Department. Evren's own daughter, a member of the MİT, ran the operation together with Foreign Intelligence Department chief Metin (Mete) Günyol, and Istanbul region director Nuri Gündeş.<ref name=kizi>{{cite journal
|url=http://www.aksiyon.com.tr/detay.php?id=15119
|accessdate=2008-12-13
|title=Asala operasyonlarını Kenan Evren'in kızı yönetti
|date=2004-09-06
|first=Faruk
|last=Mercan
|volume=509
|publisher=Feza Gazetecilik A.Ş.
|journal=Aksiyon
|language=Turkish
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sabah.com.tr/2004/09/08/siy112.html
|accessdate=2008-12-13
|title=Evren: Kızım MİT'te çalışıyordu
|date=2004-09-08
|language=Turkish
|work=Sabah
}}</ref>

Levon Ekmekjian was captured and placed in Ankara's Mamak Prison. He was told that he had to choose between confessing and being executed. After being promised that his comrades would not be harmed, he revealed how the ASALA worked to a team lead by MİT's Presidential Liaison and Evren's son-in-law, Erkan Gürvit. He was executed nevertheless.<ref name=kizi/><ref name=efsane>{{cite news|url=http://arsiv.sabah.com.tr/2008/09/28/haber,B5E3B51FA2F94618A781886CB7B3B590.html
|accessdate=2008-12-25
|title=ASALA operasyonları efsane mi?
|date=2008-09-28
|work=Sabah
|first=Ecevit
|last=Kilic
|language=Turkish
}}</ref>

In the early Spring of 1983 two teams were sent to France and Lebanon. Günyol tapped [[contract killer]] [[Abdullah Çatlı]], who had just finished serving a prison sentence in Switzerland for [[drug trafficking]], to lead the French contingent. The Lebanese contingent, consisting only of MİT operatives and members of the “Special Warfare Department” ([[special forces]]), was led by MİT officer Hiram Abas.<ref name=efsane/>

== Dissolution==
With the [[1982 Lebanon War|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 last attack, on 19 December 1991, targeted the bullet-proof limousine carrying the Turkish Ambassador to [[Budapest]]. The ambassador was not injured in the attack, which was claimed by ASALA in [[Paris]].<ref name=hungary>{{cite web |url=http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=6723 |title=ASALA attacked Diplomatic target|date=1981-12-19|location=Hungary|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070827173744/http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=6723|archivedate=2007-08-27|work=[[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]}}</ref>

ASALA's founder Hagop Hagopian was assassinated on a sidewalk in an affluent neighborhood in [[Athens]], [[Greece]] on April 28, 1988. His assailants, Hovsep A., Vartan G., Garabed K., and Albert "Sultan-Minas", were all former ASALA members and lieutenants of Hagopian. His body was riddled with several bullets while he was walking with two women at 4:30 in the morning.<ref>Melkonian, Markar. ''My Brother's Road: An American's Fateful Journey to Armenia''. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005 pg. 187.</ref> Tarakchian died of [[cancer]] in [[1980]]. Assassinations of former members continued in [[Armenia]] into the late 1990s.<ref>Melkonian, Markar. ''My Brother's Road: An American's Fateful Journey to Armenia''. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005, pp. 277-278.</ref>

According to [[National Intelligence Agency]] official Nuri Gündeş, ASALA was dissolved after its financial backing was withdrawn by the Armenian diaspora after the 1983 [[Orly airport attack]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://arama.hurriyet.com.tr/arsivnews.aspx?id=-599507
|accessdate=2008-12-21
|title=Thanks to Nuri Gündeş
|work=[[Turkish Daily News]]
|publisher=[[Hürriyet]]
|date=2008-12-21
|first=Mehmet Ali
|last=Birand
|quote=It was the raid of Paris's Orly Airport in 1983 that finished the ASALA off. Feeling ill at ease by the raid, the French and U.S. Armenians who used to support ASALA monetarily stopped the aid and the issue was closed. I know this through French authorities that were involved. The ones that were instrumental in the stopping of the aid were MİT and the Foreign Ministry. Otherwise, ASALA did not yield because it was afraid of the Turkish bullies. They were stopped because they had gone too far with their murders.}}</ref>

==References==

{{Reflist|2}}

{{Defunct Armed Armenian Organizations}}

[[Category:1975 establishments]]
[[Category:Defunct Armenian paramilitary organizations]]
[[Category:Armenian Genocide]]
[[Category:Guerrilla organizations]]

[[az:ASALA]]
[[bg:АСАЛА]]
[[ca:ASALA]]
[[de:Asala]]
[[es:Ejército Secreto Armenio para la Liberación de Armenia]]
[[fr:Armée secrète arménienne de libération de l'Arménie]]
[[hy:Հայաստանի ազատագրության հայ գաղտնի բանակ]]
[[it:Esercito Segreto armeno per la Liberazione dell'Armenia]]
[[nl:Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia]]
[[ja:アルメニア解放秘密軍]]
[[pl:ASALA]]
[[ru:Армянская секретная армия освобождения Армении]]
[[simple:Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia]]
[[sl:Armenska tajna armada za osvoboditev Armenije]]
[[sv:ASALA]]
[[tr:ASALA]]

Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia

2008-12-22T04:06:08Z

Adoniscik: /* Dissolution */

{{Infobox militant organization
|name = Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia {{rtl-lang|hy|Հայաստանի ազատագրութեան հայ գաղտնի բանակ}} 
|logo = Flag of the ASALA.png
|caption = Flag of the ASALA
|dates = [[1975]]<ref name=hunsicker/> to [[1986]]<ref name=roy170/>
|leader = [[Hagop Hagopian]]<ref name="MIPT">[http://web.archive.org/web/20071115020146/http://www.tkb.org/Group.jsp?groupID=258 Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA)], [[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]</ref>
|motives = "To compel the Turkish Government to acknowledge publicly its responsibility for the [[Armenian Genocide|deaths of 1.5 million Armenians]] in 1915, pay reparations, and cede territory for an Armenian homeland."<ref name=hunsicker/>
|area = [[Turkey]], [[United States]], [[Lebanon]], [[Western Europe]], [[Armenia]], and [[Middle East]].
|ideology = [[Marxism-Leninism]], [[Greater Armenia (political concept)|Greater Armenia]]
|crimes = Assassination of a number of Turkish diplomats and their relatives. Bombing of Turkish, French and Swiss targets for varying motives. Several minor bombing attacks against US airline offices in Western Europe. 
|attacks = Armed attack and bombing of the [[Esenboğa International Airport]], [[Ankara]].<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20070930041244/http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=3316 Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA) attacked Airports & Airlines target (August 7, 1982, Turkey)], [[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]</ref> [[Orly airport attack|Bombing of Turkish airline counter]] at [[Orly Airport (Paris)]].<ref name=hunsicker/>
|allies =
|enemies = [[Turkish government]] and [[Turkish diplomats|its representatives]].<ref name=countrystudy>"[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/85.htm Political Interest Groups]," ''[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/ Turkey: A Country Study]'' ed. Helen Chapin Metz. Washington D.C.: The Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, 283, 354-355 {{oclc|17841957}}</ref>
|status = Dissolved
}}

The '''Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia''' ('''ASALA''') was a [[militant]]<ref>[http://www.bartleby.com/67/2679.html 1982. 2001. The Encyclopedia of World History]</ref> [[Marxism-Leninism|Marxist-Leninist]] organization, that operated from 1975 to 1986<ref name=roy170>Roy, Olivier. ''Turkey Today: A European Nation?'' p. 170. Roy suggests that the Orly incident led to "dissension end[ing] in the settling of scores in which ASALA militants killed each other in their camp at Bekaa (Al-Biqa, Lebanon)... (It) practically disappeared. It resurfaced once again, however, to assassinate important members of the Lebanese section of the Dashnak Party (March 1985 – May 1986)."</ref> and was responsible for the assassination of many Turkish diplomats and their families. The group also operated under other names such as '''The Orly Group''' and the '''3 October Organization'''.<ref name=countrystudy>"[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/85.htm Political Interest Groups]," ''[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/ Turkey: A Country Study]'' ed. Helen Chapin Metz. Washington D.C.: The Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, 283, 354-355 {{oclc|17841957}}</ref> The intention of ASALA was purportedly "to compel the Turkish Government to acknowledge publicly its alleged responsibility for the [[Armenian Genocide|deaths of 1.5 million Armenians]] in 1915, pay reparations, and cede territory for an Armenian homeland".<ref name=hunsicker>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=K4XefrTlSygC&pg=PA431&lpg=PA431&dq=%22to+compel+the+Turkish+Government+to+acknowledge+publicly+its+alleged+responsibility+for+the+deaths+of+1.5+million+Armenians+in+1915,+pay+reparations,+and+cede+territory+for+an+Armenian+homeland%22&source=web&ots=pXUcCHSQ_K&sig=g_wv7KBmKIdDoKiZ2P5nF2r952M&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=2&ct=result|title=Understanding International Counter Terrorism|publisher=Universal-Publishers|last=Hunsicker|isbn=158112905X|pages=431|year=2006}}</ref> ASALA was listed as a [[terrorism|terrorist]] organization by the United States in 1980s.<ref name=pgt>{{citation
|chapterurl=http://www.nps.edu/Library/Research/SubjectGuides/SpecialTopics/TerroristProfile/Prior/ASALA.html
|url=http://www.mipt.org/pdf/1997pogt.pdf
|accessdate=2008-09-02
|title=Patterns of Global Terrorism
|chapter=Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA)
|year=1997
|publisher=[[U.S. Department of State]]
}}</ref>

==Background==
ASALA was founded in 1975 in [[Beirut]], [[Lebanon]] during the [[Lebanese Civil War]] by [[Hagop Hagopian]] (Harutiun Tagushian) and [[Kevork Ajemian]],<ref>"[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-22427363.html Kevork Ajemian, Prominent Contemporary Writer and Surviving Member of Triumvirate Which Founded ASALA, Dies in Beirut, Lebanon]," ''Armenian Reporter'', [[1999-02-01]]</ref> a prominent contemporary writer, with the help of sympathetic [[Palestinians]].<ref name="countrystudy" /> Consisting primarily of Lebanese-born Armenians of the Diaspora (whose parents and/or grandparents were survivors of the [[Armenian Genocide]]), the organization followed a theoretical model based on [[leftism|leftist ideology]].<ref>Roy, Olivier. ''Turkey Today: A European Nation?'' p. 169.</ref>
The group's activities were primarily assassinations of Turkish diplomats and politicians in [[Western Europe]], in the [[United States]] and the [[Middle East]].<ref name="countrystudy" /> Their first acknowledged killing was the assassination of the Turkish diplomat, [[Daniş Tunalıgil]], in [[Vienna]] on [[October 22]], [[1975]]. A failed attack in [[Geneva]] on [[October 3]], [[1980]], in which two Armenian militants were injured resulted in a new nickname for the group, the 3 October Organization. The ASALA's eight point manifesto was published in 1981.

ASALA, trained in the Beirut camps of [[Palestine Liberation Organization]], is the best known of the guerilla groups responsible for assassinations of at least 36 Turkish diplomats.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,955176,00.html
|accessdate=2008-09-02
|title=Long Memories
|work=TIME
|date=1983-08-08
|author=Iyer, Pico
|volume=32}}</ref>

== Attacks ==
{{See also|List of attacks by the Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia}}

According to [[National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism|MIPT]] website, there had been 84 incidents involving ASALA leaving 46 people dead, and 299 people injured including the following:<ref name="MIPT"/>
* [[February 16]], [[1976]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Beirut]], Oktar Cirit was killed.
* [[October 12]], [[1979]] in Turkish Embassy in the [[Hague]], Ahmet Benler, the son of the Ambassador Özdemir Benler, was killed (This attack was one of the attacks co-claimed by JCAG.
* [[July 31]], [[1980]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Athens]], Galip Özmen and his 14 year old daughter Neslihan were killed in the Turkish consulate. Galip Özmen's wife Sevil Özmen and their son Kaan survived the attack with injuries.
* [[December 29]], [[1980]] in [[Madrid]], a [[Spain|Spanish]] journalist, assistant director of the "Pueblo" newspaper, [[José Antonio Gurriarán]] was accidentally injured during an October 3 group attack. Then Gurriarán was interested what the group's purposes were; he found and interviewed ASALA members. In 1982 his "La Bomba" book was published, dedicated to the Armenian cause and Armenian militant's struggle.<ref>[http://www.elpais.com/articulo/ultima/GURRIARaN/_JOSe_ANTONIO_/PERIODISTA/Jose/Antonio/Gurriaran/elpepiult/19820404elpepiult_2/Tes/ GENTE José Antonio Gurriarán], ''[[El Pais]]'', [[April 4]], [[1982]]. "Subdirector del diario Pueblo, relatará en su libro La bomba, que será publicado en el próximo mes de abril, el atentado de que fue víctima en la Gran Vía de Madrid el 29 de diciembre de 1980, hecho del que luego se responsabilizaría el grupo armenio Octubre 3. El autor entrevista en el libro a los miembros del comando que activaron las dos cargas de Goma 2."</ref>
* [[March 4]], 1981 in the Turkish Embassy in [[Paris]], Reşat Moralı was killed and Tecelli Arı was injured.
* [[June 9]], 1981 in the Turkish Consulate in [[Geneva]], Mehmet Savaş Yergüz was killed.
* [[September 24]], [[1981]] in Turkish Consulate in Paris, 56 Turks were held hostage in the embassy by ASALA militants (none of the hostages were harmed), Turkish guard Cemal Özen was killed. ASALA members demanded the Turkish government free Armenian political prisoners within 12 hours and fly them to Paris. After 15 hours they surrendered peacefully requesting political asylum from the French government.<ref name=hungary/>
* [[April 28]], [[1984]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Tehran]], [[Iran]], Işık Yönder was killed.

The ASALA's most criticized attack was on [[August 7]], [[1982]] in [[Ankara]] at the [[Esenboğa International Airport]], when its members targeted both diplomats and non-diplomat civilians for the first time. Two militants opened fire in a crowded passenger waiting room. One of the shooters took more than 20 hostages while the second was apprehended by police. Altogether, nine people died and 82 were injured. The arrested 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'') led by Hagopian and the 'Popular Movement' (''ASALA-Mouvement Révolutionnaire'') led by [[Monte Melkonian]]. While Melkonian's faction insisted on attacks strictly against Turkish officials and the Turkish government, Hagopian's group disregarded the losses of unintended victims and regularly executed dissenting members.
On [[August 10]], [[1982]], [[Artin Penik]] a Turk of Armenian descent, set himself on fire in protest of this attack.<ref name="oran"> {{cite news|
| last = Oran
| first = Baskın
| title = The Reconstruction of Armenian Identity in Turkey and the Weekly Agos (Interview with Hrant Dink)
| work = Nouvelles d'Armenie
| date = 2006-12-17
| url = http://www.armenews.com/article.php3?id_article=27696
| accessdate = 2008-09-02 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=Armenian Issue: Chronology | publisher=[[Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism]] | url=http://www.kultur.gov.tr/EN/BelgeGoster.aspx?17A16AE30572D313A781CAA92714FCE0A3216081A23BEF0D | accessdate=2007-02-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=He was an Armenian: Artin Penik|work=Turkish Journal|url=http://www.turkishjournal.com/i.php?newsid=361|accessdate=2007-02-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title = Armenian Dies from Self-Inflicted Burns | work=[[Associated Press]]| date = 1982-08-15 }}</ref>

Prominent Armenian poet [[Silva Kaputikyan]] in [[1983]] wrote "Its raining my sonny" poem dedicated to the memory of ASALA member Ekmekjian.<ref>[[Spurk Journal]], #1-12, 2005, [[Beirut]], p. 35.</ref>

On [[July 15]], [[1983]], the ASALA carried out another attack at the [[Orly Airport]] near [[Paris]], in which 8 people were killed. The attack resulted in a split in ASALA, between those individuals who carried it out, called the "Orly Group," and those who believed the attack to be counter productive.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hetq.am/eng/society/7332/
|accessdate=2008-09-02
|title=He Was a Man Deeply Connected to the Natural World
|work=Hetq Online
|date=2007-11-26
|first=Edik
|last=Baghdasaryan
}}</ref> Afterwards, French forces promptly arrested those involved.<ref>"[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9804E0DF143BF93AA35753C1A965948260 French Hold Armenians In Orly Airport Bombing]," ''[[Associated Press]]'', [[New York Times]], [[October 9]], [[1983]].</ref> Moreover, this attack eliminated the suspected secret agreement that the French socialist government made with ASALA, in which the government would allow ASALA to use France as a base of operations in exchange for refraining from launching attacks on French soil. Belief in this suspected agreement was further bolstered after "Interior Minister [[Gaston Defferre]] called [ASALA's] cause "just," and four Armenians arrested for taking hostages at the Turkish Embassy in September 1981 were given light sentences."<ref>Echikson, William. "[http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/csmonitor_historic/access/260828642.html?dids=260828642:260828642&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Jul+19%2C+1983&author=By+William+Echikson+Special+to+The+Christian+Science+Monitor&pub=Christian+Science+Monitor&desc=Armenian+bombing+at+Orly+ends+pact+between+Socialists+and+terrorists&pqatl=google Armenian bombing at Orly ends pact between Socialists and terrorists]," ''[[Christian Science Monitor]]'', [[July 19]], [[1983]].</ref>

=== Reactions ===
Continuous attacks prompted Turkey to accuse [[Cyprus]], [[Greece]], [[Syria]], [[Lebanon]], and the [[Soviet Union]] of provoking or possibly funding the ASALA.<ref name="countrystudy" /> Although they publicly distanced themselves from the ASALA,<ref name="countrystudy" /> Turkey's Armenian community came under attack by Turkish nationalists in reaction to the group's actions. This became apparent after the assassination of [[Ahmet Benler]] on [[October 12]], [[1979]] by Armenian militants in [[the Hague]]. The reaction to the attack led to the bombing of the church of the Armenian Apostolic Patriarchate in [[Istanbul]] on [[October 19]] in retaliation.<ref name=azadhye>[[Tessa Hofmann|Tessa, Hofmann]]. [http://www.armenian.ch/asa/Docs/faae02.pdf Armenians in Turkey today]</ref>

According to [[Tessa Hofmann]], Turkish officials frequently used the accusation of collaboration with the ASALA and foreign Armenian circles to incriminate extreme left-wing Turkish opposition groups.<ref name=azadhye/>

=== Counteroffensive ===
{{English sources|section}}

After the ASALA attack against the [[Esenboğa International Airport]] in August 1982 the then President of Turkey [[Kenan Evren]] issued a decree for the elimination of ASALA. The task was given to the [[National Intelligence Organization]]'s ({{lang-tr|Millî İstihbarat Teşkilâtı}}, MİT) Foreign Operations Department. Evren's own daughter, a member of the MİT, ran the operation together with Metin Günyol, and Nuri Gündeş. [[Contract killer]] [[Abdullah Çatlı]] was also involved.<ref name=kizi>{{cite journal
|url=http://www.aksiyon.com.tr/detay.php?id=15119
|accessdate=2008-12-13
|title=Asala operasyonlarını Kenan Evren'in kızı yönetti
|date=2004-09-06
|first=Faruk
|last=Mercan
|volume=509
|publisher=Feza Gazetecilik A.Ş.
|journal=Aksiyon
|language=Turkish
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sabah.com.tr/2004/09/08/siy112.html
|accessdate=2008-12-13
|title=Evren: Kızım MİT'te çalışıyordu
|date=2004-09-08
|language=Turkish
|work=Sabah
}}</ref>

After being captured, Levon Ekmekjian revealed how the ASALA worked to the MİT. In the early Spring of 1983 two teams of Turkish intelligence operatives and members of the “[[Counter-Guerrilla|Special Warfare Department]]” were sent to France and Lebanon.<ref>Kilic, Ecevit. ''Özel Harp Dairesi'', 2007, pp.301-305.</ref> The Lebanese contingent was led by [[Hiram Abas]], after being tapped by MİT's Presidential Liaison and Evren's son-in-law, Erkan Gürvit.<ref name=kizi/>

== Dissolution==
With the [[1982 Lebanon War|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 last attack, on 19 December 1991, targeted the bullet-proof limousine carrying the Turkish Ambassador to [[Budapest]]. The ambassador was not injured in the attack, which was claimed by ASALA in [[Paris]].<ref name=hungary>{{cite web |url=http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=6723 |title=ASALA attacked Diplomatic target|date=1981-12-19|location=Hungary|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070827173744/http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=6723|archivedate=2007-08-27|work=[[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]}}</ref>

ASALA's founder Hagop Hagopian was assassinated on a sidewalk in an affluent neighborhood in [[Athens]], [[Greece]] on April 28, 1988. His assailants, Hovsep A., Vartan G., Garabed K., and Albert "Sultan-Minas", were all former ASALA members and lieutenants of Hagopian. His body was riddled with several bullets while he was walking with two women at 4:30 in the morning.<ref>Melkonian, Markar. ''My Brother's Road: An American's Fateful Journey to Armenia''. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005 pg. 187.</ref> Tarakchian died of [[cancer]] in [[1980]]. Assassinations of former members continued in [[Armenia]] into the late 1990s.<ref>Melkonian, Markar. ''My Brother's Road: An American's Fateful Journey to Armenia''. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005, pp. 277-278.</ref>

According to [[National Intelligence Agency]] official Nuri Gündeş, ASALA was dissolved after its financial backing was withdrawn by the Armenian diaspora after the 1983 [[Orly airport attack]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://arama.hurriyet.com.tr/arsivnews.aspx?id=-599507
|accessdate=2008-12-21
|title=Thanks to Nuri Gündeş
|work=[[Turkish Daily News]]
|publisher=[[Hürriyet]]
|date=2008-12-21
|first=Mehmet Ali
|last=Birand
|quote=It was the raid of Paris's Orly Airport in 1983 that finished the ASALA off. Feeling ill at ease by the raid, the French and U.S. Armenians who used to support ASALA monetarily stopped the aid and the issue was closed. I know this through French authorities that were involved. The ones that were instrumental in the stopping of the aid were MİT and the Foreign Ministry. Otherwise, ASALA did not yield because it was afraid of the Turkish bullies. They were stopped because they had gone too far with their murders.}}</ref>

==References==

{{Reflist|2}}

{{Defunct Armed Armenian Organizations}}

[[Category:1975 establishments]]
[[Category:Defunct Armenian paramilitary organizations]]
[[Category:Armenian Genocide]]
[[Category:Guerrilla organizations]]

[[az:ASALA]]
[[bg:АСАЛА]]
[[ca:ASALA]]
[[de:Asala]]
[[es:Ejército Secreto Armenio para la Liberación de Armenia]]
[[fr:Armée secrète arménienne de libération de l'Arménie]]
[[hy:Հայաստանի ազատագրության հայ գաղտնի բանակ]]
[[it:Esercito Segreto armeno per la Liberazione dell'Armenia]]
[[nl:Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia]]
[[ja:アルメニア解放秘密軍]]
[[pl:ASALA]]
[[ru:Армянская секретная армия освобождения Армении]]
[[simple:Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia]]
[[sl:Armenska tajna armada za osvoboditev Armenije]]
[[sv:ASALA]]
[[tr:ASALA]]

Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia

2008-12-22T04:04:09Z

Adoniscik: /* Counteroffensive */ language problem? + fix template

{{Infobox militant organization
|name = Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia {{rtl-lang|hy|Հայաստանի ազատագրութեան հայ գաղտնի բանակ}} 
|logo = Flag of the ASALA.png
|caption = Flag of the ASALA
|dates = [[1975]]<ref name=hunsicker/> to [[1986]]<ref name=roy170/>
|leader = [[Hagop Hagopian]]<ref name="MIPT">[http://web.archive.org/web/20071115020146/http://www.tkb.org/Group.jsp?groupID=258 Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA)], [[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]</ref>
|motives = "To compel the Turkish Government to acknowledge publicly its responsibility for the [[Armenian Genocide|deaths of 1.5 million Armenians]] in 1915, pay reparations, and cede territory for an Armenian homeland."<ref name=hunsicker/>
|area = [[Turkey]], [[United States]], [[Lebanon]], [[Western Europe]], [[Armenia]], and [[Middle East]].
|ideology = [[Marxism-Leninism]], [[Greater Armenia (political concept)|Greater Armenia]]
|crimes = Assassination of a number of Turkish diplomats and their relatives. Bombing of Turkish, French and Swiss targets for varying motives. Several minor bombing attacks against US airline offices in Western Europe. 
|attacks = Armed attack and bombing of the [[Esenboğa International Airport]], [[Ankara]].<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20070930041244/http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=3316 Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA) attacked Airports & Airlines target (August 7, 1982, Turkey)], [[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]</ref> [[Orly airport attack|Bombing of Turkish airline counter]] at [[Orly Airport (Paris)]].<ref name=hunsicker/>
|allies =
|enemies = [[Turkish government]] and [[Turkish diplomats|its representatives]].<ref name=countrystudy>"[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/85.htm Political Interest Groups]," ''[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/ Turkey: A Country Study]'' ed. Helen Chapin Metz. Washington D.C.: The Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, 283, 354-355 {{oclc|17841957}}</ref>
|status = Dissolved
}}

The '''Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia''' ('''ASALA''') was a [[militant]]<ref>[http://www.bartleby.com/67/2679.html 1982. 2001. The Encyclopedia of World History]</ref> [[Marxism-Leninism|Marxist-Leninist]] organization, that operated from 1975 to 1986<ref name=roy170>Roy, Olivier. ''Turkey Today: A European Nation?'' p. 170. Roy suggests that the Orly incident led to "dissension end[ing] in the settling of scores in which ASALA militants killed each other in their camp at Bekaa (Al-Biqa, Lebanon)... (It) practically disappeared. It resurfaced once again, however, to assassinate important members of the Lebanese section of the Dashnak Party (March 1985 – May 1986)."</ref> and was responsible for the assassination of many Turkish diplomats and their families. The group also operated under other names such as '''The Orly Group''' and the '''3 October Organization'''.<ref name=countrystudy>"[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/85.htm Political Interest Groups]," ''[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/ Turkey: A Country Study]'' ed. Helen Chapin Metz. Washington D.C.: The Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, 283, 354-355 {{oclc|17841957}}</ref> The intention of ASALA was purportedly "to compel the Turkish Government to acknowledge publicly its alleged responsibility for the [[Armenian Genocide|deaths of 1.5 million Armenians]] in 1915, pay reparations, and cede territory for an Armenian homeland".<ref name=hunsicker>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=K4XefrTlSygC&pg=PA431&lpg=PA431&dq=%22to+compel+the+Turkish+Government+to+acknowledge+publicly+its+alleged+responsibility+for+the+deaths+of+1.5+million+Armenians+in+1915,+pay+reparations,+and+cede+territory+for+an+Armenian+homeland%22&source=web&ots=pXUcCHSQ_K&sig=g_wv7KBmKIdDoKiZ2P5nF2r952M&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=2&ct=result|title=Understanding International Counter Terrorism|publisher=Universal-Publishers|last=Hunsicker|isbn=158112905X|pages=431|year=2006}}</ref> ASALA was listed as a [[terrorism|terrorist]] organization by the United States in 1980s.<ref name=pgt>{{citation
|chapterurl=http://www.nps.edu/Library/Research/SubjectGuides/SpecialTopics/TerroristProfile/Prior/ASALA.html
|url=http://www.mipt.org/pdf/1997pogt.pdf
|accessdate=2008-09-02
|title=Patterns of Global Terrorism
|chapter=Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA)
|year=1997
|publisher=[[U.S. Department of State]]
}}</ref>

==Background==
ASALA was founded in 1975 in [[Beirut]], [[Lebanon]] during the [[Lebanese Civil War]] by [[Hagop Hagopian]] (Harutiun Tagushian) and [[Kevork Ajemian]],<ref>"[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-22427363.html Kevork Ajemian, Prominent Contemporary Writer and Surviving Member of Triumvirate Which Founded ASALA, Dies in Beirut, Lebanon]," ''Armenian Reporter'', [[1999-02-01]]</ref> a prominent contemporary writer, with the help of sympathetic [[Palestinians]].<ref name="countrystudy" /> Consisting primarily of Lebanese-born Armenians of the Diaspora (whose parents and/or grandparents were survivors of the [[Armenian Genocide]]), the organization followed a theoretical model based on [[leftism|leftist ideology]].<ref>Roy, Olivier. ''Turkey Today: A European Nation?'' p. 169.</ref>
The group's activities were primarily assassinations of Turkish diplomats and politicians in [[Western Europe]], in the [[United States]] and the [[Middle East]].<ref name="countrystudy" /> Their first acknowledged killing was the assassination of the Turkish diplomat, [[Daniş Tunalıgil]], in [[Vienna]] on [[October 22]], [[1975]]. A failed attack in [[Geneva]] on [[October 3]], [[1980]], in which two Armenian militants were injured resulted in a new nickname for the group, the 3 October Organization. The ASALA's eight point manifesto was published in 1981.

ASALA, trained in the Beirut camps of [[Palestine Liberation Organization]], is the best known of the guerilla groups responsible for assassinations of at least 36 Turkish diplomats.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,955176,00.html
|accessdate=2008-09-02
|title=Long Memories
|work=TIME
|date=1983-08-08
|author=Iyer, Pico
|volume=32}}</ref>

== Attacks ==
{{See also|List of attacks by the Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia}}

According to [[National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism|MIPT]] website, there had been 84 incidents involving ASALA leaving 46 people dead, and 299 people injured including the following:<ref name="MIPT"/>
* [[February 16]], [[1976]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Beirut]], Oktar Cirit was killed.
* [[October 12]], [[1979]] in Turkish Embassy in the [[Hague]], Ahmet Benler, the son of the Ambassador Özdemir Benler, was killed (This attack was one of the attacks co-claimed by JCAG.
* [[July 31]], [[1980]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Athens]], Galip Özmen and his 14 year old daughter Neslihan were killed in the Turkish consulate. Galip Özmen's wife Sevil Özmen and their son Kaan survived the attack with injuries.
* [[December 29]], [[1980]] in [[Madrid]], a [[Spain|Spanish]] journalist, assistant director of the "Pueblo" newspaper, [[José Antonio Gurriarán]] was accidentally injured during an October 3 group attack. Then Gurriarán was interested what the group's purposes were; he found and interviewed ASALA members. In 1982 his "La Bomba" book was published, dedicated to the Armenian cause and Armenian militant's struggle.<ref>[http://www.elpais.com/articulo/ultima/GURRIARaN/_JOSe_ANTONIO_/PERIODISTA/Jose/Antonio/Gurriaran/elpepiult/19820404elpepiult_2/Tes/ GENTE José Antonio Gurriarán], ''[[El Pais]]'', [[April 4]], [[1982]]. "Subdirector del diario Pueblo, relatará en su libro La bomba, que será publicado en el próximo mes de abril, el atentado de que fue víctima en la Gran Vía de Madrid el 29 de diciembre de 1980, hecho del que luego se responsabilizaría el grupo armenio Octubre 3. El autor entrevista en el libro a los miembros del comando que activaron las dos cargas de Goma 2."</ref>
* [[March 4]], 1981 in the Turkish Embassy in [[Paris]], Reşat Moralı was killed and Tecelli Arı was injured.
* [[June 9]], 1981 in the Turkish Consulate in [[Geneva]], Mehmet Savaş Yergüz was killed.
* [[September 24]], [[1981]] in Turkish Consulate in Paris, 56 Turks were held hostage in the embassy by ASALA militants (none of the hostages were harmed), Turkish guard Cemal Özen was killed. ASALA members demanded the Turkish government free Armenian political prisoners within 12 hours and fly them to Paris. After 15 hours they surrendered peacefully requesting political asylum from the French government.<ref name=hungary/>
* [[April 28]], [[1984]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Tehran]], [[Iran]], Işık Yönder was killed.

The ASALA's most criticized attack was on [[August 7]], [[1982]] in [[Ankara]] at the [[Esenboğa International Airport]], when its members targeted both diplomats and non-diplomat civilians for the first time. Two militants opened fire in a crowded passenger waiting room. One of the shooters took more than 20 hostages while the second was apprehended by police. Altogether, nine people died and 82 were injured. The arrested 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'') led by Hagopian and the 'Popular Movement' (''ASALA-Mouvement Révolutionnaire'') led by [[Monte Melkonian]]. While Melkonian's faction insisted on attacks strictly against Turkish officials and the Turkish government, Hagopian's group disregarded the losses of unintended victims and regularly executed dissenting members.
On [[August 10]], [[1982]], [[Artin Penik]] a Turk of Armenian descent, set himself on fire in protest of this attack.<ref name="oran"> {{cite news|
| last = Oran
| first = Baskın
| title = The Reconstruction of Armenian Identity in Turkey and the Weekly Agos (Interview with Hrant Dink)
| work = Nouvelles d'Armenie
| date = 2006-12-17
| url = http://www.armenews.com/article.php3?id_article=27696
| accessdate = 2008-09-02 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=Armenian Issue: Chronology | publisher=[[Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism]] | url=http://www.kultur.gov.tr/EN/BelgeGoster.aspx?17A16AE30572D313A781CAA92714FCE0A3216081A23BEF0D | accessdate=2007-02-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=He was an Armenian: Artin Penik|work=Turkish Journal|url=http://www.turkishjournal.com/i.php?newsid=361|accessdate=2007-02-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title = Armenian Dies from Self-Inflicted Burns | work=[[Associated Press]]| date = 1982-08-15 }}</ref>

Prominent Armenian poet [[Silva Kaputikyan]] in [[1983]] wrote "Its raining my sonny" poem dedicated to the memory of ASALA member Ekmekjian.<ref>[[Spurk Journal]], #1-12, 2005, [[Beirut]], p. 35.</ref>

On [[July 15]], [[1983]], the ASALA carried out another attack at the [[Orly Airport]] near [[Paris]], in which 8 people were killed. The attack resulted in a split in ASALA, between those individuals who carried it out, called the "Orly Group," and those who believed the attack to be counter productive.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hetq.am/eng/society/7332/
|accessdate=2008-09-02
|title=He Was a Man Deeply Connected to the Natural World
|work=Hetq Online
|date=2007-11-26
|first=Edik
|last=Baghdasaryan
}}</ref> Afterwards, French forces promptly arrested those involved.<ref>"[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9804E0DF143BF93AA35753C1A965948260 French Hold Armenians In Orly Airport Bombing]," ''[[Associated Press]]'', [[New York Times]], [[October 9]], [[1983]].</ref> Moreover, this attack eliminated the suspected secret agreement that the French socialist government made with ASALA, in which the government would allow ASALA to use France as a base of operations in exchange for refraining from launching attacks on French soil. Belief in this suspected agreement was further bolstered after "Interior Minister [[Gaston Defferre]] called [ASALA's] cause "just," and four Armenians arrested for taking hostages at the Turkish Embassy in September 1981 were given light sentences."<ref>Echikson, William. "[http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/csmonitor_historic/access/260828642.html?dids=260828642:260828642&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Jul+19%2C+1983&author=By+William+Echikson+Special+to+The+Christian+Science+Monitor&pub=Christian+Science+Monitor&desc=Armenian+bombing+at+Orly+ends+pact+between+Socialists+and+terrorists&pqatl=google Armenian bombing at Orly ends pact between Socialists and terrorists]," ''[[Christian Science Monitor]]'', [[July 19]], [[1983]].</ref>

=== Reactions ===
Continuous attacks prompted Turkey to accuse [[Cyprus]], [[Greece]], [[Syria]], [[Lebanon]], and the [[Soviet Union]] of provoking or possibly funding the ASALA.<ref name="countrystudy" /> Although they publicly distanced themselves from the ASALA,<ref name="countrystudy" /> Turkey's Armenian community came under attack by Turkish nationalists in reaction to the group's actions. This became apparent after the assassination of [[Ahmet Benler]] on [[October 12]], [[1979]] by Armenian militants in [[the Hague]]. The reaction to the attack led to the bombing of the church of the Armenian Apostolic Patriarchate in [[Istanbul]] on [[October 19]] in retaliation.<ref name=azadhye>[[Tessa Hofmann|Tessa, Hofmann]]. [http://www.armenian.ch/asa/Docs/faae02.pdf Armenians in Turkey today]</ref>

According to [[Tessa Hofmann]], Turkish officials frequently used the accusation of collaboration with the ASALA and foreign Armenian circles to incriminate extreme left-wing Turkish opposition groups.<ref name=azadhye/>

=== Counteroffensive ===
{{English sources|section}}

After the ASALA attack against the [[Esenboğa International Airport]] in August 1982 the then President of Turkey [[Kenan Evren]] issued a decree for the elimination of ASALA. The task was given to the [[National Intelligence Organization]]'s ({{lang-tr|Millî İstihbarat Teşkilâtı}}, MİT) Foreign Operations Department. Evren's own daughter, a member of the MİT, ran the operation together with Metin Günyol, and Nuri Gündeş. [[Contract killer]] [[Abdullah Çatlı]] was also involved.<ref name=kizi>{{cite journal
|url=http://www.aksiyon.com.tr/detay.php?id=15119
|accessdate=2008-12-13
|title=Asala operasyonlarını Kenan Evren'in kızı yönetti
|date=2004-09-06
|first=Faruk
|last=Mercan
|volume=509
|publisher=Feza Gazetecilik A.Ş.
|journal=Aksiyon
|language=Turkish
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sabah.com.tr/2004/09/08/siy112.html
|accessdate=2008-12-13
|title=Evren: Kızım MİT'te çalışıyordu
|date=2004-09-08
|language=Turkish
|work=Sabah
}}</ref>

After being captured, Levon Ekmekjian revealed how the ASALA worked to the MİT. In the early Spring of 1983 two teams of Turkish intelligence operatives and members of the “[[Counter-Guerrilla|Special Warfare Department]]” were sent to France and Lebanon.<ref>Kilic, Ecevit. ''Özel Harp Dairesi'', 2007, pp.301-305.</ref> The Lebanese contingent was led by [[Hiram Abas]], after being tapped by MİT's Presidential Liaison and Evren's son-in-law, Erkan Gürvit.<ref name=kizi/>

== Dissolution==
With the [[1982 Lebanon War|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 last attack committed by the ASALA was the attack on the bullet-proof limousine carrying the Turkish Ambassador to [[Budapest]] [December 19, 1991). The ambassador was not injured in the attack, which was claimed by ASALA in [[Paris]].<ref name=hungary>{{cite web |url=http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=6723 |title=ASALA attacked Diplomatic target|date=1981-12-19|location=Hungary|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070827173744/http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=6723|archivedate=2007-08-27|work=[[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]}}</ref>

ASALA's founder Hagop Hagopian was assassinated on a sidewalk in an affluent neighborhood in [[Athens]], [[Greece]] on April 28, 1988. His assailants, Hovsep A., Vartan G., Garabed K., and Albert "Sultan-Minas", were all former ASALA members and lieutenants of Hagopian. His body was riddled with several bullets while he was walking with two women at 4:30 in the morning.<ref>Melkonian, Markar. ''My Brother's Road: An American's Fateful Journey to Armenia''. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005 pg. 187.</ref> Tarakchian died of [[cancer]] in [[1980]]. Assassinations of former members continued in [[Armenia]] into the late 1990s.<ref>Melkonian, Markar. ''My Brother's Road: An American's Fateful Journey to Armenia''. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005, pp. 277-278.</ref>

According to [[National Intelligence Agency]] official Nuri Gündeş, ASALA was dissolved after its financial backing was withdrawn by the Armenian diaspora after the 1983 [[Orly airport attack]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://arama.hurriyet.com.tr/arsivnews.aspx?id=-599507
|accessdate=2008-12-21
|title=Thanks to Nuri Gündeş
|work=[[Turkish Daily News]]
|publisher=[[Hürriyet]]
|date=2008-12-21
|first=Mehmet Ali
|last=Birand
|quote=It was the raid of Paris's Orly Airport in 1983 that finished the ASALA off. Feeling ill at ease by the raid, the French and U.S. Armenians who used to support ASALA monetarily stopped the aid and the issue was closed. I know this through French authorities that were involved. The ones that were instrumental in the stopping of the aid were MİT and the Foreign Ministry. Otherwise, ASALA did not yield because it was afraid of the Turkish bullies. They were stopped because they had gone too far with their murders.}}</ref>

==References==

{{Reflist|2}}

{{Defunct Armed Armenian Organizations}}

[[Category:1975 establishments]]
[[Category:Defunct Armenian paramilitary organizations]]
[[Category:Armenian Genocide]]
[[Category:Guerrilla organizations]]

[[az:ASALA]]
[[bg:АСАЛА]]
[[ca:ASALA]]
[[de:Asala]]
[[es:Ejército Secreto Armenio para la Liberación de Armenia]]
[[fr:Armée secrète arménienne de libération de l'Arménie]]
[[hy:Հայաստանի ազատագրության հայ գաղտնի բանակ]]
[[it:Esercito Segreto armeno per la Liberazione dell'Armenia]]
[[nl:Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia]]
[[ja:アルメニア解放秘密軍]]
[[pl:ASALA]]
[[ru:Армянская секретная армия освобождения Армении]]
[[simple:Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia]]
[[sl:Armenska tajna armada za osvoboditev Armenije]]
[[sv:ASALA]]
[[tr:ASALA]]

Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia

2008-12-22T03:11:52Z

Adoniscik: /* Dissolution */

{{Infobox militant organization
|name = Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia {{rtl-lang|hy|Հայաստանի ազատագրութեան հայ գաղտնի բանակ}} 
|logo = Flag of the ASALA.png
|caption = Flag of the ASALA
|dates = [[1975]]<ref name=hunsicker/> to [[1986]]<ref name=roy170/>
|leader = [[Hagop Hagopian]]<ref name="MIPT">[http://web.archive.org/web/20071115020146/http://www.tkb.org/Group.jsp?groupID=258 Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA)], [[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]</ref>
|motives = "To compel the Turkish Government to acknowledge publicly its responsibility for the [[Armenian Genocide|deaths of 1.5 million Armenians]] in 1915, pay reparations, and cede territory for an Armenian homeland."<ref name=hunsicker/>
|area = [[Turkey]], [[United States]], [[Lebanon]], [[Western Europe]], [[Armenia]], and [[Middle East]].
|ideology = [[Marxism-Leninism]], [[Greater Armenia (political concept)|Greater Armenia]]
|crimes = Assassination of a number of Turkish diplomats and their relatives. Bombing of Turkish, French and Swiss targets for varying motives. Several minor bombing attacks against US airline offices in Western Europe. 
|attacks = Armed attack and bombing of the [[Esenboğa International Airport]], [[Ankara]].<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20070930041244/http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=3316 Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA) attacked Airports & Airlines target (August 7, 1982, Turkey)], [[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]</ref> [[Orly airport attack|Bombing of Turkish airline counter]] at [[Orly Airport (Paris)]].<ref name=hunsicker/>
|allies =
|enemies = [[Turkish government]] and [[Turkish diplomats|its representatives]].<ref name=countrystudy>"[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/85.htm Political Interest Groups]," ''[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/ Turkey: A Country Study]'' ed. Helen Chapin Metz. Washington D.C.: The Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, 283, 354-355 {{oclc|17841957}}</ref>
|status = Dissolved
}}

The '''Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia''' ('''ASALA''') was a [[militant]]<ref>[http://www.bartleby.com/67/2679.html 1982. 2001. The Encyclopedia of World History]</ref> [[Marxism-Leninism|Marxist-Leninist]] organization, that operated from 1975 to 1986<ref name=roy170>Roy, Olivier. ''Turkey Today: A European Nation?'' p. 170. Roy suggests that the Orly incident led to "dissension end[ing] in the settling of scores in which ASALA militants killed each other in their camp at Bekaa (Al-Biqa, Lebanon)... (It) practically disappeared. It resurfaced once again, however, to assassinate important members of the Lebanese section of the Dashnak Party (March 1985 – May 1986)."</ref> and was responsible for the assassination of many Turkish diplomats and their families. The group also operated under other names such as '''The Orly Group''' and the '''3 October Organization'''.<ref name=countrystudy>"[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/85.htm Political Interest Groups]," ''[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/ Turkey: A Country Study]'' ed. Helen Chapin Metz. Washington D.C.: The Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, 283, 354-355 {{oclc|17841957}}</ref> The intention of ASALA was purportedly "to compel the Turkish Government to acknowledge publicly its alleged responsibility for the [[Armenian Genocide|deaths of 1.5 million Armenians]] in 1915, pay reparations, and cede territory for an Armenian homeland".<ref name=hunsicker>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=K4XefrTlSygC&pg=PA431&lpg=PA431&dq=%22to+compel+the+Turkish+Government+to+acknowledge+publicly+its+alleged+responsibility+for+the+deaths+of+1.5+million+Armenians+in+1915,+pay+reparations,+and+cede+territory+for+an+Armenian+homeland%22&source=web&ots=pXUcCHSQ_K&sig=g_wv7KBmKIdDoKiZ2P5nF2r952M&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=2&ct=result|title=Understanding International Counter Terrorism|publisher=Universal-Publishers|last=Hunsicker|isbn=158112905X|pages=431|year=2006}}</ref> ASALA was listed as a [[terrorism|terrorist]] organization by the United States in 1980s.<ref name=pgt>{{citation
|chapterurl=http://www.nps.edu/Library/Research/SubjectGuides/SpecialTopics/TerroristProfile/Prior/ASALA.html
|url=http://www.mipt.org/pdf/1997pogt.pdf
|accessdate=2008-09-02
|title=Patterns of Global Terrorism
|chapter=Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA)
|year=1997
|publisher=[[U.S. Department of State]]
}}</ref>

==Background==
ASALA was founded in 1975 in [[Beirut]], [[Lebanon]] during the [[Lebanese Civil War]] by [[Hagop Hagopian]] (Harutiun Tagushian) and [[Kevork Ajemian]],<ref>"[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-22427363.html Kevork Ajemian, Prominent Contemporary Writer and Surviving Member of Triumvirate Which Founded ASALA, Dies in Beirut, Lebanon]," ''Armenian Reporter'', [[1999-02-01]]</ref> a prominent contemporary writer, with the help of sympathetic [[Palestinians]].<ref name="countrystudy" /> Consisting primarily of Lebanese-born Armenians of the Diaspora (whose parents and/or grandparents were survivors of the [[Armenian Genocide]]), the organization followed a theoretical model based on [[leftism|leftist ideology]].<ref>Roy, Olivier. ''Turkey Today: A European Nation?'' p. 169.</ref>
The group's activities were primarily assassinations of Turkish diplomats and politicians in [[Western Europe]], in the [[United States]] and the [[Middle East]].<ref name="countrystudy" /> Their first acknowledged killing was the assassination of the Turkish diplomat, [[Daniş Tunalıgil]], in [[Vienna]] on [[October 22]], [[1975]]. A failed attack in [[Geneva]] on [[October 3]], [[1980]], in which two Armenian militants were injured resulted in a new nickname for the group, the 3 October Organization. The ASALA's eight point manifesto was published in 1981.

ASALA, trained in the Beirut camps of [[Palestine Liberation Organization]], is the best known of the guerilla groups responsible for assassinations of at least 36 Turkish diplomats.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,955176,00.html
|accessdate=2008-09-02
|title=Long Memories
|work=TIME
|date=1983-08-08
|author=Iyer, Pico
|volume=32}}</ref>

== Attacks ==
{{See also|List of attacks by the Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia}}

According to [[National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism|MIPT]] website, there had been 84 incidents involving ASALA leaving 46 people dead, and 299 people injured including the following:<ref name="MIPT"/>
* [[February 16]], [[1976]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Beirut]], Oktar Cirit was killed.
* [[October 12]], [[1979]] in Turkish Embassy in the [[Hague]], Ahmet Benler, the son of the Ambassador Özdemir Benler, was killed (This attack was one of the attacks co-claimed by JCAG.
* [[July 31]], [[1980]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Athens]], Galip Özmen and his 14 year old daughter Neslihan were killed in the Turkish consulate. Galip Özmen's wife Sevil Özmen and their son Kaan survived the attack with injuries.
* [[December 29]], [[1980]] in [[Madrid]], a [[Spain|Spanish]] journalist, assistant director of the "Pueblo" newspaper, [[José Antonio Gurriarán]] was accidentally injured during an October 3 group attack. Then Gurriarán was interested what the group's purposes were; he found and interviewed ASALA members. In 1982 his "La Bomba" book was published, dedicated to the Armenian cause and Armenian militant's struggle.<ref>[http://www.elpais.com/articulo/ultima/GURRIARaN/_JOSe_ANTONIO_/PERIODISTA/Jose/Antonio/Gurriaran/elpepiult/19820404elpepiult_2/Tes/ GENTE José Antonio Gurriarán], ''[[El Pais]]'', [[April 4]], [[1982]]. "Subdirector del diario Pueblo, relatará en su libro La bomba, que será publicado en el próximo mes de abril, el atentado de que fue víctima en la Gran Vía de Madrid el 29 de diciembre de 1980, hecho del que luego se responsabilizaría el grupo armenio Octubre 3. El autor entrevista en el libro a los miembros del comando que activaron las dos cargas de Goma 2."</ref>
* [[March 4]], 1981 in the Turkish Embassy in [[Paris]], Reşat Moralı was killed and Tecelli Arı was injured.
* [[June 9]], 1981 in the Turkish Consulate in [[Geneva]], Mehmet Savaş Yergüz was killed.
* [[September 24]], [[1981]] in Turkish Consulate in Paris, 56 Turks were held hostage in the embassy by ASALA militants (none of the hostages were harmed), Turkish guard Cemal Özen was killed. ASALA members demanded the Turkish government free Armenian political prisoners within 12 hours and fly them to Paris. After 15 hours they surrendered peacefully requesting political asylum from the French government.<ref name=hungary/>
* [[April 28]], [[1984]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Tehran]], [[Iran]], Işık Yönder was killed.

The ASALA's most criticized attack was on [[August 7]], [[1982]] in [[Ankara]] at the [[Esenboğa International Airport]], when its members targeted both diplomats and non-diplomat civilians for the first time. Two militants opened fire in a crowded passenger waiting room. One of the shooters took more than 20 hostages while the second was apprehended by police. Altogether, nine people died and 82 were injured. The arrested 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'') led by Hagopian and the 'Popular Movement' (''ASALA-Mouvement Révolutionnaire'') led by [[Monte Melkonian]]. While Melkonian's faction insisted on attacks strictly against Turkish officials and the Turkish government, Hagopian's group disregarded the losses of unintended victims and regularly executed dissenting members.
On [[August 10]], [[1982]], [[Artin Penik]] a Turk of Armenian descent, set himself on fire in protest of this attack.<ref name="oran"> {{cite news|
| last = Oran
| first = Baskın
| title = The Reconstruction of Armenian Identity in Turkey and the Weekly Agos (Interview with Hrant Dink)
| work = Nouvelles d'Armenie
| date = 2006-12-17
| url = http://www.armenews.com/article.php3?id_article=27696
| accessdate = 2008-09-02 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=Armenian Issue: Chronology | publisher=[[Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism]] | url=http://www.kultur.gov.tr/EN/BelgeGoster.aspx?17A16AE30572D313A781CAA92714FCE0A3216081A23BEF0D | accessdate=2007-02-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=He was an Armenian: Artin Penik|work=Turkish Journal|url=http://www.turkishjournal.com/i.php?newsid=361|accessdate=2007-02-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title = Armenian Dies from Self-Inflicted Burns | work=[[Associated Press]]| date = 1982-08-15 }}</ref>

Prominent Armenian poet [[Silva Kaputikyan]] in [[1983]] wrote "Its raining my sonny" poem dedicated to the memory of ASALA member Ekmekjian.<ref>[[Spurk Journal]], #1-12, 2005, [[Beirut]], p. 35.</ref>

On [[July 15]], [[1983]], the ASALA carried out another attack at the [[Orly Airport]] near [[Paris]], in which 8 people were killed. The attack resulted in a split in ASALA, between those individuals who carried it out, called the "Orly Group," and those who believed the attack to be counter productive.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hetq.am/eng/society/7332/
|accessdate=2008-09-02
|title=He Was a Man Deeply Connected to the Natural World
|work=Hetq Online
|date=2007-11-26
|first=Edik
|last=Baghdasaryan
}}</ref> Afterwards, French forces promptly arrested those involved.<ref>"[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9804E0DF143BF93AA35753C1A965948260 French Hold Armenians In Orly Airport Bombing]," ''[[Associated Press]]'', [[New York Times]], [[October 9]], [[1983]].</ref> Moreover, this attack eliminated the suspected secret agreement that the French socialist government made with ASALA, in which the government would allow ASALA to use France as a base of operations in exchange for refraining from launching attacks on French soil. Belief in this suspected agreement was further bolstered after "Interior Minister [[Gaston Defferre]] called [ASALA's] cause "just," and four Armenians arrested for taking hostages at the Turkish Embassy in September 1981 were given light sentences."<ref>Echikson, William. "[http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/csmonitor_historic/access/260828642.html?dids=260828642:260828642&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Jul+19%2C+1983&author=By+William+Echikson+Special+to+The+Christian+Science+Monitor&pub=Christian+Science+Monitor&desc=Armenian+bombing+at+Orly+ends+pact+between+Socialists+and+terrorists&pqatl=google Armenian bombing at Orly ends pact between Socialists and terrorists]," ''[[Christian Science Monitor]]'', [[July 19]], [[1983]].</ref>

=== Reactions ===
Continuous attacks prompted Turkey to accuse [[Cyprus]], [[Greece]], [[Syria]], [[Lebanon]], and the [[Soviet Union]] of provoking or possibly funding the ASALA.<ref name="countrystudy" /> Although they publicly distanced themselves from the ASALA,<ref name="countrystudy" /> Turkey's Armenian community came under attack by Turkish nationalists in reaction to the group's actions. This became apparent after the assassination of [[Ahmet Benler]] on [[October 12]], [[1979]] by Armenian militants in [[the Hague]]. The reaction to the attack led to the bombing of the church of the Armenian Apostolic Patriarchate in [[Istanbul]] on [[October 19]] in retaliation.<ref name=azadhye>[[Tessa Hofmann|Tessa, Hofmann]]. [http://www.armenian.ch/asa/Docs/faae02.pdf Armenians in Turkey today]</ref>

According to [[Tessa Hofmann]], Turkish officials frequently used the accusation of collaboration with the ASALA and foreign Armenian circles to incriminate extreme left-wing Turkish opposition groups.<ref name=azadhye/>

=== Counteroffensive ===

After the ASALA terrorist attack against the [[Esenboğa International Airport]] in August 1982 the then President of Turkey [[Kenan Evren]] issued a decree for the elimination of ASALA. The task was given to the [[National Intelligence Organization]]'s ({{lang-tr|Millî İstihbarat Teşkilâtı}}, MİT) Foreign Operations Department. Evren's own daughter, a member of the MİT, ran the operation together with Metin Günyol, and Nuri Gündeş. [[Contract killer]] [[Abdullah Çatlı]] was also involved.<ref name=kizi>{{cite journal
|url=http://www.aksiyon.com.tr/detay.php?id=15119
|accessdate=2008-12-13
|title=Asala operasyonlarını Kenan Evren'in kızı yönetti
|date=2004-09-06
|first=Faruk
|last=Mercan
|volume=509
|publisher=Feza Gazetecilik A.Ş.
|journal=Aksiyon
|language=Turkish
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sabah.com.tr/2004/09/08/siy112.html
|accessdate=2008-12-13
|title=Evren: Kızım MİT'te çalışıyordu
|date=2004-09-08
|language=Turkish
}}</ref>

After being captured, Levon Ekmekjian revealed how the ASALA worked to the MİT. In the early Spring of 1983 two teams of Turkish intelligence operatives and members of the “[[Counter-Guerrilla|Special Warfare Department]]” were sent to France and Lebanon.<ref>Kilic, Ecevit. ''Özel Harp Dairesi'', 2007, pp.301-305.</ref> The Lebanese contingent was led by [[Hiram Abas]], after being tapped by MİT's Presidential Liaison and Evren's son-in-law, Erkan Gürvit.<ref name=kizi/>

== Dissolution==
With the [[1982 Lebanon War|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 last attack committed by the ASALA was the attack on the bullet-proof limousine carrying the Turkish Ambassador to [[Budapest]] [December 19, 1991). The ambassador was not injured in the attack, which was claimed by ASALA in [[Paris]].<ref name=hungary>{{cite web |url=http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=6723 |title=ASALA attacked Diplomatic target|date=1981-12-19|location=Hungary|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070827173744/http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=6723|archivedate=2007-08-27|work=[[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]}}</ref>

ASALA's founder Hagop Hagopian was assassinated on a sidewalk in an affluent neighborhood in [[Athens]], [[Greece]] on April 28, 1988. His assailants, Hovsep A., Vartan G., Garabed K., and Albert "Sultan-Minas", were all former ASALA members and lieutenants of Hagopian. His body was riddled with several bullets while he was walking with two women at 4:30 in the morning.<ref>Melkonian, Markar. ''My Brother's Road: An American's Fateful Journey to Armenia''. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005 pg. 187.</ref> Tarakchian died of [[cancer]] in [[1980]]. Assassinations of former members continued in [[Armenia]] into the late 1990s.<ref>Melkonian, Markar. ''My Brother's Road: An American's Fateful Journey to Armenia''. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005, pp. 277-278.</ref>

According to [[National Intelligence Agency]] official Nuri Gündeş, ASALA was dissolved after its financial backing was withdrawn by the Armenian diaspora after the 1983 [[Orly airport attack]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://arama.hurriyet.com.tr/arsivnews.aspx?id=-599507
|accessdate=2008-12-21
|title=Thanks to Nuri Gündeş
|work=[[Turkish Daily News]]
|publisher=[[Hürriyet]]
|date=2008-12-21
|first=Mehmet Ali
|last=Birand
|quote=It was the raid of Paris's Orly Airport in 1983 that finished the ASALA off. Feeling ill at ease by the raid, the French and U.S. Armenians who used to support ASALA monetarily stopped the aid and the issue was closed. I know this through French authorities that were involved. The ones that were instrumental in the stopping of the aid were MİT and the Foreign Ministry. Otherwise, ASALA did not yield because it was afraid of the Turkish bullies. They were stopped because they had gone too far with their murders.}}</ref>

==References==

{{Reflist|2}}

{{Defunct Armed Armenian Organizations}}

[[Category:1975 establishments]]
[[Category:Defunct Armenian paramilitary organizations]]
[[Category:Armenian Genocide]]
[[Category:Guerrilla organizations]]

[[az:ASALA]]
[[bg:АСАЛА]]
[[ca:ASALA]]
[[de:Asala]]
[[es:Ejército Secreto Armenio para la Liberación de Armenia]]
[[fr:Armée secrète arménienne de libération de l'Arménie]]
[[hy:Հայաստանի ազատագրության հայ գաղտնի բանակ]]
[[it:Esercito Segreto armeno per la Liberazione dell'Armenia]]
[[nl:Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia]]
[[ja:アルメニア解放秘密軍]]
[[pl:ASALA]]
[[ru:Армянская секретная армия освобождения Армении]]
[[simple:Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia]]
[[sl:Armenska tajna armada za osvoboditev Armenije]]
[[sv:ASALA]]
[[tr:ASALA]]

Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia

2008-12-22T03:11:19Z

Adoniscik: /* Dissolution */

{{Infobox militant organization
|name = Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia {{rtl-lang|hy|Հայաստանի ազատագրութեան հայ գաղտնի բանակ}} 
|logo = Flag of the ASALA.png
|caption = Flag of the ASALA
|dates = [[1975]]<ref name=hunsicker/> to [[1986]]<ref name=roy170/>
|leader = [[Hagop Hagopian]]<ref name="MIPT">[http://web.archive.org/web/20071115020146/http://www.tkb.org/Group.jsp?groupID=258 Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA)], [[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]</ref>
|motives = "To compel the Turkish Government to acknowledge publicly its responsibility for the [[Armenian Genocide|deaths of 1.5 million Armenians]] in 1915, pay reparations, and cede territory for an Armenian homeland."<ref name=hunsicker/>
|area = [[Turkey]], [[United States]], [[Lebanon]], [[Western Europe]], [[Armenia]], and [[Middle East]].
|ideology = [[Marxism-Leninism]], [[Greater Armenia (political concept)|Greater Armenia]]
|crimes = Assassination of a number of Turkish diplomats and their relatives. Bombing of Turkish, French and Swiss targets for varying motives. Several minor bombing attacks against US airline offices in Western Europe. 
|attacks = Armed attack and bombing of the [[Esenboğa International Airport]], [[Ankara]].<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20070930041244/http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=3316 Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA) attacked Airports & Airlines target (August 7, 1982, Turkey)], [[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]</ref> [[Orly airport attack|Bombing of Turkish airline counter]] at [[Orly Airport (Paris)]].<ref name=hunsicker/>
|allies =
|enemies = [[Turkish government]] and [[Turkish diplomats|its representatives]].<ref name=countrystudy>"[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/85.htm Political Interest Groups]," ''[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/ Turkey: A Country Study]'' ed. Helen Chapin Metz. Washington D.C.: The Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, 283, 354-355 {{oclc|17841957}}</ref>
|status = Dissolved
}}

The '''Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia''' ('''ASALA''') was a [[militant]]<ref>[http://www.bartleby.com/67/2679.html 1982. 2001. The Encyclopedia of World History]</ref> [[Marxism-Leninism|Marxist-Leninist]] organization, that operated from 1975 to 1986<ref name=roy170>Roy, Olivier. ''Turkey Today: A European Nation?'' p. 170. Roy suggests that the Orly incident led to "dissension end[ing] in the settling of scores in which ASALA militants killed each other in their camp at Bekaa (Al-Biqa, Lebanon)... (It) practically disappeared. It resurfaced once again, however, to assassinate important members of the Lebanese section of the Dashnak Party (March 1985 – May 1986)."</ref> and was responsible for the assassination of many Turkish diplomats and their families. The group also operated under other names such as '''The Orly Group''' and the '''3 October Organization'''.<ref name=countrystudy>"[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/85.htm Political Interest Groups]," ''[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/ Turkey: A Country Study]'' ed. Helen Chapin Metz. Washington D.C.: The Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, 283, 354-355 {{oclc|17841957}}</ref> The intention of ASALA was purportedly "to compel the Turkish Government to acknowledge publicly its alleged responsibility for the [[Armenian Genocide|deaths of 1.5 million Armenians]] in 1915, pay reparations, and cede territory for an Armenian homeland".<ref name=hunsicker>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=K4XefrTlSygC&pg=PA431&lpg=PA431&dq=%22to+compel+the+Turkish+Government+to+acknowledge+publicly+its+alleged+responsibility+for+the+deaths+of+1.5+million+Armenians+in+1915,+pay+reparations,+and+cede+territory+for+an+Armenian+homeland%22&source=web&ots=pXUcCHSQ_K&sig=g_wv7KBmKIdDoKiZ2P5nF2r952M&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=2&ct=result|title=Understanding International Counter Terrorism|publisher=Universal-Publishers|last=Hunsicker|isbn=158112905X|pages=431|year=2006}}</ref> ASALA was listed as a [[terrorism|terrorist]] organization by the United States in 1980s.<ref name=pgt>{{citation
|chapterurl=http://www.nps.edu/Library/Research/SubjectGuides/SpecialTopics/TerroristProfile/Prior/ASALA.html
|url=http://www.mipt.org/pdf/1997pogt.pdf
|accessdate=2008-09-02
|title=Patterns of Global Terrorism
|chapter=Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA)
|year=1997
|publisher=[[U.S. Department of State]]
}}</ref>

==Background==
ASALA was founded in 1975 in [[Beirut]], [[Lebanon]] during the [[Lebanese Civil War]] by [[Hagop Hagopian]] (Harutiun Tagushian) and [[Kevork Ajemian]],<ref>"[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-22427363.html Kevork Ajemian, Prominent Contemporary Writer and Surviving Member of Triumvirate Which Founded ASALA, Dies in Beirut, Lebanon]," ''Armenian Reporter'', [[1999-02-01]]</ref> a prominent contemporary writer, with the help of sympathetic [[Palestinians]].<ref name="countrystudy" /> Consisting primarily of Lebanese-born Armenians of the Diaspora (whose parents and/or grandparents were survivors of the [[Armenian Genocide]]), the organization followed a theoretical model based on [[leftism|leftist ideology]].<ref>Roy, Olivier. ''Turkey Today: A European Nation?'' p. 169.</ref>
The group's activities were primarily assassinations of Turkish diplomats and politicians in [[Western Europe]], in the [[United States]] and the [[Middle East]].<ref name="countrystudy" /> Their first acknowledged killing was the assassination of the Turkish diplomat, [[Daniş Tunalıgil]], in [[Vienna]] on [[October 22]], [[1975]]. A failed attack in [[Geneva]] on [[October 3]], [[1980]], in which two Armenian militants were injured resulted in a new nickname for the group, the 3 October Organization. The ASALA's eight point manifesto was published in 1981.

ASALA, trained in the Beirut camps of [[Palestine Liberation Organization]], is the best known of the guerilla groups responsible for assassinations of at least 36 Turkish diplomats.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,955176,00.html
|accessdate=2008-09-02
|title=Long Memories
|work=TIME
|date=1983-08-08
|author=Iyer, Pico
|volume=32}}</ref>

== Attacks ==
{{See also|List of attacks by the Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia}}

According to [[National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism|MIPT]] website, there had been 84 incidents involving ASALA leaving 46 people dead, and 299 people injured including the following:<ref name="MIPT"/>
* [[February 16]], [[1976]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Beirut]], Oktar Cirit was killed.
* [[October 12]], [[1979]] in Turkish Embassy in the [[Hague]], Ahmet Benler, the son of the Ambassador Özdemir Benler, was killed (This attack was one of the attacks co-claimed by JCAG.
* [[July 31]], [[1980]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Athens]], Galip Özmen and his 14 year old daughter Neslihan were killed in the Turkish consulate. Galip Özmen's wife Sevil Özmen and their son Kaan survived the attack with injuries.
* [[December 29]], [[1980]] in [[Madrid]], a [[Spain|Spanish]] journalist, assistant director of the "Pueblo" newspaper, [[José Antonio Gurriarán]] was accidentally injured during an October 3 group attack. Then Gurriarán was interested what the group's purposes were; he found and interviewed ASALA members. In 1982 his "La Bomba" book was published, dedicated to the Armenian cause and Armenian militant's struggle.<ref>[http://www.elpais.com/articulo/ultima/GURRIARaN/_JOSe_ANTONIO_/PERIODISTA/Jose/Antonio/Gurriaran/elpepiult/19820404elpepiult_2/Tes/ GENTE José Antonio Gurriarán], ''[[El Pais]]'', [[April 4]], [[1982]]. "Subdirector del diario Pueblo, relatará en su libro La bomba, que será publicado en el próximo mes de abril, el atentado de que fue víctima en la Gran Vía de Madrid el 29 de diciembre de 1980, hecho del que luego se responsabilizaría el grupo armenio Octubre 3. El autor entrevista en el libro a los miembros del comando que activaron las dos cargas de Goma 2."</ref>
* [[March 4]], 1981 in the Turkish Embassy in [[Paris]], Reşat Moralı was killed and Tecelli Arı was injured.
* [[June 9]], 1981 in the Turkish Consulate in [[Geneva]], Mehmet Savaş Yergüz was killed.
* [[September 24]], [[1981]] in Turkish Consulate in Paris, 56 Turks were held hostage in the embassy by ASALA militants (none of the hostages were harmed), Turkish guard Cemal Özen was killed. ASALA members demanded the Turkish government free Armenian political prisoners within 12 hours and fly them to Paris. After 15 hours they surrendered peacefully requesting political asylum from the French government.<ref name=hungary/>
* [[April 28]], [[1984]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Tehran]], [[Iran]], Işık Yönder was killed.

The ASALA's most criticized attack was on [[August 7]], [[1982]] in [[Ankara]] at the [[Esenboğa International Airport]], when its members targeted both diplomats and non-diplomat civilians for the first time. Two militants opened fire in a crowded passenger waiting room. One of the shooters took more than 20 hostages while the second was apprehended by police. Altogether, nine people died and 82 were injured. The arrested 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'') led by Hagopian and the 'Popular Movement' (''ASALA-Mouvement Révolutionnaire'') led by [[Monte Melkonian]]. While Melkonian's faction insisted on attacks strictly against Turkish officials and the Turkish government, Hagopian's group disregarded the losses of unintended victims and regularly executed dissenting members.
On [[August 10]], [[1982]], [[Artin Penik]] a Turk of Armenian descent, set himself on fire in protest of this attack.<ref name="oran"> {{cite news|
| last = Oran
| first = Baskın
| title = The Reconstruction of Armenian Identity in Turkey and the Weekly Agos (Interview with Hrant Dink)
| work = Nouvelles d'Armenie
| date = 2006-12-17
| url = http://www.armenews.com/article.php3?id_article=27696
| accessdate = 2008-09-02 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=Armenian Issue: Chronology | publisher=[[Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism]] | url=http://www.kultur.gov.tr/EN/BelgeGoster.aspx?17A16AE30572D313A781CAA92714FCE0A3216081A23BEF0D | accessdate=2007-02-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=He was an Armenian: Artin Penik|work=Turkish Journal|url=http://www.turkishjournal.com/i.php?newsid=361|accessdate=2007-02-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title = Armenian Dies from Self-Inflicted Burns | work=[[Associated Press]]| date = 1982-08-15 }}</ref>

Prominent Armenian poet [[Silva Kaputikyan]] in [[1983]] wrote "Its raining my sonny" poem dedicated to the memory of ASALA member Ekmekjian.<ref>[[Spurk Journal]], #1-12, 2005, [[Beirut]], p. 35.</ref>

On [[July 15]], [[1983]], the ASALA carried out another attack at the [[Orly Airport]] near [[Paris]], in which 8 people were killed. The attack resulted in a split in ASALA, between those individuals who carried it out, called the "Orly Group," and those who believed the attack to be counter productive.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hetq.am/eng/society/7332/
|accessdate=2008-09-02
|title=He Was a Man Deeply Connected to the Natural World
|work=Hetq Online
|date=2007-11-26
|first=Edik
|last=Baghdasaryan
}}</ref> Afterwards, French forces promptly arrested those involved.<ref>"[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9804E0DF143BF93AA35753C1A965948260 French Hold Armenians In Orly Airport Bombing]," ''[[Associated Press]]'', [[New York Times]], [[October 9]], [[1983]].</ref> Moreover, this attack eliminated the suspected secret agreement that the French socialist government made with ASALA, in which the government would allow ASALA to use France as a base of operations in exchange for refraining from launching attacks on French soil. Belief in this suspected agreement was further bolstered after "Interior Minister [[Gaston Defferre]] called [ASALA's] cause "just," and four Armenians arrested for taking hostages at the Turkish Embassy in September 1981 were given light sentences."<ref>Echikson, William. "[http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/csmonitor_historic/access/260828642.html?dids=260828642:260828642&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Jul+19%2C+1983&author=By+William+Echikson+Special+to+The+Christian+Science+Monitor&pub=Christian+Science+Monitor&desc=Armenian+bombing+at+Orly+ends+pact+between+Socialists+and+terrorists&pqatl=google Armenian bombing at Orly ends pact between Socialists and terrorists]," ''[[Christian Science Monitor]]'', [[July 19]], [[1983]].</ref>

=== Reactions ===
Continuous attacks prompted Turkey to accuse [[Cyprus]], [[Greece]], [[Syria]], [[Lebanon]], and the [[Soviet Union]] of provoking or possibly funding the ASALA.<ref name="countrystudy" /> Although they publicly distanced themselves from the ASALA,<ref name="countrystudy" /> Turkey's Armenian community came under attack by Turkish nationalists in reaction to the group's actions. This became apparent after the assassination of [[Ahmet Benler]] on [[October 12]], [[1979]] by Armenian militants in [[the Hague]]. The reaction to the attack led to the bombing of the church of the Armenian Apostolic Patriarchate in [[Istanbul]] on [[October 19]] in retaliation.<ref name=azadhye>[[Tessa Hofmann|Tessa, Hofmann]]. [http://www.armenian.ch/asa/Docs/faae02.pdf Armenians in Turkey today]</ref>

According to [[Tessa Hofmann]], Turkish officials frequently used the accusation of collaboration with the ASALA and foreign Armenian circles to incriminate extreme left-wing Turkish opposition groups.<ref name=azadhye/>

=== Counteroffensive ===

After the ASALA terrorist attack against the [[Esenboğa International Airport]] in August 1982 the then President of Turkey [[Kenan Evren]] issued a decree for the elimination of ASALA. The task was given to the [[National Intelligence Organization]]'s ({{lang-tr|Millî İstihbarat Teşkilâtı}}, MİT) Foreign Operations Department. Evren's own daughter, a member of the MİT, ran the operation together with Metin Günyol, and Nuri Gündeş. [[Contract killer]] [[Abdullah Çatlı]] was also involved.<ref name=kizi>{{cite journal
|url=http://www.aksiyon.com.tr/detay.php?id=15119
|accessdate=2008-12-13
|title=Asala operasyonlarını Kenan Evren'in kızı yönetti
|date=2004-09-06
|first=Faruk
|last=Mercan
|volume=509
|publisher=Feza Gazetecilik A.Ş.
|journal=Aksiyon
|language=Turkish
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sabah.com.tr/2004/09/08/siy112.html
|accessdate=2008-12-13
|title=Evren: Kızım MİT'te çalışıyordu
|date=2004-09-08
|language=Turkish
}}</ref>

After being captured, Levon Ekmekjian revealed how the ASALA worked to the MİT. In the early Spring of 1983 two teams of Turkish intelligence operatives and members of the “[[Counter-Guerrilla|Special Warfare Department]]” were sent to France and Lebanon.<ref>Kilic, Ecevit. ''Özel Harp Dairesi'', 2007, pp.301-305.</ref> The Lebanese contingent was led by [[Hiram Abas]], after being tapped by MİT's Presidential Liaison and Evren's son-in-law, Erkan Gürvit.<ref name=kizi/>

== Dissolution==
With the [[1982 Lebanon War|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 last attack committed by the ASALA was the attack on the bullet-proof limousine carrying the Turkish Ambassador to [[Budapest]] [December 19, 1991). The ambassador was not injured in the attack, which was claimed by ASALA in [[Paris]].<ref name=hungary>{{cite web |url=http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=6723 |title=ASALA attacked Diplomatic target|date=1981-12-19|location=Hungary|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070827173744/http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=6723|archivedate=2007-08-27|work=[[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]}}</ref>

ASALA's founder Hagop Hagopian was assassinated on a sidewalk in an affluent neighborhood in [[Athens]], [[Greece]] on [[April 28]], [[1988]]. His assailants, Hovsep A., Vartan G., Garabed K., and Albert "Sultan-Minas", were all former ASALA members and lieutenants of Hagopian. His body was riddled with several bullets while he was walking with two women at 4:30 in the morning.<ref>Melkonian, Markar. ''My Brother's Road: An American's Fateful Journey to Armenia''. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005 pg. 187.</ref> Tarakchian died of [[cancer]] in [[1980]]. Assassinations of former members continued in [[Armenia]] into the late 1990s.<ref>Melkonian, Markar. ''My Brother's Road: An American's Fateful Journey to Armenia''. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005, pp. 277-278.</ref>

According to [[National Intelligence Agency]] official Nuri Gündeş, ASALA was dissolved after its financial backing was withdrawn by the Armenian diaspora after the 1983 [[Orly Airport attack]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://arama.hurriyet.com.tr/arsivnews.aspx?id=-599507
|accessdate=2008-12-21
|title=Thanks to Nuri Gündeş
|work=[[Turkish Daily News]]
|publisher=[[Hürriyet]]
|date=2008-12-21
|first=Mehmet Ali
|last=Birand
|quote=It was the raid of Paris's Orly Airport in 1983 that finished the ASALA off. Feeling ill at ease by the raid, the French and U.S. Armenians who used to support ASALA monetarily stopped the aid and the issue was closed. I know this through French authorities that were involved. The ones that were instrumental in the stopping of the aid were MİT and the Foreign Ministry. Otherwise, ASALA did not yield because it was afraid of the Turkish bullies. They were stopped because they had gone too far with their murders.}}</ref>

==References==

{{Reflist|2}}

{{Defunct Armed Armenian Organizations}}

[[Category:1975 establishments]]
[[Category:Defunct Armenian paramilitary organizations]]
[[Category:Armenian Genocide]]
[[Category:Guerrilla organizations]]

[[az:ASALA]]
[[bg:АСАЛА]]
[[ca:ASALA]]
[[de:Asala]]
[[es:Ejército Secreto Armenio para la Liberación de Armenia]]
[[fr:Armée secrète arménienne de libération de l'Arménie]]
[[hy:Հայաստանի ազատագրության հայ գաղտնի բանակ]]
[[it:Esercito Segreto armeno per la Liberazione dell'Armenia]]
[[nl:Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia]]
[[ja:アルメニア解放秘密軍]]
[[pl:ASALA]]
[[ru:Армянская секретная армия освобождения Армении]]
[[simple:Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia]]
[[sl:Armenska tajna armada za osvoboditev Armenije]]
[[sv:ASALA]]
[[tr:ASALA]]

Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia

2008-12-22T02:12:44Z

Adoniscik: Thanks to Nuri Gündeş

{{Infobox militant organization
|name = Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia {{rtl-lang|hy|Հայաստանի ազատագրութեան հայ գաղտնի բանակ}} 
|logo = Flag of the ASALA.png
|caption = Flag of the ASALA
|dates = [[1975]]<ref name=hunsicker/> to [[1986]]<ref name=roy170/>
|leader = [[Hagop Hagopian]]<ref name="MIPT">[http://web.archive.org/web/20071115020146/http://www.tkb.org/Group.jsp?groupID=258 Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA)], [[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]</ref>
|motives = "To compel the Turkish Government to acknowledge publicly its responsibility for the [[Armenian Genocide|deaths of 1.5 million Armenians]] in 1915, pay reparations, and cede territory for an Armenian homeland."<ref name=hunsicker/>
|area = [[Turkey]], [[United States]], [[Lebanon]], [[Western Europe]], [[Armenia]], and [[Middle East]].
|ideology = [[Marxism-Leninism]], [[Greater Armenia (political concept)|Greater Armenia]]
|crimes = Assassination of a number of Turkish diplomats and their relatives. Bombing of Turkish, French and Swiss targets for varying motives. Several minor bombing attacks against US airline offices in Western Europe. 
|attacks = Armed attack and bombing of the [[Esenboğa International Airport]], [[Ankara]].<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20070930041244/http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=3316 Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA) attacked Airports & Airlines target (August 7, 1982, Turkey)], [[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]</ref> [[Orly airport attack|Bombing of Turkish airline counter]] at [[Orly Airport (Paris)]].<ref name=hunsicker/>
|allies =
|enemies = [[Turkish government]] and [[Turkish diplomats|its representatives]].<ref name=countrystudy>"[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/85.htm Political Interest Groups]," ''[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/ Turkey: A Country Study]'' ed. Helen Chapin Metz. Washington D.C.: The Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, 283, 354-355 {{oclc|17841957}}</ref>
|status = Dissolved
}}

The '''Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia''' ('''ASALA''') was a [[militant]]<ref>[http://www.bartleby.com/67/2679.html 1982. 2001. The Encyclopedia of World History]</ref> [[Marxism-Leninism|Marxist-Leninist]] organization, that operated from 1975 to 1986<ref name=roy170>Roy, Olivier. ''Turkey Today: A European Nation?'' p. 170. Roy suggests that the Orly incident led to "dissension end[ing] in the settling of scores in which ASALA militants killed each other in their camp at Bekaa (Al-Biqa, Lebanon)... (It) practically disappeared. It resurfaced once again, however, to assassinate important members of the Lebanese section of the Dashnak Party (March 1985 – May 1986)."</ref> and was responsible for the assassination of many Turkish diplomats and their families. The group also operated under other names such as '''The Orly Group''' and the '''3 October Organization'''.<ref name=countrystudy>"[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/85.htm Political Interest Groups]," ''[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/ Turkey: A Country Study]'' ed. Helen Chapin Metz. Washington D.C.: The Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, 283, 354-355 {{oclc|17841957}}</ref> The intention of ASALA was purportedly "to compel the Turkish Government to acknowledge publicly its alleged responsibility for the [[Armenian Genocide|deaths of 1.5 million Armenians]] in 1915, pay reparations, and cede territory for an Armenian homeland".<ref name=hunsicker>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=K4XefrTlSygC&pg=PA431&lpg=PA431&dq=%22to+compel+the+Turkish+Government+to+acknowledge+publicly+its+alleged+responsibility+for+the+deaths+of+1.5+million+Armenians+in+1915,+pay+reparations,+and+cede+territory+for+an+Armenian+homeland%22&source=web&ots=pXUcCHSQ_K&sig=g_wv7KBmKIdDoKiZ2P5nF2r952M&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=2&ct=result|title=Understanding International Counter Terrorism|publisher=Universal-Publishers|last=Hunsicker|isbn=158112905X|pages=431|year=2006}}</ref> ASALA was listed as a [[terrorism|terrorist]] organization by the United States in 1980s.<ref name=pgt>{{citation
|chapterurl=http://www.nps.edu/Library/Research/SubjectGuides/SpecialTopics/TerroristProfile/Prior/ASALA.html
|url=http://www.mipt.org/pdf/1997pogt.pdf
|accessdate=2008-09-02
|title=Patterns of Global Terrorism
|chapter=Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA)
|year=1997
|publisher=[[U.S. Department of State]]
}}</ref>

==Background==
ASALA was founded in 1975 in [[Beirut]], [[Lebanon]] during the [[Lebanese Civil War]] by [[Hagop Hagopian]] (Harutiun Tagushian) and [[Kevork Ajemian]],<ref>"[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-22427363.html Kevork Ajemian, Prominent Contemporary Writer and Surviving Member of Triumvirate Which Founded ASALA, Dies in Beirut, Lebanon]," ''Armenian Reporter'', [[1999-02-01]]</ref> a prominent contemporary writer, with the help of sympathetic [[Palestinians]].<ref name="countrystudy" /> Consisting primarily of Lebanese-born Armenians of the Diaspora (whose parents and/or grandparents were survivors of the [[Armenian Genocide]]), the organization followed a theoretical model based on [[leftism|leftist ideology]].<ref>Roy, Olivier. ''Turkey Today: A European Nation?'' p. 169.</ref>
The group's activities were primarily assassinations of Turkish diplomats and politicians in [[Western Europe]], in the [[United States]] and the [[Middle East]].<ref name="countrystudy" /> Their first acknowledged killing was the assassination of the Turkish diplomat, [[Daniş Tunalıgil]], in [[Vienna]] on [[October 22]], [[1975]]. A failed attack in [[Geneva]] on [[October 3]], [[1980]], in which two Armenian militants were injured resulted in a new nickname for the group, the 3 October Organization. The ASALA's eight point manifesto was published in 1981.

ASALA, trained in the Beirut camps of [[Palestine Liberation Organization]], is the best known of the guerilla groups responsible for assassinations of at least 36 Turkish diplomats.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,955176,00.html
|accessdate=2008-09-02
|title=Long Memories
|work=TIME
|date=1983-08-08
|author=Iyer, Pico
|volume=32}}</ref>

== Attacks ==
{{See also|List of attacks by the Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia}}

According to [[National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism|MIPT]] website, there had been 84 incidents involving ASALA leaving 46 people dead, and 299 people injured including the following:<ref name="MIPT"/>
* [[February 16]], [[1976]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Beirut]], Oktar Cirit was killed.
* [[October 12]], [[1979]] in Turkish Embassy in the [[Hague]], Ahmet Benler, the son of the Ambassador Özdemir Benler, was killed (This attack was one of the attacks co-claimed by JCAG.
* [[July 31]], [[1980]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Athens]], Galip Özmen and his 14 year old daughter Neslihan were killed in the Turkish consulate. Galip Özmen's wife Sevil Özmen and their son Kaan survived the attack with injuries.
* [[December 29]], [[1980]] in [[Madrid]], a [[Spain|Spanish]] journalist, assistant director of the "Pueblo" newspaper, [[José Antonio Gurriarán]] was accidentally injured during an October 3 group attack. Then Gurriarán was interested what the group's purposes were; he found and interviewed ASALA members. In 1982 his "La Bomba" book was published, dedicated to the Armenian cause and Armenian militant's struggle.<ref>[http://www.elpais.com/articulo/ultima/GURRIARaN/_JOSe_ANTONIO_/PERIODISTA/Jose/Antonio/Gurriaran/elpepiult/19820404elpepiult_2/Tes/ GENTE José Antonio Gurriarán], ''[[El Pais]]'', [[April 4]], [[1982]]. "Subdirector del diario Pueblo, relatará en su libro La bomba, que será publicado en el próximo mes de abril, el atentado de que fue víctima en la Gran Vía de Madrid el 29 de diciembre de 1980, hecho del que luego se responsabilizaría el grupo armenio Octubre 3. El autor entrevista en el libro a los miembros del comando que activaron las dos cargas de Goma 2."</ref>
* [[March 4]], 1981 in the Turkish Embassy in [[Paris]], Reşat Moralı was killed and Tecelli Arı was injured.
* [[June 9]], 1981 in the Turkish Consulate in [[Geneva]], Mehmet Savaş Yergüz was killed.
* [[September 24]], [[1981]] in Turkish Consulate in Paris, 56 Turks were held hostage in the embassy by ASALA militants (none of the hostages were harmed), Turkish guard Cemal Özen was killed. ASALA members demanded the Turkish government free Armenian political prisoners within 12 hours and fly them to Paris. After 15 hours they surrendered peacefully requesting political asylum from the French government.<ref name=hungary/>
* [[April 28]], [[1984]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Tehran]], [[Iran]], Işık Yönder was killed.

The ASALA's most criticized attack was on [[August 7]], [[1982]] in [[Ankara]] at the [[Esenboğa International Airport]], when its members targeted both diplomats and non-diplomat civilians for the first time. Two militants opened fire in a crowded passenger waiting room. One of the shooters took more than 20 hostages while the second was apprehended by police. Altogether, nine people died and 82 were injured. The arrested 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'') led by Hagopian and the 'Popular Movement' (''ASALA-Mouvement Révolutionnaire'') led by [[Monte Melkonian]]. While Melkonian's faction insisted on attacks strictly against Turkish officials and the Turkish government, Hagopian's group disregarded the losses of unintended victims and regularly executed dissenting members.
On [[August 10]], [[1982]], [[Artin Penik]] a Turk of Armenian descent, set himself on fire in protest of this attack.<ref name="oran"> {{cite news|
| last = Oran
| first = Baskın
| title = The Reconstruction of Armenian Identity in Turkey and the Weekly Agos (Interview with Hrant Dink)
| work = Nouvelles d'Armenie
| date = 2006-12-17
| url = http://www.armenews.com/article.php3?id_article=27696
| accessdate = 2008-09-02 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=Armenian Issue: Chronology | publisher=[[Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism]] | url=http://www.kultur.gov.tr/EN/BelgeGoster.aspx?17A16AE30572D313A781CAA92714FCE0A3216081A23BEF0D | accessdate=2007-02-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=He was an Armenian: Artin Penik|work=Turkish Journal|url=http://www.turkishjournal.com/i.php?newsid=361|accessdate=2007-02-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title = Armenian Dies from Self-Inflicted Burns | work=[[Associated Press]]| date = 1982-08-15 }}</ref>

Prominent Armenian poet [[Silva Kaputikyan]] in [[1983]] wrote "Its raining my sonny" poem dedicated to the memory of ASALA member Ekmekjian.<ref>[[Spurk Journal]], #1-12, 2005, [[Beirut]], p. 35.</ref>

On [[July 15]], [[1983]], the ASALA carried out another attack at the [[Orly Airport]] near [[Paris]], in which 8 people were killed. The attack resulted in a split in ASALA, between those individuals who carried it out, called the "Orly Group," and those who believed the attack to be counter productive.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hetq.am/eng/society/7332/
|accessdate=2008-09-02
|title=He Was a Man Deeply Connected to the Natural World
|work=Hetq Online
|date=2007-11-26
|first=Edik
|last=Baghdasaryan
}}</ref> Afterwards, French forces promptly arrested those involved.<ref>"[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9804E0DF143BF93AA35753C1A965948260 French Hold Armenians In Orly Airport Bombing]," ''[[Associated Press]]'', [[New York Times]], [[October 9]], [[1983]].</ref> Moreover, this attack eliminated the suspected secret agreement that the French socialist government made with ASALA, in which the government would allow ASALA to use France as a base of operations in exchange for refraining from launching attacks on French soil. Belief in this suspected agreement was further bolstered after "Interior Minister [[Gaston Defferre]] called [ASALA's] cause "just," and four Armenians arrested for taking hostages at the Turkish Embassy in September 1981 were given light sentences."<ref>Echikson, William. "[http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/csmonitor_historic/access/260828642.html?dids=260828642:260828642&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Jul+19%2C+1983&author=By+William+Echikson+Special+to+The+Christian+Science+Monitor&pub=Christian+Science+Monitor&desc=Armenian+bombing+at+Orly+ends+pact+between+Socialists+and+terrorists&pqatl=google Armenian bombing at Orly ends pact between Socialists and terrorists]," ''[[Christian Science Monitor]]'', [[July 19]], [[1983]].</ref>

=== Reactions ===
Continuous attacks prompted Turkey to accuse [[Cyprus]], [[Greece]], [[Syria]], [[Lebanon]], and the [[Soviet Union]] of provoking or possibly funding the ASALA.<ref name="countrystudy" /> Although they publicly distanced themselves from the ASALA,<ref name="countrystudy" /> Turkey's Armenian community came under attack by Turkish nationalists in reaction to the group's actions. This became apparent after the assassination of [[Ahmet Benler]] on [[October 12]], [[1979]] by Armenian militants in [[the Hague]]. The reaction to the attack led to the bombing of the church of the Armenian Apostolic Patriarchate in [[Istanbul]] on [[October 19]] in retaliation.<ref name=azadhye>[[Tessa Hofmann|Tessa, Hofmann]]. [http://www.armenian.ch/asa/Docs/faae02.pdf Armenians in Turkey today]</ref>

According to [[Tessa Hofmann]], Turkish officials frequently used the accusation of collaboration with the ASALA and foreign Armenian circles to incriminate extreme left-wing Turkish opposition groups.<ref name=azadhye/>

=== Counteroffensive ===

After the ASALA terrorist attack against the [[Esenboğa International Airport]] in August 1982 the then President of Turkey [[Kenan Evren]] issued a decree for the elimination of ASALA. The task was given to the [[National Intelligence Organization]]'s ({{lang-tr|Millî İstihbarat Teşkilâtı}}, MİT) Foreign Operations Department. Evren's own daughter, a member of the MİT, ran the operation together with Metin Günyol, and Nuri Gündeş. [[Contract killer]] [[Abdullah Çatlı]] was also involved.<ref name=kizi>{{cite journal
|url=http://www.aksiyon.com.tr/detay.php?id=15119
|accessdate=2008-12-13
|title=Asala operasyonlarını Kenan Evren'in kızı yönetti
|date=2004-09-06
|first=Faruk
|last=Mercan
|volume=509
|publisher=Feza Gazetecilik A.Ş.
|journal=Aksiyon
|language=Turkish
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sabah.com.tr/2004/09/08/siy112.html
|accessdate=2008-12-13
|title=Evren: Kızım MİT'te çalışıyordu
|date=2004-09-08
|language=Turkish
}}</ref>

After being captured, Levon Ekmekjian revealed how the ASALA worked to the MİT. In the early Spring of 1983 two teams of Turkish intelligence operatives and members of the “[[Counter-Guerrilla|Special Warfare Department]]” were sent to France and Lebanon.<ref>Kilic, Ecevit. ''Özel Harp Dairesi'', 2007, pp.301-305.</ref> The Lebanese contingent was led by [[Hiram Abas]], after being tapped by MİT's Presidential Liaison and Evren's son-in-law, Erkan Gürvit.<ref name=kizi/>

== Dissolution==
With the [[1982 Lebanon War|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 last attack committed by the ASALA was the attack on the bullet-proof limousine carrying the Turkish Ambassador to [[Budapest]] ([[December 19]], [[1991]]). The ambassador was not injured in the attack, which was claimed by ASALA in [[Paris]].<ref name=hungary>{{cite web |url=http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=6723 |title=ASALA attacked Diplomatic target|date=1981-12-19|location=Hungary|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070827173744/http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=6723|archivedate=2007-08-27|work=[[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]}}</ref>

ASALA's founder Hagop Hagopian was assassinated on a sidewalk in an affluent neighborhood in [[Athens]], [[Greece]] on [[April 28]], [[1988]]. His assailants, Hovsep A., Vartan G., Garabed K., and Albert "Sultan-Minas", were all former ASALA members and lieutenants of Hagopian. His body was riddled with several bullets while he was walking with two women at 4:30 in the morning.<ref>Melkonian, Markar. ''My Brother's Road: An American's Fateful Journey to Armenia''. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005 pg. 187.</ref> Tarakchian died of [[cancer]] in [[1980]]. Assassinations of former members continued in [[Armenia]] into the late 1990s.<ref>Melkonian, Markar. ''My Brother's Road: An American's Fateful Journey to Armenia''. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005, pp. 277-278.</ref>

According to [[National Intelligence Agency]] official Nuri Gündeş, ASALA was dissolved after its financial backing was withdrawn by the Armenian diaspora after the [[bombing of Turkish airline counter|1983 Orly Airport raid]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://arama.hurriyet.com.tr/arsivnews.aspx?id=-599507
|accessdate=2008-12-21
|title=Thanks to Nuri Gündeş
|work=[[Turkish Daily News]]
|publisher=[[Hürriyet]]
|date=2008-12-21
|first=Mehmet Ali
|last=Birand
|quote=It was the raid of Paris's Orly Airport in 1983 that finished the ASALA off. Feeling ill at ease by the raid, the French and U.S. Armenians who used to support ASALA monetarily stopped the aid and the issue was closed. I know this through French authorities that were involved. The ones that were instrumental in the stopping of the aid were MİT and the Foreign Ministry. Otherwise, ASALA did not yield because it was afraid of the Turkish bullies. They were stopped because they had gone too far with their murders.}}</ref>

==References==

{{Reflist|2}}

{{Defunct Armed Armenian Organizations}}

[[Category:1975 establishments]]
[[Category:Defunct Armenian paramilitary organizations]]
[[Category:Armenian Genocide]]
[[Category:Guerrilla organizations]]

[[az:ASALA]]
[[bg:АСАЛА]]
[[ca:ASALA]]
[[de:Asala]]
[[es:Ejército Secreto Armenio para la Liberación de Armenia]]
[[fr:Armée secrète arménienne de libération de l'Arménie]]
[[hy:Հայաստանի ազատագրության հայ գաղտնի բանակ]]
[[it:Esercito Segreto armeno per la Liberazione dell'Armenia]]
[[nl:Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia]]
[[ja:アルメニア解放秘密軍]]
[[pl:ASALA]]
[[ru:Армянская секретная армия освобождения Армении]]
[[simple:Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia]]
[[sl:Armenska tajna armada za osvoboditev Armenije]]
[[sv:ASALA]]
[[tr:ASALA]]

Köçek

2008-12-18T00:03:36Z

Adoniscik:

{{nocitations|date=July 2007}}
[[Image:Turkish - Dancing Kocek - Late 19th c - wiki.jpg|thumb|250px|right|''Köçek with [[tambourine]]'' Entertainers and sex workers, köçeks were in high demand in the [[Ottoman Empire]]. They were sought by high and low, up to the Sultan. Photograph, late 19th c.]]
The '''köçek''' phenomenon (plural ''köçekler'' in Turkish) is one of the significant features of [[Ottoman Empire]] culture {{Fact|date=August 2008}}. The köçek was typically a very handsome young male ''rakkas,'' "dancer," usually cross-dressed in feminine attire, employed as an [[entertainer]] and [[sex worker]]{{Fact|date=August 2008}}.

The köçeks were usually children of non-Muslim [[dhimmi]] peoples living under Ottoman rule. Their ranks were filled from the ethnic groups - mostly Christians - subdued by the Turkish empire (such as the [[Circassians]], [[Albanians]], [[South Slavs#Ethno-cultural subdivisions|Balkan Slavs]], [[Armenians]], [[Jews]], [[Roma people|Roma-Gypsies]], [[Moldavians]] and [[Greeks]]) since the profession was held to be below the dignity of a Muslim and thus forbidden to Muslim boys.

== Roots ==
The Turkish word is derived from the [[Persian language|Persian]] word ''kuchak,'' "little," "small," or "young."

The culture of the köçek, which flourished from the 17th to the 19th century, had its origin in the customs in [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] palaces, and in particular in the [[harem (household)|harems]]. Its genres enriched both the music and the dance of the Ottomans.

The support of the [[Ottoman Dynasty|Sultans]] was a key factor in its development, as in the early stages the arts form was confined to palace circles. From there the practice dispersed throughout [[Anatolia]] and the [[Balkans]] by means of independent troupes.

== Culture ==
[[Image:Koceks - Surname-i Vehbi.jpg|thumb|left|250px|'''Köçek troupe at a fair''' at Sultan Ahmed's 1720 celebration of his sons' circumcision. Miniature from the ''Surname-i Vehbi'', [[Topkapi Palace]], [[Istanbul]].]]
A köçek would begin training around the age of seven or eight, and would be considered accomplished after about six years of study and practice. A dancer's career would last as long as he was beardless and retained his youthful appearance. Dancers would get married when they were around 25 or 30, and then could become organizers of a new köçek troupe. Köçeks were organized into companies known as ''kol.'' Twelve such companies were counted in the mid-1600s, each company averaging about 250 dancers.

Their erotic dances, collectively known as ''köçek oyunu,'' blended [[Arab]], [[Greeks|Greek]], [[Assyria]]n and [[Kurdistan|Kurdish]] elements. They were performed to a particular genre of music known as ''köçekce,'' which was performed in the form of suites in a given melody. It too was a mix of [[Sufism|Sufi]], Balkan and [[Ottoman classical music|classical Anatolian]] influences, some of which survives in [[Music of Turkey|popular Turkish music]] today. The accompaniment included various percussion instruments, such as the ''davul-köçek,'' the [[davul]] being a large drum, one side covered with goat skin and the other in sheep skin, producing different tones. [[Image:Zils.JPG|thumb|right|250px|Pair of zils; Khan el Khalili market, [[Cairo]].]]A köçek's skill would be judged not only on his dancing abilities but also on his proficiency with percussion instruments, especially a type of [[castanets|castagnette]] known as the ''çarpare.'' In later times these were replaced by metal cymbals called ''[[Zil]]s''. The dancers were accompanied by an orchestra, featuring four to five each [[Kemenche|''kaba kemence'']] and ''lauto'' as principal instruments, used exclusively for köçek suites. There were also two singers. A köçek dance in the Ottoman [[Seraglio]] (palace harem) involved one or two dozen köçeks and many musicians. The occasions of their performances were wedding or circumcision celebrations, feasts and festivals, as well as the pleasure of the sultans and the aristocracy.

The youths, often wearing heavy makeup, would curl their hair and wear it in long tresses under a small black or red velvet hat decorated with coins, jewels and gold. Their usual garb consisted of a tiny red embroidered velvet jacket with a gold-embroidered silk shirt, ''shalvars'' (baggy trousers), a long skirt and a gilt belt, knotted at the back. They were said to be "sensuous, attractive, effeminate," and their dancing "sexually provocative," impersonating female dancers. Dancers minced and gyrated their hips in slow vertical and horizontal figure-8's, rhythmically snapping their fingers and making suggestive gestures. Often acrobatics, tumbling and mock [[wrestling]] were also part of the act. The köçeks were available sexually, often to the highest bidder, in the passive role.

The names and backgrounds of köçeks in Istanbul in the 18th century are well documented. Among the more celebrated köçeks from the end of the 18th century are the Gypsy Benli Ali of [[Didymoteicho|Dimetoka]] (today's [[Greece]]); ''Buyuk'' (big, older) Afet (born Yorgaki) of [[Croatia in the Habsburg Empire#The Ottoman incursion|Croatian]] origin, ''Kucuk'' (little) Afet (born Kaspar) of Armenian origin, and Pandeli from the Greek Island of Chiros. There were at least fifty köçeks of star stature at the time. The famous ones, like the [[Roma people|Gypsy]] köçek Ismail, would have to be booked weeks or months in advance, at a very high cost.

Western visitors were variously taken with the - for them - unusual sight of [[pederasty]] unleashed. One impression is preserved in ''Don Leon,'' a poem anonymously written in the voice of [[George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron|Lord Byron]]:
[[Image:Saki - Reza Abbasi - Moraqqa’-e Golshan 1609 Golestan Palace.jpg|thumb|right|250px|''Saki'' ([[1609]]) by [[Reza Abbasi]] (1565 - 1635). Moraqqa’-e Golshan, [[Isfahan]], Iran; [[Golestan Palace]].]]
:''Here much I saw – and much I mused to see
:''The loosened garb of Eastern luxury.
:''I sought the brothel, where, in maiden guise,
:''The black-eyed boy his trade unblushing plies;
:''Where in lewd dance he acts the scenic show –
:''His supple haunches wriggling to and fro:
:''With looks voluptuous the thought excites,
:''Whilst gazing sit the hoary sybarites:
:''Whilst gentle lute and drowsy tambourine
:''Add to the languor of the monstrous scene.
:''Yes, call it monstrous! but not monstrous, where
:''Close latticed harems hide the timid fair:
:''With mien gallant where pæderasty smirks,
:''And whoredom, felon like, in covert lurks.
:''All this I saw – but saw it not alone –
:''A friend was with me, and I dared not own
:''How much the sight had touched some inward sense,
:''Too much for e’en the closest confidence.'' (441-8).

In his travels to the [[Levant]], Byron had indeed been present at such a dance as described above. His traveling companion, [[John Hobhouse, 1st Baron Broughton|John Cam Hobhouse]], relates in his diary that on Saturday, May 19th, 1810:

:''This day, went with Byron and a party to the [[Meyhane|wine houses]] of [[Galata]]. Took pipes, and saw two old and ugly boys, who wrung the sweat off their brows, dance as before, waving their long hair. Also they spread a mat and, putting on a kind of shawl, performed an [[Alexandria]]n woman’s dance – much the same, except that they knelt, and, covering each other’s heads, seemed as if kissing. One of [[Robert Adair|Mr Adair]]’s [[Janissary|Janissaries]], who talks English and has been in England, was with us. I asked him if these boys would not be hanged in England. “Oh yes, directly. De Turk take and byger dem d’ye see?”''

:''For this beastly sight we paid fifty-five piastres, five to the boys each, and five to all fiddlers and singers and performers &c., nor is this dear, I understand. Turk boys are not allowed to dance.'' [http://www.hobby-o.com/constantinople.php#ref42 Excerpt from Hobhouse's diary]

The youths were held in high esteem. Famous poets, such as [[Fazyl bin Tahir Enderuni]], wrote poems, and classical composers, such as the court musician [[Dede Efendi|Hammamizade İsmail Dede Efendi]] (1778-1846), composed köçekces for celebrated koceks. Many Istanbul [[meyhane]]s (night-time taverns serving [[meze]], [[raki]] or wine) hired köçeks. Before starting their performance, the köçek danced among the spectators, to make them more excited. In the audience, competition for their attention often caused commotions and altercations. Men would go wild, breaking their glasses, shouting themselves voiceless, or fighting and sometimes killing each other vying for the boys' sexual favors. This resulted in suppression of the practice under sultan Sultan [[Abd-ul-Mejid I]]. Köçek dances were officially banned in 1856, and many of the boys left the country to practice their profession in Egypt and elsewhere. With the suppression of [[Seraglio|harem culture]] under Sultan [[`Abdu'l-`Aziz]] (1861-1876) and Sultan [[Abdul Hamid II]] (1876-1908), köçek dance and music lost the support of its royal patrons, and gradually disappeared.

The other type of ''rakkas,'' or male dancer (from ''raks,'' "dance") was the ''tavşan oğlan'', "rabbit boy," a young dancer dressed in provocative male clothing: tight pants and a jaunty hat. The non-Muslim tavşan oğlan are thought to have come mainly from the Greek islands in the [[Aegean Sea|Aegean]] and the [[Sea of Marmara]]. They performed mainly during [[Ramadan]], working as ''saki''s "wine boys" in the ''meyhane''s otherwise, when not dancing at special occasions.

Köçeks were much more sought after than the ''çengi'', their feminine counterparts. Some youths were known to have been killed by the çengi, who were extremely jealous of men's attention towards the boys.

== Modern offshoots ==
[[Image:MaleBellyDance.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Male belly dancer in Istanbul Turkey.]] 
At present, the same-sex love and sexuality aspect of köçek culture is considered to have been "a privilege of the powerful economic classes or the world of the arts." Though no new compositions or performances have taken place in the last hundred years, male dancers dressed as women still perform in some areas of Turkey, though their art is no longer primarily of a sensual nature and is seen primarily as [[Turkish folk music|folkloric]].

The style however continues to inspire modern musicians. [[Ulvi Cemal Erkin]] (1906-1972) is a Turkish classical composer whose most popular masterpiece is ''Köçekçe'' a dance rhapsody composed in 1943, and perhaps the best known single piece of Turkish music abroad. It was first introduced to the public in 1943 with [[Ernst Praetorius]] conducting the [[Presidential Symphony Orchestra]].

The music genre has been preserved in the [[Balkans]] in the form of the [[Čoček]], and is especially popular in [[Kosovo]], [[Albania]] and the [[Republic of Macedonia]]. It is also an important music genre amongst the [[Roma people|Roma-Gypsies]] and is performed at weddings, circumcisions and festivals all over the Balkans.

Another modern interpretation is the movie ''Kocek'' (''Küçük cadi'' 1975) by director [[Nejat Saydam]]. It is probably the first Turkish movie to deal with the topic of [[homosexuality]] and change of [[gender role]].
At the same time, young male dancers dressed in sparkling costumes are again finding favor, despite the objections of conservative commentators. Known as ''rakkas'', they have become a common feature of dance halls and night clubs, performing seductive [[belly dance#Male belly dancing|belly dance]]s, and are reputed to be "as sexual and popular as any of the best Turkish female belly dancers."

==References==
*AYVERDI, Sâmiha; Istanbul Geceleri ''The nights of Istanbul,'' ed. Baha, Istanbul, 1977.
*ENDERUNLU Fazıl bey; ''Çenginame','' 1759
*Erdoğan, Sema Nilgün: ''Sexual life in Ottoman Empire,'' ed. Dönence, Istanbul, 1996. Pp 88-92
*JANSSEN, Thijs: ''Transvestites and Transsexuals in Turkey,'' in ''Sexuality and Eroticism Among Males in Moslem Societies,'' edited by Arno Schmidt and Jehoeda Sofer, ed. Harrington Park Press, NY, 1992
*KOCU, Resad Ekrem, ''Eski Istanbul'da Meyhaneler ve Meyhane Kocekleri, Istanbul Ansiklopedisi Notlari No''
*OZTUNA, Yılmaz: ''Turk Musikisi Ansiklopedisi,'' Milli Egitim Basimevi, Istanbul, 1976. p.23

==See also==
*[[Bacchá]]
*[[Cocek]]
*[[Culture of the Ottoman Empire]]
*[[Harem (household)|Harem]]
*[[Ottoman Turkish language]]
*[[Pederasty in the Middle East#The Ottoman Empire|Pederasty in the Middle East: The Ottoman Empire]]
*[[Hammam#Tellak (Staff)|Tellak]]
*[[List of transgender-related topics]]

==External links==

*[http://www.jasminjahal.com/articles/02_02_male_belly_d.html Male Belly Dance in Turkey]
*[http://www.zadiel.de Male Belly Dance in Germany - Original turkish Köcek/Zenne]
*[http://www2.egenet.com.tr/mastersj/encyclopedia-k.html Habibullah's Encyclopaedia of the Ottoman Empire]
*[http://www.bdancer.com/history/BDhist2c.html Origins of oriental dance]
*[http://www.turkishnews.com/itumuk/info/petek/c1s4/petek9603.txt Turkish News.com]
*[http://www.androphile.org/preview/Museum/Turkey/turkish.htm Classical Turkish homoerotic art]
*{{imdb title|id=392318|title=Küçük cadi}}

[[Category:Turkish culture|Kocek]]
[[Category:Sexual orientation and history]]
[[Category:Transgender in non-western cultures|Kocek]]
[[Category:Pederasty in the Muslim world|Kocek]]
[[Category:Middle Eastern culture]]
[[Category:Arabic culture]]
[[Category:Bellydance]]
[[Category:Turkish sex workers|Kocek]]

[[ru:Кучек]]

Köçek

2008-12-18T00:02:22Z

Adoniscik: /* Videos */

{{Unreferenced|date=July 2007}}
[[Image:Turkish - Dancing Kocek - Late 19th c - wiki.jpg|thumb|250px|right|''Köçek with [[tambourine]]'' Entertainers and sex workers, köçeks were in high demand in the [[Ottoman Empire]]. They were sought by high and low, up to the Sultan. Photograph, late 19th c.]]
The '''köçek''' phenomenon (plural ''köçekler'' in Turkish) is one of the significant features of [[Ottoman Empire]] culture {{Fact|date=August 2008}}. The köçek was typically a very handsome young male ''rakkas,'' "dancer," usually cross-dressed in feminine attire, employed as an [[entertainer]] and [[sex worker]]{{Fact|date=August 2008}}.

The köçeks were usually children of non-Muslim [[dhimmi]] peoples living under Ottoman rule. Their ranks were filled from the ethnic groups - mostly Christians - subdued by the Turkish empire (such as the [[Circassians]], [[Albanians]], [[South Slavs#Ethno-cultural subdivisions|Balkan Slavs]], [[Armenians]], [[Jews]], [[Roma people|Roma-Gypsies]], [[Moldavians]] and [[Greeks]]) since the profession was held to be below the dignity of a Muslim and thus forbidden to Muslim boys.

== Roots ==
The Turkish word is derived from the [[Persian language|Persian]] word ''kuchak,'' "little," "small," or "young."

The culture of the köçek, which flourished from the 17th to the 19th century, had its origin in the customs in [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] palaces, and in particular in the [[harem (household)|harems]]. Its genres enriched both the music and the dance of the Ottomans.

The support of the [[Ottoman Dynasty|Sultans]] was a key factor in its development, as in the early stages the arts form was confined to palace circles. From there the practice dispersed throughout [[Anatolia]] and the [[Balkans]] by means of independent troupes.

== Culture ==
[[Image:Koceks - Surname-i Vehbi.jpg|thumb|left|250px|'''Köçek troupe at a fair''' at Sultan Ahmed's 1720 celebration of his sons' circumcision. Miniature from the ''Surname-i Vehbi'', [[Topkapi Palace]], [[Istanbul]].]]
A köçek would begin training around the age of seven or eight, and would be considered accomplished after about six years of study and practice. A dancer's career would last as long as he was beardless and retained his youthful appearance. Dancers would get married when they were around 25 or 30, and then could become organizers of a new köçek troupe. Köçeks were organized into companies known as ''kol.'' Twelve such companies were counted in the mid-1600s, each company averaging about 250 dancers.

Their erotic dances, collectively known as ''köçek oyunu,'' blended [[Arab]], [[Greeks|Greek]], [[Assyria]]n and [[Kurdistan|Kurdish]] elements. They were performed to a particular genre of music known as ''köçekce,'' which was performed in the form of suites in a given melody. It too was a mix of [[Sufism|Sufi]], Balkan and [[Ottoman classical music|classical Anatolian]] influences, some of which survives in [[Music of Turkey|popular Turkish music]] today. The accompaniment included various percussion instruments, such as the ''davul-köçek,'' the [[davul]] being a large drum, one side covered with goat skin and the other in sheep skin, producing different tones. [[Image:Zils.JPG|thumb|right|250px|Pair of zils; Khan el Khalili market, [[Cairo]].]]A köçek's skill would be judged not only on his dancing abilities but also on his proficiency with percussion instruments, especially a type of [[castanets|castagnette]] known as the ''çarpare.'' In later times these were replaced by metal cymbals called ''[[Zil]]s''. The dancers were accompanied by an orchestra, featuring four to five each [[Kemenche|''kaba kemence'']] and ''lauto'' as principal instruments, used exclusively for köçek suites. There were also two singers. A köçek dance in the Ottoman [[Seraglio]] (palace harem) involved one or two dozen köçeks and many musicians. The occasions of their performances were wedding or circumcision celebrations, feasts and festivals, as well as the pleasure of the sultans and the aristocracy.

The youths, often wearing heavy makeup, would curl their hair and wear it in long tresses under a small black or red velvet hat decorated with coins, jewels and gold. Their usual garb consisted of a tiny red embroidered velvet jacket with a gold-embroidered silk shirt, ''shalvars'' (baggy trousers), a long skirt and a gilt belt, knotted at the back. They were said to be "sensuous, attractive, effeminate," and their dancing "sexually provocative," impersonating female dancers. Dancers minced and gyrated their hips in slow vertical and horizontal figure-8's, rhythmically snapping their fingers and making suggestive gestures. Often acrobatics, tumbling and mock [[wrestling]] were also part of the act. The köçeks were available sexually, often to the highest bidder, in the passive role.

The names and backgrounds of köçeks in Istanbul in the 18th century are well documented. Among the more celebrated köçeks from the end of the 18th century are the Gypsy Benli Ali of [[Didymoteicho|Dimetoka]] (today's [[Greece]]); ''Buyuk'' (big, older) Afet (born Yorgaki) of [[Croatia in the Habsburg Empire#The Ottoman incursion|Croatian]] origin, ''Kucuk'' (little) Afet (born Kaspar) of Armenian origin, and Pandeli from the Greek Island of Chiros. There were at least fifty köçeks of star stature at the time. The famous ones, like the [[Roma people|Gypsy]] köçek Ismail, would have to be booked weeks or months in advance, at a very high cost.

Western visitors were variously taken with the - for them - unusual sight of [[pederasty]] unleashed. One impression is preserved in ''Don Leon,'' a poem anonymously written in the voice of [[George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron|Lord Byron]]:
[[Image:Saki - Reza Abbasi - Moraqqa’-e Golshan 1609 Golestan Palace.jpg|thumb|right|250px|''Saki'' ([[1609]]) by [[Reza Abbasi]] (1565 - 1635). Moraqqa’-e Golshan, [[Isfahan]], Iran; [[Golestan Palace]].]]
:''Here much I saw – and much I mused to see
:''The loosened garb of Eastern luxury.
:''I sought the brothel, where, in maiden guise,
:''The black-eyed boy his trade unblushing plies;
:''Where in lewd dance he acts the scenic show –
:''His supple haunches wriggling to and fro:
:''With looks voluptuous the thought excites,
:''Whilst gazing sit the hoary sybarites:
:''Whilst gentle lute and drowsy tambourine
:''Add to the languor of the monstrous scene.
:''Yes, call it monstrous! but not monstrous, where
:''Close latticed harems hide the timid fair:
:''With mien gallant where pæderasty smirks,
:''And whoredom, felon like, in covert lurks.
:''All this I saw – but saw it not alone –
:''A friend was with me, and I dared not own
:''How much the sight had touched some inward sense,
:''Too much for e’en the closest confidence.'' (441-8).

In his travels to the [[Levant]], Byron had indeed been present at such a dance as described above. His traveling companion, [[John Hobhouse, 1st Baron Broughton|John Cam Hobhouse]], relates in his diary that on Saturday, May 19th, 1810:

:''This day, went with Byron and a party to the [[Meyhane|wine houses]] of [[Galata]]. Took pipes, and saw two old and ugly boys, who wrung the sweat off their brows, dance as before, waving their long hair. Also they spread a mat and, putting on a kind of shawl, performed an [[Alexandria]]n woman’s dance – much the same, except that they knelt, and, covering each other’s heads, seemed as if kissing. One of [[Robert Adair|Mr Adair]]’s [[Janissary|Janissaries]], who talks English and has been in England, was with us. I asked him if these boys would not be hanged in England. “Oh yes, directly. De Turk take and byger dem d’ye see?”''

:''For this beastly sight we paid fifty-five piastres, five to the boys each, and five to all fiddlers and singers and performers &c., nor is this dear, I understand. Turk boys are not allowed to dance.'' [http://www.hobby-o.com/constantinople.php#ref42 Excerpt from Hobhouse's diary]

The youths were held in high esteem. Famous poets, such as [[Fazyl bin Tahir Enderuni]], wrote poems, and classical composers, such as the court musician [[Dede Efendi|Hammamizade İsmail Dede Efendi]] (1778-1846), composed köçekces for celebrated koceks. Many Istanbul [[meyhane]]s (night-time taverns serving [[meze]], [[raki]] or wine) hired köçeks. Before starting their performance, the köçek danced among the spectators, to make them more excited. In the audience, competition for their attention often caused commotions and altercations. Men would go wild, breaking their glasses, shouting themselves voiceless, or fighting and sometimes killing each other vying for the boys' sexual favors. This resulted in suppression of the practice under sultan Sultan [[Abd-ul-Mejid I]]. Köçek dances were officially banned in 1856, and many of the boys left the country to practice their profession in Egypt and elsewhere. With the suppression of [[Seraglio|harem culture]] under Sultan [[`Abdu'l-`Aziz]] (1861-1876) and Sultan [[Abdul Hamid II]] (1876-1908), köçek dance and music lost the support of its royal patrons, and gradually disappeared.

The other type of ''rakkas,'' or male dancer (from ''raks,'' "dance") was the ''tavşan oğlan'', "rabbit boy," a young dancer dressed in provocative male clothing: tight pants and a jaunty hat. The non-Muslim tavşan oğlan are thought to have come mainly from the Greek islands in the [[Aegean Sea|Aegean]] and the [[Sea of Marmara]]. They performed mainly during [[Ramadan]], working as ''saki''s "wine boys" in the ''meyhane''s otherwise, when not dancing at special occasions.

Köçeks were much more sought after than the ''çengi'', their feminine counterparts. Some youths were known to have been killed by the çengi, who were extremely jealous of men's attention towards the boys.

== Modern offshoots ==
[[Image:MaleBellyDance.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Male belly dancer in Istanbul Turkey.]] 
At present, the same-sex love and sexuality aspect of köçek culture is considered to have been "a privilege of the powerful economic classes or the world of the arts." Though no new compositions or performances have taken place in the last hundred years, male dancers dressed as women still perform in some areas of Turkey, though their art is no longer primarily of a sensual nature and is seen primarily as [[Turkish folk music|folkloric]].

The style however continues to inspire modern musicians. [[Ulvi Cemal Erkin]] (1906-1972) is a Turkish classical composer whose most popular masterpiece is ''Köçekçe'' a dance rhapsody composed in 1943, and perhaps the best known single piece of Turkish music abroad. It was first introduced to the public in 1943 with [[Ernst Praetorius]] conducting the [[Presidential Symphony Orchestra]].

The music genre has been preserved in the [[Balkans]] in the form of the [[Čoček]], and is especially popular in [[Kosovo]], [[Albania]] and the [[Republic of Macedonia]]. It is also an important music genre amongst the [[Roma people|Roma-Gypsies]] and is performed at weddings, circumcisions and festivals all over the Balkans.

Another modern interpretation is the movie ''Kocek'' (''Küçük cadi'' 1975) by director [[Nejat Saydam]]. It is probably the first Turkish movie to deal with the topic of [[homosexuality]] and change of [[gender role]].
At the same time, young male dancers dressed in sparkling costumes are again finding favor, despite the objections of conservative commentators. Known as ''rakkas'', they have become a common feature of dance halls and night clubs, performing seductive [[belly dance#Male belly dancing|belly dance]]s, and are reputed to be "as sexual and popular as any of the best Turkish female belly dancers."

==References==
*AYVERDI, Sâmiha; Istanbul Geceleri ''The nights of Istanbul,'' ed. Baha, Istanbul, 1977.
*ENDERUNLU Fazıl bey; ''Çenginame','' 1759
*Erdoğan, Sema Nilgün: ''Sexual life in Ottoman Empire,'' ed. Dönence, Istanbul, 1996. Pp 88-92
*JANSSEN, Thijs: ''Transvestites and Transsexuals in Turkey,'' in ''Sexuality and Eroticism Among Males in Moslem Societies,'' edited by Arno Schmidt and Jehoeda Sofer, ed. Harrington Park Press, NY, 1992
*KOCU, Resad Ekrem, ''Eski Istanbul'da Meyhaneler ve Meyhane Kocekleri, Istanbul Ansiklopedisi Notlari No''
*OZTUNA, Yılmaz: ''Turk Musikisi Ansiklopedisi,'' Milli Egitim Basimevi, Istanbul, 1976. p.23

==See also==
*[[Bacchá]]
*[[Cocek]]
*[[Culture of the Ottoman Empire]]
*[[Harem (household)|Harem]]
*[[Ottoman Turkish language]]
*[[Pederasty in the Middle East#The Ottoman Empire|Pederasty in the Middle East: The Ottoman Empire]]
*[[Hammam#Tellak (Staff)|Tellak]]
*[[List of transgender-related topics]]

==External links==

*[http://www.jasminjahal.com/articles/02_02_male_belly_d.html Male Belly Dance in Turkey]
*[http://www.zadiel.de Male Belly Dance in Germany - Original turkish Köcek/Zenne]
*[http://www2.egenet.com.tr/mastersj/encyclopedia-k.html Habibullah's Encyclopaedia of the Ottoman Empire]
*[http://www.bdancer.com/history/BDhist2c.html Origins of oriental dance]
*[http://www.turkishnews.com/itumuk/info/petek/c1s4/petek9603.txt Turkish News.com]
*[http://www.androphile.org/preview/Museum/Turkey/turkish.htm Classical Turkish homoerotic art]
*{{imdb title|id=392318|title=Küçük cadi}}

[[Category:Turkish culture|Kocek]]
[[Category:Sexual orientation and history]]
[[Category:Transgender in non-western cultures|Kocek]]
[[Category:Pederasty in the Muslim world|Kocek]]
[[Category:Middle Eastern culture]]
[[Category:Arabic culture]]
[[Category:Bellydance]]
[[Category:Turkish sex workers|Kocek]]

[[ru:Кучек]]

Karakol Cemiyeti

2008-12-16T20:36:23Z

Adoniscik:

The '''{{pagename}}''' ({{lang-tr|Karakol Cemiyeti}}) was a [[secret society]] outside of, yet within the [[Istanbul]] government, whose purpose was to assist the efforts of [[Mustafa Kemal Atatürk]] during the 1919-1923 [[Turkish_War_of_Independence#Precursors.2C_October_1918_.E2.80.93_May_1919|Turkish War of Independence]].<ref>{{cite book|title=History of the Ottoman Empire and Modern Turkey: Reform, Revolution, and Republic: The Rise of Modern Turkey 1808-1975|last=Shaw|first=Stanford J.|coauthors=Ezel Kural Shaw|year=1977|publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]]|isbn=0521291666|quote= |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=M1DQooVS_oYC&pg=PA340&dq=%22Outpost+Society%22+Ottoman&sig=ACfU3U3Ja3lIZisVI60Vlx171DYNidohOA|page=340}}</ref>

After the 1918 [[Armistice of Mudros]] [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] officers founded the secret organizations in [[Istanbul]]. The aim of these organizations was to provide the revolution with loyal officers, weapons and armaments, most of which was stolen from [[Ottoman Army]] warehouses, which were under the control of Allied Forces during the [[Occupation of Istanbul]].{{fact}}

The activities of the intelligence unit came to an end when its members were arrested following the occupation of Istanbul on March 16, 1920.<ref>[http://www.mit.gov.tr/english/tarihce.html History of the MIT], [[National Intelligence Organization]]</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Teşkilât-ı Mahsûsa]]

==References==
<references/>

{{Turkish War of Independence}}

[[Category:Turkish War of Independence]]
[[Category:1918 establishments]]
[[Category:Secret societies]]
[[Category:Turkish intelligence agencies]]
[[Category:Defunct intelligence agencies]]
[[tr:Karakol Cemiyeti]]

Karakol Cemiyeti

2008-12-16T20:22:41Z

Adoniscik: moved Outpost Societies to Sentinel Association: singular, not plural.

'''Outpost Societies''' ({{lang-tr|Karakol Cemiyeti}}) were [[secret society|secret societal organizations]] outside of, yet within the [[Istanbul]] government, whose purpose was to assist the efforts of [[Mustafa Kemal Atatürk]] during the 1919-1923 [[Turkish_War_of_Independence#Precursors.2C_October_1918_.E2.80.93_May_1919|Turkish War of Independence]].<ref>{{cite book|title=History of the Ottoman Empire and Modern Turkey: Reform, Revolution, and Republic: The Rise of Modern Turkey 1808-1975|last=Shaw|first=Stanford J.|coauthors=Ezel Kural Shaw|year=1977|publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]]|isbn=0521291666|quote= |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=M1DQooVS_oYC&pg=PA340&dq=%22Outpost+Society%22+Ottoman&sig=ACfU3U3Ja3lIZisVI60Vlx171DYNidohOA|page=340}}</ref>

After the [[Armistice of Mudros]] young and patriotic [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] officers founded secret organizations in [[Istanbul]].{{Fact|date=February 2007}} The aim of these organizations was to provide the revolution with loyal officers, weapons and armaments, most of which was stolen from [[Ottoman Army]] warehouses, which were under the control of Allied Forces during the [[Occupation of Istanbul]].

The activities of the intelligence unit came to an end when its members were arrested following the occupution of Istanbul on March 16, 1920.<ref>[http://www.mit.gov.tr/english/tarihce.html History of the MIT], [[National Intelligence Organization]]</ref>

== See also ==
* [[National Security Service (Turkey)]]

==References==
<references/>

{{Turkish War of Independence}}

[[Category:Turkish War of Independence]]
[[Category:1918 establishments]]
[[Category:Secret societies]]
[[Category:Turkish intelligence agencies]]
[[Category:Defunct intelligence agencies]]
[[tr:Karakol Cemiyeti]]

Intervention des Militärs in der Türkei 1997

2008-12-16T00:26:48Z

Adoniscik: Thomas Goltz

The '''28 February operation''' in [[Turkey]] was the military overthrowing of the [[coalition government]] led by [[Necmettin Erbakan]] of the [[Welfare Party]] on [[February 28]], [[1997]].<ref name=candar/>

Instead of dissolving the parliament or withdrawing the constitution, the [[Turkish Military]] pressured Erbakan to step down.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://washingtontimes.com/news/2005/jun/25/20050625-104911-8659r/
|title=Reforms curb Turkey's armed forces
|work=[[Washington Times]]
|first=Seth
|last=Rosen
|date=2008-07-27
|accessdate=2005-06-25
}}</ref> For this reason, the events were labelled a "postmodern [[Coup d'état|coup]]" by some.<ref name=candar>{{cite news|url=http://arsiv.sabah.com.tr/1997/06/28/y12.html
|work=[[Sabah]]
|accessdate=2008-07-27
|date=1997-06-27
|title=Post-modern darbe
|first=Cengiz
|last=Çandar
|authorlink=Cengiz Çandar
|language=Turkish
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://arsiv.sabah.com.tr/2007/02/28/siy106.html
|title='Post-modern darbe' tanımının 10 yıllık sırrı
|accessdate=2008-07-27
|date=2007-02-27
|work=[[Sabah]]
|language=Turkish
|first=Metehan
|last=Demir}}</ref>

One hypothesis is that the coup was precipitated by the military's desire to oust Erbakan's coalition partner, [[Tansu Çiller]], who was implicated in the [[Susurluk scandal]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1997/jul/13/opinion/op-12239
|accessdate=2008-12-15
|title=As the 'Coup' Turns: The Army's Real Target
|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]
|date=1997-07-13
|authorlink=Thomas Goltz
|first=Thomas
|last=Goltz
|page=M-2
}}</ref>

==See also==
{{wikisourcelang|tr|28 Şubat Kararları}}
*[[Military coup in Turkey, 1960]]
*[[Military coup in Turkey, 1971]]
*[[Military coup in Turkey, 1980]]

==References==

<references/>

{{Turkey-stub}}
[[Category:Conflicts in 1997]]
[[Category:1997 in Turkey|Coup d'état]]
[[Category:Military coups in Turkey]]

[[tr:28 Şubat süreci]]

Intervention des Militärs in der Türkei 1997

2008-12-16T00:26:12Z

Adoniscik: As the 'Coup' Turns: The Army's Real Target

The '''28 February operation''' in [[Turkey]] was the military overthrowing of the [[coalition government]] led by [[Necmettin Erbakan]] of the [[Welfare Party]] on [[February 28]], [[1997]].<ref name=candar/>

Instead of dissolving the parliament or withdrawing the constitution, the [[Turkish Military]] pressured Erbakan to step down.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://washingtontimes.com/news/2005/jun/25/20050625-104911-8659r/
|title=Reforms curb Turkey's armed forces
|work=[[Washington Times]]
|first=Seth
|last=Rosen
|date=2008-07-27
|accessdate=2005-06-25
}}</ref> For this reason, the events were labelled a "postmodern [[Coup d'état|coup]]" by some.<ref name=candar>{{cite news|url=http://arsiv.sabah.com.tr/1997/06/28/y12.html
|work=[[Sabah]]
|accessdate=2008-07-27
|date=1997-06-27
|title=Post-modern darbe
|first=Cengiz
|last=Çandar
|authorlink=Cengiz Çandar
|language=Turkish
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://arsiv.sabah.com.tr/2007/02/28/siy106.html
|title='Post-modern darbe' tanımının 10 yıllık sırrı
|accessdate=2008-07-27
|date=2007-02-27
|work=[[Sabah]]
|language=Turkish
|first=Metehan
|last=Demir}}</ref>

One hypothesis is that the coup was precipitated by the military's desire to oust Erbakan's coalition partner, [[Tansu Çiller]], who was implicated in the [[Susurluk scandal]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1997/jul/13/opinion/op-12239
|accessdate=2008-12-15
|title=As the 'Coup' Turns: The Army's Real Target
|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]
|date=1997-07-13
|first=Thomas
|last=Goltz
|page=M-2
}}</ref>

==See also==
{{wikisourcelang|tr|28 Şubat Kararları}}
*[[Military coup in Turkey, 1960]]
*[[Military coup in Turkey, 1971]]
*[[Military coup in Turkey, 1980]]

==References==

<references/>

{{Turkey-stub}}
[[Category:Conflicts in 1997]]
[[Category:1997 in Turkey|Coup d'état]]
[[Category:Military coups in Turkey]]

[[tr:28 Şubat süreci]]

Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia

2008-12-14T02:38:05Z

Adoniscik: /* Counteroffensive */

{{Infobox militant organization
|name = Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia {{rtl-lang|hy|Հայաստանի ազատագրութեան հայ գաղտնի բանակ}} 
|logo = Flag of the ASALA.png
|caption = Flag of the ASALA
|dates = [[1975]]<ref name=hunsicker/> to [[1986]]<ref name=roy170/>
|leader = [[Hagop Hagopian]]<ref name="MIPT">[http://web.archive.org/web/20071115020146/http://www.tkb.org/Group.jsp?groupID=258 Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA)], [[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]</ref>
|motives = "To compel the Turkish Government to acknowledge publicly its responsibility for the [[Armenian Genocide|deaths of 1.5 million Armenians]] in 1915, pay reparations, and cede territory for an Armenian homeland."<ref name=hunsicker/>
|area = [[Turkey]], [[United States]], [[Lebanon]], [[Western Europe]], [[Armenia]], and [[Middle East]].
|ideology = [[Marxism-Leninism]], [[Greater Armenia (political concept)|Greater Armenia]]
|crimes = Assassination of a number of Turkish diplomats and their relatives. Bombing of Turkish, French and Swiss targets for varying motives. Several minor bombing attacks against US airline offices in Western Europe. 
|attacks = Armed attack and bombing of the [[Esenboğa International Airport]], [[Ankara]].<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20070930041244/http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=3316 Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA) attacked Airports & Airlines target (Aug. 7, 1982, Turkey)], [[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]</ref> [[Orly airport attack|Bombing of Turkish airline counter]] at [[Orly Airport (Paris)]].<ref name=hunsicker/>
|allies =
|enemies = [[Turkish government]] and [[Turkish diplomats|its representatives]].<ref name=countrystudy>"[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/85.htm Political Interest Groups]," ''[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/ Turkey: A Country Study]'' ed. Helen Chapin Metz. Washington D.C.: The Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, 283, 354-355 {{oclc|17841957}}</ref>
|status = Dissolved
}}

The '''Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia''' ('''ASALA''') was a [[militant]]<ref>[http://www.bartleby.com/67/2679.html 1982. 2001. The Encyclopedia of World History]</ref> [[Marxism-Leninism|Marxist-Leninist]] organization, that operated from 1975 to 1986<ref name=roy170>Roy, Olivier. ''Turkey Today: A European Nation?'' p. 170. Roy suggests that the Orly incident led to "dissension end[ing] in the settling of scores in which ASALA militants killed each other in their camp at Bekaa (Al-Biqa, Lebanon)... (It) practically disappeared. It resurfaced once again, however, to assassinate important members of the Lebanese section of the Dashnak Party (March 1985 - May 1986)."</ref> and was responsible for the assassination of many Turkish diplomats and their families. The group also operated under other names such as '''The Orly Group''' and the '''3 October Organization'''.<ref name=countrystudy>"[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/85.htm Political Interest Groups]," ''[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/ Turkey: A Country Study]'' ed. Helen Chapin Metz. Washington D.C.: The Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, 283, 354-355 {{oclc|17841957}}</ref> The intention of ASALA was purportedly "to compel the Turkish Government to acknowledge publicly its alleged responsibility for the [[Armenian Genocide|deaths of 1.5 million Armenians]] in 1915, pay reparations, and cede territory for an Armenian homeland".<ref name=hunsicker>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=K4XefrTlSygC&pg=PA431&lpg=PA431&dq=%22to+compel+the+Turkish+Government+to+acknowledge+publicly+its+alleged+responsibility+for+the+deaths+of+1.5+million+Armenians+in+1915,+pay+reparations,+and+cede+territory+for+an+Armenian+homeland%22&source=web&ots=pXUcCHSQ_K&sig=g_wv7KBmKIdDoKiZ2P5nF2r952M&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=2&ct=result|title=Understanding International Counter Terrorism|publisher=Universal-Publishers|last=Hunsicker|isbn=158112905X|pages=431|year=2006}}</ref> ASALA was listed as a [[terrorism|terrorist]] organization by the United States in 1980s.<ref name=pgt>{{citation
|chapterurl=http://www.nps.edu/Library/Research/SubjectGuides/SpecialTopics/TerroristProfile/Prior/ASALA.html
|url=http://www.mipt.org/pdf/1997pogt.pdf
|accessdate=2008-09-02
|title=Patterns of Global Terrorism
|chapter=Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA)
|year=1997
|publisher=[[U.S. Department of State]]
}}</ref>

==Background==
ASALA was founded in 1975 in [[Beirut]], [[Lebanon]] during the [[Lebanese Civil War]] by [[Hagop Hagopian]] (Harutiun Tagushian) and [[Kevork Ajemian]],<ref>"[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-22427363.html Kevork Ajemian, Prominent Contemporary Writer and Surviving Member of Triumvirate Which Founded ASALA, Dies in Beirut, Lebanon]," ''Armenian Reporter'', [[1999-02-01]]</ref> a prominent contemporary writer, with the help of sympathetic [[Palestinians]].<ref name="countrystudy" /> Consisting primarily of Lebanese-born Armenians of the Diaspora (whose parents and/or grandparents were survivors of the [[Armenian Genocide]]), the organization followed a theoretical model based on [[leftism|leftist ideology]].<ref>Roy, Olivier. ''Turkey Today: A European Nation?'' p. 169.</ref>
The group's activities were primarily assassinations of Turkish diplomats and politicians in [[Western Europe]], in the [[United States]] and the [[Middle East]].<ref name="countrystudy" /> Their first acknowledged killing was the assassination of the Turkish diplomat, [[Daniş Tunalıgil]], in [[Vienna]] on [[October 22]], [[1975]]. A failed attack in [[Geneva]] on [[October 3]], [[1980]], in which two Armenian militants were injured resulted in a new nickname for the group, the 3 October Organization. The ASALA's eight point manifesto was published in 1981.

ASALA, trained in the Beirut camps of [[Palestine Liberation Organization]], is the best known of the guerilla groups responsible for assassinations of at least 36 Turkish diplomats.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,955176,00.html
|accessdate=2008-09-02
|title=Long Memories
|work=TIME
|date=1983-08-08
|author=Iyer, Pico
|volume=32}}</ref>

== Attacks ==
{{See also|List of attacks by the Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia}}

According to [[National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism|MIPT]] website, there had been 84 incidents involving ASALA leaving 46 people dead, and 299 people injured including the following:<ref name="MIPT"/>
* [[February 16]], [[1976]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Beirut]], Oktar Cirit was killed.
* [[October 12]], [[1979]] in Turkish Embassy in the [[Hague]], Ahmet Benler, the son of the Ambassador Özdemir Benler, was killed (This attack was one of the attacks co-claimed by JCAG.
* [[July 31]], [[1980]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Athens]], Galip Özmen and his 14 year old daughter Neslihan were killed in the Turkish consulate. Galip Özmen's wife Sevil Özmen and their son Kaan survived the attack with injuries.
* [[December 29]], [[1980]] in [[Madrid]], a [[Spain|Spanish]] journalist, assistant director of the "Pueblo" newspaper, [[José Antonio Gurriarán]] was accidentally injured during an October 3 group attack. Then Gurriarán was interested what the group's purposes were; he found and interviewed ASALA members. In 1982 his "La Bomba" book was published, dedicated to the Armenian cause and Armenian militant's struggle.<ref>[http://www.elpais.com/articulo/ultima/GURRIARaN/_JOSe_ANTONIO_/PERIODISTA/Jose/Antonio/Gurriaran/elpepiult/19820404elpepiult_2/Tes/ GENTE José Antonio Gurriarán], ''[[El Pais]]'', [[April 4]], [[1982]]. "Subdirector del diario Pueblo, relatará en su libro La bomba, que será publicado en el próximo mes de abril, el atentado de que fue víctima en la Gran Vía de Madrid el 29 de diciembre de 1980, hecho del que luego se responsabilizaría el grupo armenio Octubre 3. El autor entrevista en el libro a los miembros del comando que activaron las dos cargas de Goma 2."</ref>
* [[March 4th]], 1981 in the Turkish Embassy in [[Paris]], Reşat Moralı was killed and Tecelli Arı was injured.
* [[June 9th]], 1981 in the Turkish Consulate in [[Geneva]], Mehmet Savaş Yergüz was killed.
* [[September 24]], [[1981]] in Turkish Consulate in Paris, 56 Turks were held hostage in the embassy by ASALA militants (none of the hostages were harmed), Turkish guard Cemal Özen was killed. ASALA members demanded the Turkish government free Armenian political prisoners within 12 hours and fly them to Paris. After 15 hours they surrendered peacefully requesting political asylum from the French government.<ref name=hungary/>
* [[April 28]], [[1984]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Tehran|Tehran, Iran]], Işık Yönder was killed.

The ASALA's most criticized attack was on [[August 7]], [[1982]] in [[Ankara]] at the [[Esenboğa International Airport]], when its members targeted both diplomats and non-diplomat civilians for the first time. Two militants opened fire in a crowded passenger waiting room. One of the shooters took more than 20 hostages while the second was apprehended by police. Altogether, nine people died and 82 were injured. The arrested 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'') led by Hagopian and the 'Popular Movement' (''ASALA-Mouvement Révolutionnaire'') led by [[Monte Melkonian]]. While Melkonian's faction insisted on attacks strictly against Turkish officials and the Turkish government, Hagopian's group disregarded the losses of unintended victims and regularly executed dissenting members.
On [[August 10]], [[1982]], [[Artin Penik]] a Turk of Armenian descent, set himself on fire in protest of this attack.<ref name="oran"> {{cite news|
| last = Oran
| first = Baskın
| title = The Reconstruction of Armenian Identity in Turkey and the Weekly Agos (Interview with Hrant Dink)
| work = Nouvelles d'Armenie
| date = 2006-12-17
| url = http://www.armenews.com/article.php3?id_article=27696
| accessdate = 2008-09-02 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=Armenian Issue: Chronology | publisher=[[Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism]] | url=http://www.kultur.gov.tr/EN/BelgeGoster.aspx?17A16AE30572D313A781CAA92714FCE0A3216081A23BEF0D | accessdate=2007-02-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=He was an Armenian: Artin Penik|work=Turkish Journal|url=http://www.turkishjournal.com/i.php?newsid=361|accessdate=2007-02-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title = Armenian Dies from Self-Inflicted Burns | work=[[Associated Press]]| date = 1982-08-15 }}</ref>

Prominent Armenian poet [[Silva Kaputikyan]] in [[1983]] wrote "Its raining my sonny" poem dedicated to the memory of ASALA member Ekmekjian.<ref>[[Spurk Journal]], #1-12, 2005, [[Beirut]], p. 35.</ref>

On [[July 15]], [[1983]], the ASALA carried out another attack at the [[Orly Airport]] near [[Paris]], in which 8 people were killed. The attack resulted in a split in ASALA, between those individuals who carried it out, called the "Orly Group," and those who believed the attack to be counter productive.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hetq.am/eng/society/7332/
|accessdate=2008-09-02
|title=He Was a Man Deeply Connected to the Natural World
|work=Hetq Online
|date=2007-11-26
|first=Edik
|last=Baghdasaryan
}}</ref> Afterwards, French forces promptly arrested those involved.<ref>"[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9804E0DF143BF93AA35753C1A965948260 French Hold Armenians In Orly Airport Bombing]," ''[[Associated Press]]'', [[New York Times]], [[October 9]], [[1983]].</ref> Moreover, this attack eliminated the suspected secret agreement that the French socialist government made with ASALA, in which the government would allow ASALA to use France as a base of operations in exchange for refraining from launching attacks on French soil. Belief in this suspected agreement was further bolstered after "Interior Minister [[Gaston Defferre]] called [ASALA's] cause "just," and four Armenians arrested for taking hostages at the Turkish Embassy in September 1981 were given light sentences."<ref>Echikson, William. "[http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/csmonitor_historic/access/260828642.html?dids=260828642:260828642&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Jul+19%2C+1983&author=By+William+Echikson+Special+to+The+Christian+Science+Monitor&pub=Christian+Science+Monitor&desc=Armenian+bombing+at+Orly+ends+pact+between+Socialists+and+terrorists&pqatl=google Armenian bombing at Orly ends pact between Socialists and terrorists]," ''[[Christian Science Monitor]]'', [[July 19]], [[1983]].</ref>

== Dissolution==
With the [[1982 Lebanon War|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 last attack committed by the ASALA was the attack on the bullet-proof limousine carrying the Turkish Ambassador to [[Budapest]] ([[December 19]], [[1991]]). The ambassador was not injured in the attack, which was claimed by ASALA in [[Paris]].<ref name=hungary>{{cite web |url=http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=6723 |title=ASALA attacked Diplomatic target|date=1981-12-19|location=Hungary|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070827173744/http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=6723|archivedate=2007-08-27|work=[[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]}}</ref>

ASALA's founder Hagop Hagopian was assassinated on a sidewalk in an affluent neighborhood in [[Athens]], [[Greece]] on [[April 28]], [[1988]]. His assailants, Hovsep A., Vartan G., Garabed K., and Albert "Sultan-Minas", were all former ASALA members and lieutenants of Hagopian. His body was riddled with several bullets while he was walking with two women at 4:30 in the morning.<ref>Melkonian, Markar. ''My Brother's Road: An American's Fateful Journey to Armenia''. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005 pg. 187.</ref> Tarakchian died of [[cancer]] in [[1980]]. Assassinations of former members continued in [[Armenia]] into the late 1990s.<ref>Melkonian, Markar. ''My Brother's Road: An American's Fateful Journey to Armenia''. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005, pp. 277-278.</ref>

== Reactions ==
Continuous attacks prompted Turkey to accuse [[Cyprus]], [[Greece]], [[Syria]], [[Lebanon]], and the [[Soviet Union]] of provoking or possibly funding the ASALA.<ref name="countrystudy" /> Although they publicly distanced themselves from the ASALA,<ref name="countrystudy" /> Turkey's Armenian community came under attack by Turkish nationalists in reaction to the group's actions. This became apparent after the assassination of [[Ahmet Benler]] on [[October 12]], [[1979]] by Armenian militants in [[the Hague]]. The reaction to the attack led to the bombing of the church of the Armenian Apostolic Patriarchate in [[Istanbul]] on [[October 19]] in retaliation.<ref name=azadhye>[[Tessa Hofmann|Tessa, Hofmann]]. [http://www.armenian.ch/asa/Docs/faae02.pdf Armenians in Turkey today]</ref>

According to [[Tessa Hofmann]], Turkish officials frequently used the accusation of collaboration with the ASALA and foreign Armenian circles to incriminate extreme left-wing Turkish opposition groups.<ref name=azadhye/>

=== Counteroffensive ===

After the ASALA terrorist attack against the [[Esenboğa International Airport]] in August 1982 the then President of Turkey [[Kenan Evren]] issued a decree for the elimination of ASALA. The task was given to the [[National Intelligence Organization]]'s ({{lang-tr|Millî İstihbarat Teşkilâtı}}, MİT) Foreign Operations Department. Evren's own daughter, a member of the MİT, ran the operation together with Metin Günyol, and Nuri Gündeş. [[Contract killer]] [[Abdullah Çatlı]] was also involved.<ref name=kizi>{{cite journal
|url=http://www.aksiyon.com.tr/detay.php?id=15119
|accessdate=2008-12-13
|title=Asala operasyonlarını Kenan Evren'in kızı yönetti
|date=2004-09-06
|first=Faruk
|last=Mercan
|volume=509
|publisher=Feza Gazetecilik A.Ş.
|journal=Aksiyon
|language=Turkish
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sabah.com.tr/2004/09/08/siy112.html
|accessdate=2008-12-13
|title=Evren: Kızım MİT'te çalışıyordu
|date=2004-09-08
|language=Turkish
}}</ref>

After being captured, Levon Ekmekjian revealed how the ASALA worked to the MİT. In the early Spring of 1983 two teams of Turkish intelligence operatives and members of the “[[Counter-Guerrilla|Special Warfare Department]]” were sent to France and Lebanon.<ref>Kilic, Ecevit. ''Özel Harp Dairesi'', 2007, pp.301-305.</ref> The Lebanese contingent was led by [[Hiram Abas]], after being tapped by MİT's Presidential Liaison and Evren's son-in-law, Erkan Gürvit.<ref name=kizi/>

==References==

{{Reflist|2}}

{{Defunct Armed Armenian Organizations}}

[[Category:1975 establishments]]
[[Category:Defunct Armenian paramilitary organizations]]
[[Category:Armenian Genocide]]
[[Category:Guerrilla organizations]]

[[az:ASALA]]
[[bg:АСАЛА]]
[[ca:ASALA]]
[[de:Asala]]
[[es:Ejército Secreto Armenio para la Liberación de Armenia]]
[[fr:Armée secrète arménienne de libération de l'Arménie]]
[[hy:Հայաստանի ազատագրության հայ գաղտնի բանակ]]
[[it:Esercito Segreto armeno per la Liberazione dell'Armenia]]
[[nl:Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia]]
[[ja:アルメニア解放秘密軍]]
[[pl:ASALA]]
[[ru:Армянская секретная армия освобождения Армении]]
[[simple:Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia]]
[[sl:Armenska tajna armada za osvoboditev Armenije]]
[[sv:ASALA]]
[[tr:ASALA]]

Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia

2008-12-14T02:11:59Z

Adoniscik: /* Counteroffensive */ who did what

{{Infobox militant organization
|name = Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia {{rtl-lang|hy|Հայաստանի ազատագրութեան հայ գաղտնի բանակ}} 
|logo = Flag of the ASALA.png
|caption = Flag of the ASALA
|dates = [[1975]]<ref name=hunsicker/> to [[1986]]<ref name=roy170/>
|leader = [[Hagop Hagopian]]<ref name="MIPT">[http://web.archive.org/web/20071115020146/http://www.tkb.org/Group.jsp?groupID=258 Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA)], [[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]</ref>
|motives = "To compel the Turkish Government to acknowledge publicly its responsibility for the [[Armenian Genocide|deaths of 1.5 million Armenians]] in 1915, pay reparations, and cede territory for an Armenian homeland."<ref name=hunsicker/>
|area = [[Turkey]], [[United States]], [[Lebanon]], [[Western Europe]], [[Armenia]], and [[Middle East]].
|ideology = [[Marxism-Leninism]], [[Greater Armenia (political concept)|Greater Armenia]]
|crimes = Assassination of a number of Turkish diplomats and their relatives. Bombing of Turkish, French and Swiss targets for varying motives. Several minor bombing attacks against US airline offices in Western Europe. 
|attacks = Armed attack and bombing of the [[Esenboğa International Airport]], [[Ankara]].<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20070930041244/http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=3316 Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA) attacked Airports & Airlines target (Aug. 7, 1982, Turkey)], [[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]</ref> [[Orly airport attack|Bombing of Turkish airline counter]] at [[Orly Airport (Paris)]].<ref name=hunsicker/>
|allies =
|enemies = [[Turkish government]] and [[Turkish diplomats|its representatives]].<ref name=countrystudy>"[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/85.htm Political Interest Groups]," ''[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/ Turkey: A Country Study]'' ed. Helen Chapin Metz. Washington D.C.: The Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, 283, 354-355 {{oclc|17841957}}</ref>
|status = Dissolved
}}

The '''Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia''' ('''ASALA''') was a [[militant]]<ref>[http://www.bartleby.com/67/2679.html 1982. 2001. The Encyclopedia of World History]</ref> [[Marxism-Leninism|Marxist-Leninist]] organization, that operated from 1975 to 1986<ref name=roy170>Roy, Olivier. ''Turkey Today: A European Nation?'' p. 170. Roy suggests that the Orly incident led to "dissension end[ing] in the settling of scores in which ASALA militants killed each other in their camp at Bekaa (Al-Biqa, Lebanon)... (It) practically disappeared. It resurfaced once again, however, to assassinate important members of the Lebanese section of the Dashnak Party (March 1985 - May 1986)."</ref> and was responsible for the assassination of many Turkish diplomats and their families. The group also operated under other names such as '''The Orly Group''' and the '''3 October Organization'''.<ref name=countrystudy>"[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/85.htm Political Interest Groups]," ''[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/ Turkey: A Country Study]'' ed. Helen Chapin Metz. Washington D.C.: The Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, 283, 354-355 {{oclc|17841957}}</ref> The intention of ASALA was purportedly "to compel the Turkish Government to acknowledge publicly its alleged responsibility for the [[Armenian Genocide|deaths of 1.5 million Armenians]] in 1915, pay reparations, and cede territory for an Armenian homeland".<ref name=hunsicker>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=K4XefrTlSygC&pg=PA431&lpg=PA431&dq=%22to+compel+the+Turkish+Government+to+acknowledge+publicly+its+alleged+responsibility+for+the+deaths+of+1.5+million+Armenians+in+1915,+pay+reparations,+and+cede+territory+for+an+Armenian+homeland%22&source=web&ots=pXUcCHSQ_K&sig=g_wv7KBmKIdDoKiZ2P5nF2r952M&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=2&ct=result|title=Understanding International Counter Terrorism|publisher=Universal-Publishers|last=Hunsicker|isbn=158112905X|pages=431|year=2006}}</ref> ASALA was listed as a [[terrorism|terrorist]] organization by the United States in 1980s.<ref name=pgt>{{citation
|chapterurl=http://www.nps.edu/Library/Research/SubjectGuides/SpecialTopics/TerroristProfile/Prior/ASALA.html
|url=http://www.mipt.org/pdf/1997pogt.pdf
|accessdate=2008-09-02
|title=Patterns of Global Terrorism
|chapter=Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA)
|year=1997
|publisher=[[U.S. Department of State]]
}}</ref>

==Background==
ASALA was founded in 1975 in [[Beirut]], [[Lebanon]] during the [[Lebanese Civil War]] by [[Hagop Hagopian]] (Harutiun Tagushian) and [[Kevork Ajemian]],<ref>"[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-22427363.html Kevork Ajemian, Prominent Contemporary Writer and Surviving Member of Triumvirate Which Founded ASALA, Dies in Beirut, Lebanon]," ''Armenian Reporter'', [[1999-02-01]]</ref> a prominent contemporary writer, with the help of sympathetic [[Palestinians]].<ref name="countrystudy" /> Consisting primarily of Lebanese-born Armenians of the Diaspora (whose parents and/or grandparents were survivors of the [[Armenian Genocide]]), the organization followed a theoretical model based on [[leftism|leftist ideology]].<ref>Roy, Olivier. ''Turkey Today: A European Nation?'' p. 169.</ref>
The group's activities were primarily assassinations of Turkish diplomats and politicians in [[Western Europe]], in the [[United States]] and the [[Middle East]].<ref name="countrystudy" /> Their first acknowledged killing was the assassination of the Turkish diplomat, [[Daniş Tunalıgil]], in [[Vienna]] on [[October 22]], [[1975]]. A failed attack in [[Geneva]] on [[October 3]], [[1980]], in which two Armenian militants were injured resulted in a new nickname for the group, the 3 October Organization. The ASALA's eight point manifesto was published in 1981.

ASALA, trained in the Beirut camps of [[Palestine Liberation Organization]], is the best known of the guerilla groups responsible for assassinations of at least 36 Turkish diplomats.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,955176,00.html
|accessdate=2008-09-02
|title=Long Memories
|work=TIME
|date=1983-08-08
|author=Iyer, Pico
|volume=32}}</ref>

== Attacks ==
{{See also|List of attacks by the Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia}}

According to [[National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism|MIPT]] website, there had been 84 incidents involving ASALA leaving 46 people dead, and 299 people injured including the following:<ref name="MIPT"/>
* [[February 16]], [[1976]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Beirut]], Oktar Cirit was killed.
* [[October 12]], [[1979]] in Turkish Embassy in the [[Hague]], Ahmet Benler, the son of the Ambassador Özdemir Benler, was killed (This attack was one of the attacks co-claimed by JCAG.
* [[July 31]], [[1980]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Athens]], Galip Özmen and his 14 year old daughter Neslihan were killed in the Turkish consulate. Galip Özmen's wife Sevil Özmen and their son Kaan survived the attack with injuries.
* [[December 29]], [[1980]] in [[Madrid]], a [[Spain|Spanish]] journalist, assistant director of the "Pueblo" newspaper, [[José Antonio Gurriarán]] was accidentally injured during an October 3 group attack. Then Gurriarán was interested what the group's purposes were; he found and interviewed ASALA members. In 1982 his "La Bomba" book was published, dedicated to the Armenian cause and Armenian militant's struggle.<ref>[http://www.elpais.com/articulo/ultima/GURRIARaN/_JOSe_ANTONIO_/PERIODISTA/Jose/Antonio/Gurriaran/elpepiult/19820404elpepiult_2/Tes/ GENTE José Antonio Gurriarán], ''[[El Pais]]'', [[April 4]], [[1982]]. "Subdirector del diario Pueblo, relatará en su libro La bomba, que será publicado en el próximo mes de abril, el atentado de que fue víctima en la Gran Vía de Madrid el 29 de diciembre de 1980, hecho del que luego se responsabilizaría el grupo armenio Octubre 3. El autor entrevista en el libro a los miembros del comando que activaron las dos cargas de Goma 2."</ref>
* [[March 4th]], 1981 in the Turkish Embassy in [[Paris]], Reşat Moralı was killed and Tecelli Arı was injured.
* [[June 9th]], 1981 in the Turkish Consulate in [[Geneva]], Mehmet Savaş Yergüz was killed.
* [[September 24]], [[1981]] in Turkish Consulate in Paris, 56 Turks were held hostage in the embassy by ASALA militants (none of the hostages were harmed), Turkish guard Cemal Özen was killed. ASALA members demanded the Turkish government free Armenian political prisoners within 12 hours and fly them to Paris. After 15 hours they surrendered peacefully requesting political asylum from the French government.<ref name=hungary/>
* [[April 28]], [[1984]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Tehran|Tehran, Iran]], Işık Yönder was killed.

The ASALA's most criticized attack was on [[August 7]], [[1982]] in [[Ankara]] at the [[Esenboğa International Airport]], when its members targeted both diplomats and non-diplomat civilians for the first time. Two militants opened fire in a crowded passenger waiting room. One of the shooters took more than 20 hostages while the second was apprehended by police. Altogether, nine people died and 82 were injured. The arrested 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'') led by Hagopian and the 'Popular Movement' (''ASALA-Mouvement Révolutionnaire'') led by [[Monte Melkonian]]. While Melkonian's faction insisted on attacks strictly against Turkish officials and the Turkish government, Hagopian's group disregarded the losses of unintended victims and regularly executed dissenting members.
On [[August 10]], [[1982]], [[Artin Penik]] a Turk of Armenian descent, set himself on fire in protest of this attack.<ref name="oran"> {{cite news|
| last = Oran
| first = Baskın
| title = The Reconstruction of Armenian Identity in Turkey and the Weekly Agos (Interview with Hrant Dink)
| work = Nouvelles d'Armenie
| date = 2006-12-17
| url = http://www.armenews.com/article.php3?id_article=27696
| accessdate = 2008-09-02 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=Armenian Issue: Chronology | publisher=[[Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism]] | url=http://www.kultur.gov.tr/EN/BelgeGoster.aspx?17A16AE30572D313A781CAA92714FCE0A3216081A23BEF0D | accessdate=2007-02-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=He was an Armenian: Artin Penik|work=Turkish Journal|url=http://www.turkishjournal.com/i.php?newsid=361|accessdate=2007-02-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title = Armenian Dies from Self-Inflicted Burns | work=[[Associated Press]]| date = 1982-08-15 }}</ref>

Prominent Armenian poet [[Silva Kaputikyan]] in [[1983]] wrote "Its raining my sonny" poem dedicated to the memory of ASALA member Ekmekjian.<ref>[[Spurk Journal]], #1-12, 2005, [[Beirut]], p. 35.</ref>

On [[July 15]], [[1983]], the ASALA carried out another attack at the [[Orly Airport]] near [[Paris]], in which 8 people were killed. The attack resulted in a split in ASALA, between those individuals who carried it out, called the "Orly Group," and those who believed the attack to be counter productive.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hetq.am/eng/society/7332/
|accessdate=2008-09-02
|title=He Was a Man Deeply Connected to the Natural World
|work=Hetq Online
|date=2007-11-26
|first=Edik
|last=Baghdasaryan
}}</ref> Afterwards, French forces promptly arrested those involved.<ref>"[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9804E0DF143BF93AA35753C1A965948260 French Hold Armenians In Orly Airport Bombing]," ''[[Associated Press]]'', [[New York Times]], [[October 9]], [[1983]].</ref> Moreover, this attack eliminated the suspected secret agreement that the French socialist government made with ASALA, in which the government would allow ASALA to use France as a base of operations in exchange for refraining from launching attacks on French soil. Belief in this suspected agreement was further bolstered after "Interior Minister [[Gaston Defferre]] called [ASALA's] cause "just," and four Armenians arrested for taking hostages at the Turkish Embassy in September 1981 were given light sentences."<ref>Echikson, William. "[http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/csmonitor_historic/access/260828642.html?dids=260828642:260828642&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Jul+19%2C+1983&author=By+William+Echikson+Special+to+The+Christian+Science+Monitor&pub=Christian+Science+Monitor&desc=Armenian+bombing+at+Orly+ends+pact+between+Socialists+and+terrorists&pqatl=google Armenian bombing at Orly ends pact between Socialists and terrorists]," ''[[Christian Science Monitor]]'', [[July 19]], [[1983]].</ref>

== Dissolution==
With the [[1982 Lebanon War|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 last attack committed by the ASALA was the attack on the bullet-proof limousine carrying the Turkish Ambassador to [[Budapest]] ([[December 19]], [[1991]]). The ambassador was not injured in the attack, which was claimed by ASALA in [[Paris]].<ref name=hungary>{{cite web |url=http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=6723 |title=ASALA attacked Diplomatic target|date=1981-12-19|location=Hungary|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070827173744/http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=6723|archivedate=2007-08-27|work=[[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]}}</ref>

ASALA's founder Hagop Hagopian was assassinated on a sidewalk in an affluent neighborhood in [[Athens]], [[Greece]] on [[April 28]], [[1988]]. His assailants, Hovsep A., Vartan G., Garabed K., and Albert "Sultan-Minas", were all former ASALA members and lieutenants of Hagopian. His body was riddled with several bullets while he was walking with two women at 4:30 in the morning.<ref>Melkonian, Markar. ''My Brother's Road: An American's Fateful Journey to Armenia''. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005 pg. 187.</ref> Tarakchian died of [[cancer]] in [[1980]]. Assassinations of former members continued in [[Armenia]] into the late 1990s.<ref>Melkonian, Markar. ''My Brother's Road: An American's Fateful Journey to Armenia''. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005, pp. 277-278.</ref>

== Reactions ==
Continuous attacks prompted Turkey to accuse [[Cyprus]], [[Greece]], [[Syria]], [[Lebanon]], and the [[Soviet Union]] of provoking or possibly funding the ASALA.<ref name="countrystudy" /> Although they publicly distanced themselves from the ASALA,<ref name="countrystudy" /> Turkey's Armenian community came under attack by Turkish nationalists in reaction to the group's actions. This became apparent after the assassination of [[Ahmet Benler]] on [[October 12]], [[1979]] by Armenian militants in [[the Hague]]. The reaction to the attack led to the bombing of the church of the Armenian Apostolic Patriarchate in [[Istanbul]] on [[October 19]] in retaliation.<ref name=azadhye>[[Tessa Hofmann|Tessa, Hofmann]]. [http://www.armenian.ch/asa/Docs/faae02.pdf Armenians in Turkey today]</ref>

According to [[Tessa Hofmann]], Turkish officials frequently used the accusation of collaboration with the ASALA and foreign Armenian circles to incriminate extreme left-wing Turkish opposition groups.<ref name=azadhye/>

=== Counteroffensive ===

After the ASALA terrorist attack against the [[Esenboğa International Airport]] in August 1982 the then President of Turkey [[Kenan Evren]] issued a decree for the elimination of ASALA. The task was given to the [[National Intelligence Organization]]'s ({{lang-tr|Millî İstihbarat Teşkilâtı}}, MİT) Foreign Operations Department. Evren's own daughter, a member of the MİT, ran the operation together with Metin Günyol.<ref name=kizi>{{cite journal
|url=http://www.aksiyon.com.tr/detay.php?id=15119
|accessdate=2008-12-13
|title=Asala operasyonlarını Kenan Evren'in kızı yönetti
|date=2004-09-06
|first=Faruk
|last=Mercan
|volume=509
|publisher=Feza Gazetecilik A.Ş.
|journal=Aksiyon
|language=Turkish
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sabah.com.tr/2004/09/08/siy112.html
|accessdate=2008-12-13
|title=Evren: Kızım MİT'te çalışıyordu
|date=2004-09-08
|language=Turkish
}}</ref>

After being captured, Levon Ekmekjian revealed how the ASALA worked to the MİT. In the early Spring of 1983 two teams of Turkish intelligence operatives and members of the “[[Counter-Guerrilla|Special Warfare Department]]” were sent to France and Lebanon.<ref>Kilic, Ecevit. ''Özel Harp Dairesi'', 2007, pp.301-305.</ref> The Lebanese contingent was led by [[Hiram Abas]], after being tapped by MİT's Presidential Liaison and Evren's son-in-law, Erkan Gürvit.<ref name=kizi/>

==References==

{{Reflist|2}}

{{Defunct Armed Armenian Organizations}}

[[Category:1975 establishments]]
[[Category:Defunct Armenian paramilitary organizations]]
[[Category:Armenian Genocide]]
[[Category:Guerrilla organizations]]

[[az:ASALA]]
[[bg:АСАЛА]]
[[ca:ASALA]]
[[de:Asala]]
[[es:Ejército Secreto Armenio para la Liberación de Armenia]]
[[fr:Armée secrète arménienne de libération de l'Arménie]]
[[hy:Հայաստանի ազատագրության հայ գաղտնի բանակ]]
[[it:Esercito Segreto armeno per la Liberazione dell'Armenia]]
[[nl:Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia]]
[[ja:アルメニア解放秘密軍]]
[[pl:ASALA]]
[[ru:Армянская секретная армия освобождения Армении]]
[[simple:Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia]]
[[sl:Armenska tajna armada za osvoboditev Armenije]]
[[sv:ASALA]]
[[tr:ASALA]]

Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia

2008-12-14T01:46:46Z

Adoniscik: /* Counteroffensive */

{{Infobox militant organization
|name = Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia {{rtl-lang|hy|Հայաստանի ազատագրութեան հայ գաղտնի բանակ}} 
|logo = Flag of the ASALA.png
|caption = Flag of the ASALA
|dates = [[1975]]<ref name=hunsicker/> to [[1986]]<ref name=roy170/>
|leader = [[Hagop Hagopian]]<ref name="MIPT">[http://web.archive.org/web/20071115020146/http://www.tkb.org/Group.jsp?groupID=258 Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA)], [[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]</ref>
|motives = "To compel the Turkish Government to acknowledge publicly its responsibility for the [[Armenian Genocide|deaths of 1.5 million Armenians]] in 1915, pay reparations, and cede territory for an Armenian homeland."<ref name=hunsicker/>
|area = [[Turkey]], [[United States]], [[Lebanon]], [[Western Europe]], [[Armenia]], and [[Middle East]].
|ideology = [[Marxism-Leninism]], [[Greater Armenia (political concept)|Greater Armenia]]
|crimes = Assassination of a number of Turkish diplomats and their relatives. Bombing of Turkish, French and Swiss targets for varying motives. Several minor bombing attacks against US airline offices in Western Europe. 
|attacks = Armed attack and bombing of the [[Esenboğa International Airport]], [[Ankara]].<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20070930041244/http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=3316 Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA) attacked Airports & Airlines target (Aug. 7, 1982, Turkey)], [[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]</ref> [[Orly airport attack|Bombing of Turkish airline counter]] at [[Orly Airport (Paris)]].<ref name=hunsicker/>
|allies =
|enemies = [[Turkish government]] and [[Turkish diplomats|its representatives]].<ref name=countrystudy>"[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/85.htm Political Interest Groups]," ''[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/ Turkey: A Country Study]'' ed. Helen Chapin Metz. Washington D.C.: The Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, 283, 354-355 {{oclc|17841957}}</ref>
|status = Dissolved
}}

The '''Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia''' ('''ASALA''') was a [[militant]]<ref>[http://www.bartleby.com/67/2679.html 1982. 2001. The Encyclopedia of World History]</ref> [[Marxism-Leninism|Marxist-Leninist]] organization, that operated from 1975 to 1986<ref name=roy170>Roy, Olivier. ''Turkey Today: A European Nation?'' p. 170. Roy suggests that the Orly incident led to "dissension end[ing] in the settling of scores in which ASALA militants killed each other in their camp at Bekaa (Al-Biqa, Lebanon)... (It) practically disappeared. It resurfaced once again, however, to assassinate important members of the Lebanese section of the Dashnak Party (March 1985 - May 1986)."</ref> and was responsible for the assassination of many Turkish diplomats and their families. The group also operated under other names such as '''The Orly Group''' and the '''3 October Organization'''.<ref name=countrystudy>"[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/85.htm Political Interest Groups]," ''[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/ Turkey: A Country Study]'' ed. Helen Chapin Metz. Washington D.C.: The Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, 283, 354-355 {{oclc|17841957}}</ref> The intention of ASALA was purportedly "to compel the Turkish Government to acknowledge publicly its alleged responsibility for the [[Armenian Genocide|deaths of 1.5 million Armenians]] in 1915, pay reparations, and cede territory for an Armenian homeland".<ref name=hunsicker>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=K4XefrTlSygC&pg=PA431&lpg=PA431&dq=%22to+compel+the+Turkish+Government+to+acknowledge+publicly+its+alleged+responsibility+for+the+deaths+of+1.5+million+Armenians+in+1915,+pay+reparations,+and+cede+territory+for+an+Armenian+homeland%22&source=web&ots=pXUcCHSQ_K&sig=g_wv7KBmKIdDoKiZ2P5nF2r952M&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=2&ct=result|title=Understanding International Counter Terrorism|publisher=Universal-Publishers|last=Hunsicker|isbn=158112905X|pages=431|year=2006}}</ref> ASALA was listed as a [[terrorism|terrorist]] organization by the United States in 1980s.<ref name=pgt>{{citation
|chapterurl=http://www.nps.edu/Library/Research/SubjectGuides/SpecialTopics/TerroristProfile/Prior/ASALA.html
|url=http://www.mipt.org/pdf/1997pogt.pdf
|accessdate=2008-09-02
|title=Patterns of Global Terrorism
|chapter=Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA)
|year=1997
|publisher=[[U.S. Department of State]]
}}</ref>

==Background==
ASALA was founded in 1975 in [[Beirut]], [[Lebanon]] during the [[Lebanese Civil War]] by [[Hagop Hagopian]] (Harutiun Tagushian) and [[Kevork Ajemian]],<ref>"[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-22427363.html Kevork Ajemian, Prominent Contemporary Writer and Surviving Member of Triumvirate Which Founded ASALA, Dies in Beirut, Lebanon]," ''Armenian Reporter'', [[1999-02-01]]</ref> a prominent contemporary writer, with the help of sympathetic [[Palestinians]].<ref name="countrystudy" /> Consisting primarily of Lebanese-born Armenians of the Diaspora (whose parents and/or grandparents were survivors of the [[Armenian Genocide]]), the organization followed a theoretical model based on [[leftism|leftist ideology]].<ref>Roy, Olivier. ''Turkey Today: A European Nation?'' p. 169.</ref>
The group's activities were primarily assassinations of Turkish diplomats and politicians in [[Western Europe]], in the [[United States]] and the [[Middle East]].<ref name="countrystudy" /> Their first acknowledged killing was the assassination of the Turkish diplomat, [[Daniş Tunalıgil]], in [[Vienna]] on [[October 22]], [[1975]]. A failed attack in [[Geneva]] on [[October 3]], [[1980]], in which two Armenian militants were injured resulted in a new nickname for the group, the 3 October Organization. The ASALA's eight point manifesto was published in 1981.

ASALA, trained in the Beirut camps of [[Palestine Liberation Organization]], is the best known of the guerilla groups responsible for assassinations of at least 36 Turkish diplomats.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,955176,00.html
|accessdate=2008-09-02
|title=Long Memories
|work=TIME
|date=1983-08-08
|author=Iyer, Pico
|volume=32}}</ref>

== Attacks ==
{{See also|List of attacks by the Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia}}

According to [[National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism|MIPT]] website, there had been 84 incidents involving ASALA leaving 46 people dead, and 299 people injured including the following:<ref name="MIPT"/>
* [[February 16]], [[1976]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Beirut]], Oktar Cirit was killed.
* [[October 12]], [[1979]] in Turkish Embassy in the [[Hague]], Ahmet Benler, the son of the Ambassador Özdemir Benler, was killed (This attack was one of the attacks co-claimed by JCAG.
* [[July 31]], [[1980]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Athens]], Galip Özmen and his 14 year old daughter Neslihan were killed in the Turkish consulate. Galip Özmen's wife Sevil Özmen and their son Kaan survived the attack with injuries.
* [[December 29]], [[1980]] in [[Madrid]], a [[Spain|Spanish]] journalist, assistant director of the "Pueblo" newspaper, [[José Antonio Gurriarán]] was accidentally injured during an October 3 group attack. Then Gurriarán was interested what the group's purposes were; he found and interviewed ASALA members. In 1982 his "La Bomba" book was published, dedicated to the Armenian cause and Armenian militant's struggle.<ref>[http://www.elpais.com/articulo/ultima/GURRIARaN/_JOSe_ANTONIO_/PERIODISTA/Jose/Antonio/Gurriaran/elpepiult/19820404elpepiult_2/Tes/ GENTE José Antonio Gurriarán], ''[[El Pais]]'', [[April 4]], [[1982]]. "Subdirector del diario Pueblo, relatará en su libro La bomba, que será publicado en el próximo mes de abril, el atentado de que fue víctima en la Gran Vía de Madrid el 29 de diciembre de 1980, hecho del que luego se responsabilizaría el grupo armenio Octubre 3. El autor entrevista en el libro a los miembros del comando que activaron las dos cargas de Goma 2."</ref>
* [[March 4th]], 1981 in the Turkish Embassy in [[Paris]], Reşat Moralı was killed and Tecelli Arı was injured.
* [[June 9th]], 1981 in the Turkish Consulate in [[Geneva]], Mehmet Savaş Yergüz was killed.
* [[September 24]], [[1981]] in Turkish Consulate in Paris, 56 Turks were held hostage in the embassy by ASALA militants (none of the hostages were harmed), Turkish guard Cemal Özen was killed. ASALA members demanded the Turkish government free Armenian political prisoners within 12 hours and fly them to Paris. After 15 hours they surrendered peacefully requesting political asylum from the French government.<ref name=hungary/>
* [[April 28]], [[1984]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Tehran|Tehran, Iran]], Işık Yönder was killed.

The ASALA's most criticized attack was on [[August 7]], [[1982]] in [[Ankara]] at the [[Esenboğa International Airport]], when its members targeted both diplomats and non-diplomat civilians for the first time. Two militants opened fire in a crowded passenger waiting room. One of the shooters took more than 20 hostages while the second was apprehended by police. Altogether, nine people died and 82 were injured. The arrested 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'') led by Hagopian and the 'Popular Movement' (''ASALA-Mouvement Révolutionnaire'') led by [[Monte Melkonian]]. While Melkonian's faction insisted on attacks strictly against Turkish officials and the Turkish government, Hagopian's group disregarded the losses of unintended victims and regularly executed dissenting members.
On [[August 10]], [[1982]], [[Artin Penik]] a Turk of Armenian descent, set himself on fire in protest of this attack.<ref name="oran"> {{cite news|
| last = Oran
| first = Baskın
| title = The Reconstruction of Armenian Identity in Turkey and the Weekly Agos (Interview with Hrant Dink)
| work = Nouvelles d'Armenie
| date = 2006-12-17
| url = http://www.armenews.com/article.php3?id_article=27696
| accessdate = 2008-09-02 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=Armenian Issue: Chronology | publisher=[[Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism]] | url=http://www.kultur.gov.tr/EN/BelgeGoster.aspx?17A16AE30572D313A781CAA92714FCE0A3216081A23BEF0D | accessdate=2007-02-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=He was an Armenian: Artin Penik|work=Turkish Journal|url=http://www.turkishjournal.com/i.php?newsid=361|accessdate=2007-02-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title = Armenian Dies from Self-Inflicted Burns | work=[[Associated Press]]| date = 1982-08-15 }}</ref>

Prominent Armenian poet [[Silva Kaputikyan]] in [[1983]] wrote "Its raining my sonny" poem dedicated to the memory of ASALA member Ekmekjian.<ref>[[Spurk Journal]], #1-12, 2005, [[Beirut]], p. 35.</ref>

On [[July 15]], [[1983]], the ASALA carried out another attack at the [[Orly Airport]] near [[Paris]], in which 8 people were killed. The attack resulted in a split in ASALA, between those individuals who carried it out, called the "Orly Group," and those who believed the attack to be counter productive.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hetq.am/eng/society/7332/
|accessdate=2008-09-02
|title=He Was a Man Deeply Connected to the Natural World
|work=Hetq Online
|date=2007-11-26
|first=Edik
|last=Baghdasaryan
}}</ref> Afterwards, French forces promptly arrested those involved.<ref>"[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9804E0DF143BF93AA35753C1A965948260 French Hold Armenians In Orly Airport Bombing]," ''[[Associated Press]]'', [[New York Times]], [[October 9]], [[1983]].</ref> Moreover, this attack eliminated the suspected secret agreement that the French socialist government made with ASALA, in which the government would allow ASALA to use France as a base of operations in exchange for refraining from launching attacks on French soil. Belief in this suspected agreement was further bolstered after "Interior Minister [[Gaston Defferre]] called [ASALA's] cause "just," and four Armenians arrested for taking hostages at the Turkish Embassy in September 1981 were given light sentences."<ref>Echikson, William. "[http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/csmonitor_historic/access/260828642.html?dids=260828642:260828642&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Jul+19%2C+1983&author=By+William+Echikson+Special+to+The+Christian+Science+Monitor&pub=Christian+Science+Monitor&desc=Armenian+bombing+at+Orly+ends+pact+between+Socialists+and+terrorists&pqatl=google Armenian bombing at Orly ends pact between Socialists and terrorists]," ''[[Christian Science Monitor]]'', [[July 19]], [[1983]].</ref>

== Dissolution==
With the [[1982 Lebanon War|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 last attack committed by the ASALA was the attack on the bullet-proof limousine carrying the Turkish Ambassador to [[Budapest]] ([[December 19]], [[1991]]). The ambassador was not injured in the attack, which was claimed by ASALA in [[Paris]].<ref name=hungary>{{cite web |url=http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=6723 |title=ASALA attacked Diplomatic target|date=1981-12-19|location=Hungary|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070827173744/http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=6723|archivedate=2007-08-27|work=[[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]}}</ref>

ASALA's founder Hagop Hagopian was assassinated on a sidewalk in an affluent neighborhood in [[Athens]], [[Greece]] on [[April 28]], [[1988]]. His assailants, Hovsep A., Vartan G., Garabed K., and Albert "Sultan-Minas", were all former ASALA members and lieutenants of Hagopian. His body was riddled with several bullets while he was walking with two women at 4:30 in the morning.<ref>Melkonian, Markar. ''My Brother's Road: An American's Fateful Journey to Armenia''. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005 pg. 187.</ref> Tarakchian died of [[cancer]] in [[1980]]. Assassinations of former members continued in [[Armenia]] into the late 1990s.<ref>Melkonian, Markar. ''My Brother's Road: An American's Fateful Journey to Armenia''. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005, pp. 277-278.</ref>

== Reactions ==
Continuous attacks prompted Turkey to accuse [[Cyprus]], [[Greece]], [[Syria]], [[Lebanon]], and the [[Soviet Union]] of provoking or possibly funding the ASALA.<ref name="countrystudy" /> Although they publicly distanced themselves from the ASALA,<ref name="countrystudy" /> Turkey's Armenian community came under attack by Turkish nationalists in reaction to the group's actions. This became apparent after the assassination of [[Ahmet Benler]] on [[October 12]], [[1979]] by Armenian militants in [[the Hague]]. The reaction to the attack led to the bombing of the church of the Armenian Apostolic Patriarchate in [[Istanbul]] on [[October 19]] in retaliation.<ref name=azadhye>[[Tessa Hofmann|Tessa, Hofmann]]. [http://www.armenian.ch/asa/Docs/faae02.pdf Armenians in Turkey today]</ref>

According to [[Tessa Hofmann]], Turkish officials frequently used the accusation of collaboration with the ASALA and foreign Armenian circles to incriminate extreme left-wing Turkish opposition groups.<ref name=azadhye/>

=== Counteroffensive ===

After the ASALA terrorist attack against the [[Esenboğa International Airport]] in August 1982 the then President of Turkey [[Kenan Evren]] issued a decree for the elimination of ASALA. The task was given to the [[National Intelligence Organization]]'s ({{lang-tr|Millî İstihbarat Teşkilâtı}}, MİT) Foreign Operations Department. Evren's own daughter, a member of the MİT, ran the operation.<ref>{{cite journal
|url=http://www.aksiyon.com.tr/detay.php?id=15119
|accessdate=2008-12-13
|title=Asala operasyonlarını Kenan Evren'in kızı yönetti
|date=2004-09-06
|first=Faruk
|last=Mercan
|volume=509
|publisher=Feza Gazetecilik A.Ş.
|journal=Aksiyon
|language=Turkish
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sabah.com.tr/2004/09/08/siy112.html
|accessdate=2008-12-13
|title=Evren: Kızım MİT'te çalışıyordu
|date=2004-09-08
|language=Turkish
}}</ref>

After being captured, Levon Ekmekjian revealed how the ASALA worked to the MİT. In the early Spring of 1983 two teams of Turkish intelligence operatives and members of the “[[Counter-Guerrilla|Special Warfare Department]]” were sent to France and Lebanon.<ref>Kilic, Ecevit. ''Özel Harp Dairesi'', 2007, pp.301-305.</ref>

==References==

{{Reflist|2}}

{{Defunct Armed Armenian Organizations}}

[[Category:1975 establishments]]
[[Category:Defunct Armenian paramilitary organizations]]
[[Category:Armenian Genocide]]
[[Category:Guerrilla organizations]]

[[az:ASALA]]
[[bg:АСАЛА]]
[[ca:ASALA]]
[[de:Asala]]
[[es:Ejército Secreto Armenio para la Liberación de Armenia]]
[[fr:Armée secrète arménienne de libération de l'Arménie]]
[[hy:Հայաստանի ազատագրության հայ գաղտնի բանակ]]
[[it:Esercito Segreto armeno per la Liberazione dell'Armenia]]
[[nl:Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia]]
[[ja:アルメニア解放秘密軍]]
[[pl:ASALA]]
[[ru:Армянская секретная армия освобождения Армении]]
[[simple:Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia]]
[[sl:Armenska tajna armada za osvoboditev Armenije]]
[[sv:ASALA]]
[[tr:ASALA]]

Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia

2008-12-14T00:42:20Z

Adoniscik: /* The ASALA Operations */ Asala operasyonlarını Kenan Evren'in kızı yönetti, Evren: Kızım MİT'te çalışıyordu

{{Infobox militant organization
|name = Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia {{rtl-lang|hy|Հայաստանի ազատագրութեան հայ գաղտնի բանակ}} 
|logo = Flag of the ASALA.png
|caption = Flag of the ASALA
|dates = [[1975]]<ref name=hunsicker/> to [[1986]]<ref name=roy170/>
|leader = [[Hagop Hagopian]]<ref name="MIPT">[http://web.archive.org/web/20071115020146/http://www.tkb.org/Group.jsp?groupID=258 Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA)], [[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]</ref>
|motives = "To compel the Turkish Government to acknowledge publicly its responsibility for the [[Armenian Genocide|deaths of 1.5 million Armenians]] in 1915, pay reparations, and cede territory for an Armenian homeland."<ref name=hunsicker/>
|area = [[Turkey]], [[United States]], [[Lebanon]], [[Western Europe]], [[Armenia]], and [[Middle East]].
|ideology = [[Marxism-Leninism]], [[Greater Armenia (political concept)|Greater Armenia]]
|crimes = Assassination of a number of Turkish diplomats and their relatives. Bombing of Turkish, French and Swiss targets for varying motives. Several minor bombing attacks against US airline offices in Western Europe. 
|attacks = Armed attack and bombing of the [[Esenboğa International Airport]], [[Ankara]].<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20070930041244/http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=3316 Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA) attacked Airports & Airlines target (Aug. 7, 1982, Turkey)], [[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]</ref> [[Orly airport attack|Bombing of Turkish airline counter]] at [[Orly Airport (Paris)]].<ref name=hunsicker/>
|allies =
|enemies = [[Turkish government]] and [[Turkish diplomats|its representatives]].<ref name=countrystudy>"[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/85.htm Political Interest Groups]," ''[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/ Turkey: A Country Study]'' ed. Helen Chapin Metz. Washington D.C.: The Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, 283, 354-355 {{oclc|17841957}}</ref>
|status = Dissolved
}}

The '''Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia''' ('''ASALA''') was a [[militant]]<ref>[http://www.bartleby.com/67/2679.html 1982. 2001. The Encyclopedia of World History]</ref> [[Marxism-Leninism|Marxist-Leninist]] organization, that operated from 1975 to 1986<ref name=roy170>Roy, Olivier. ''Turkey Today: A European Nation?'' p. 170. Roy suggests that the Orly incident led to "dissension end[ing] in the settling of scores in which ASALA militants killed each other in their camp at Bekaa (Al-Biqa, Lebanon)... (It) practically disappeared. It resurfaced once again, however, to assassinate important members of the Lebanese section of the Dashnak Party (March 1985 - May 1986)."</ref> and was responsible for the assassination of many Turkish diplomats and their families. The group also operated under other names such as '''The Orly Group''' and the '''3 October Organization'''.<ref name=countrystudy>"[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/85.htm Political Interest Groups]," ''[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/ Turkey: A Country Study]'' ed. Helen Chapin Metz. Washington D.C.: The Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, 283, 354-355 {{oclc|17841957}}</ref> The intention of ASALA was purportedly "to compel the Turkish Government to acknowledge publicly its alleged responsibility for the [[Armenian Genocide|deaths of 1.5 million Armenians]] in 1915, pay reparations, and cede territory for an Armenian homeland".<ref name=hunsicker>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=K4XefrTlSygC&pg=PA431&lpg=PA431&dq=%22to+compel+the+Turkish+Government+to+acknowledge+publicly+its+alleged+responsibility+for+the+deaths+of+1.5+million+Armenians+in+1915,+pay+reparations,+and+cede+territory+for+an+Armenian+homeland%22&source=web&ots=pXUcCHSQ_K&sig=g_wv7KBmKIdDoKiZ2P5nF2r952M&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=2&ct=result|title=Understanding International Counter Terrorism|publisher=Universal-Publishers|last=Hunsicker|isbn=158112905X|pages=431|year=2006}}</ref> ASALA was listed as a [[terrorism|terrorist]] organization by the United States in 1980s.<ref name=pgt>{{citation
|chapterurl=http://www.nps.edu/Library/Research/SubjectGuides/SpecialTopics/TerroristProfile/Prior/ASALA.html
|url=http://www.mipt.org/pdf/1997pogt.pdf
|accessdate=2008-09-02
|title=Patterns of Global Terrorism
|chapter=Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA)
|year=1997
|publisher=[[U.S. Department of State]]
}}</ref>

==Background==
ASALA was founded in 1975 in [[Beirut]], [[Lebanon]] during the [[Lebanese Civil War]] by [[Hagop Hagopian]] (Harutiun Tagushian) and [[Kevork Ajemian]],<ref>"[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-22427363.html Kevork Ajemian, Prominent Contemporary Writer and Surviving Member of Triumvirate Which Founded ASALA, Dies in Beirut, Lebanon]," ''Armenian Reporter'', [[1999-02-01]]</ref> a prominent contemporary writer, with the help of sympathetic [[Palestinians]].<ref name="countrystudy" /> Consisting primarily of Lebanese-born Armenians of the Diaspora (whose parents and/or grandparents were survivors of the [[Armenian Genocide]]), the organization followed a theoretical model based on [[leftism|leftist ideology]].<ref>Roy, Olivier. ''Turkey Today: A European Nation?'' p. 169.</ref>
The group's activities were primarily assassinations of Turkish diplomats and politicians in [[Western Europe]], in the [[United States]] and the [[Middle East]].<ref name="countrystudy" /> Their first acknowledged killing was the assassination of the Turkish diplomat, [[Daniş Tunalıgil]], in [[Vienna]] on [[October 22]], [[1975]]. A failed attack in [[Geneva]] on [[October 3]], [[1980]], in which two Armenian militants were injured resulted in a new nickname for the group, the 3 October Organization. The ASALA's eight point manifesto was published in 1981.

ASALA, trained in the Beirut camps of [[Palestine Liberation Organization]], is the best known of the guerilla groups responsible for assassinations of at least 36 Turkish diplomats.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,955176,00.html
|accessdate=2008-09-02
|title=Long Memories
|work=TIME
|date=1983-08-08
|author=Iyer, Pico
|volume=32}}</ref>

== Attacks ==
{{See also|List of attacks by the Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia}}

According to [[National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism|MIPT]] website, there had been 84 incidents involving ASALA leaving 46 people dead, and 299 people injured including the following:<ref name="MIPT"/>
* [[February 16]], [[1976]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Beirut]], Oktar Cirit was killed.
* [[October 12]], [[1979]] in Turkish Embassy in the [[Hague]], Ahmet Benler, the son of the Ambassador Özdemir Benler, was killed (This attack was one of the attacks co-claimed by JCAG.
* [[July 31]], [[1980]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Athens]], Galip Özmen and his 14 year old daughter Neslihan were killed in the Turkish consulate. Galip Özmen's wife Sevil Özmen and their son Kaan survived the attack with injuries.
* [[December 29]], [[1980]] in [[Madrid]], a [[Spain|Spanish]] journalist, assistant director of the "Pueblo" newspaper, [[José Antonio Gurriarán]] was accidentally injured during an October 3 group attack. Then Gurriarán was interested what the group's purposes were; he found and interviewed ASALA members. In 1982 his "La Bomba" book was published, dedicated to the Armenian cause and Armenian militant's struggle.<ref>[http://www.elpais.com/articulo/ultima/GURRIARaN/_JOSe_ANTONIO_/PERIODISTA/Jose/Antonio/Gurriaran/elpepiult/19820404elpepiult_2/Tes/ GENTE José Antonio Gurriarán], ''[[El Pais]]'', [[April 4]], [[1982]]. "Subdirector del diario Pueblo, relatará en su libro La bomba, que será publicado en el próximo mes de abril, el atentado de que fue víctima en la Gran Vía de Madrid el 29 de diciembre de 1980, hecho del que luego se responsabilizaría el grupo armenio Octubre 3. El autor entrevista en el libro a los miembros del comando que activaron las dos cargas de Goma 2."</ref>
* [[March 4th]], 1981 in the Turkish Embassy in [[Paris]], Reşat Moralı was killed and Tecelli Arı was injured.
* [[June 9th]], 1981 in the Turkish Consulate in [[Geneva]], Mehmet Savaş Yergüz was killed.
* [[September 24]], [[1981]] in Turkish Consulate in Paris, 56 Turks were held hostage in the embassy by ASALA militants (none of the hostages were harmed), Turkish guard Cemal Özen was killed. ASALA members demanded the Turkish government free Armenian political prisoners within 12 hours and fly them to Paris. After 15 hours they surrendered peacefully requesting political asylum from the French government.<ref name=hungary/>
* [[April 28]], [[1984]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Tehran|Tehran, Iran]], Işık Yönder was killed.

The ASALA's most criticized attack was on [[August 7]], [[1982]] in [[Ankara]] at the [[Esenboğa International Airport]], when its members targeted both diplomats and non-diplomat civilians for the first time. Two militants opened fire in a crowded passenger waiting room. One of the shooters took more than 20 hostages while the second was apprehended by police. Altogether, nine people died and 82 were injured. The arrested 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'') led by Hagopian and the 'Popular Movement' (''ASALA-Mouvement Révolutionnaire'') led by [[Monte Melkonian]]. While Melkonian's faction insisted on attacks strictly against Turkish officials and the Turkish government, Hagopian's group disregarded the losses of unintended victims and regularly executed dissenting members.
On [[August 10]], [[1982]], [[Artin Penik]] a Turk of Armenian descent, set himself on fire in protest of this attack.<ref name="oran"> {{cite news|
| last = Oran
| first = Baskın
| title = The Reconstruction of Armenian Identity in Turkey and the Weekly Agos (Interview with Hrant Dink)
| work = Nouvelles d'Armenie
| date = 2006-12-17
| url = http://www.armenews.com/article.php3?id_article=27696
| accessdate = 2008-09-02 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=Armenian Issue: Chronology | publisher=[[Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism]] | url=http://www.kultur.gov.tr/EN/BelgeGoster.aspx?17A16AE30572D313A781CAA92714FCE0A3216081A23BEF0D | accessdate=2007-02-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=He was an Armenian: Artin Penik|work=Turkish Journal|url=http://www.turkishjournal.com/i.php?newsid=361|accessdate=2007-02-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title = Armenian Dies from Self-Inflicted Burns | work=[[Associated Press]]| date = 1982-08-15 }}</ref>

Prominent Armenian poet [[Silva Kaputikyan]] in [[1983]] wrote "Its raining my sonny" poem dedicated to the memory of ASALA member Ekmekjian.<ref>[[Spurk Journal]], #1-12, 2005, [[Beirut]], p. 35.</ref>

On [[July 15]], [[1983]], the ASALA carried out another attack at the [[Orly Airport]] near [[Paris]], in which 8 people were killed. The attack resulted in a split in ASALA, between those individuals who carried it out, called the "Orly Group," and those who believed the attack to be counter productive.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hetq.am/eng/society/7332/
|accessdate=2008-09-02
|title=He Was a Man Deeply Connected to the Natural World
|work=Hetq Online
|date=2007-11-26
|first=Edik
|last=Baghdasaryan
}}</ref> Afterwards, French forces promptly arrested those involved.<ref>"[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9804E0DF143BF93AA35753C1A965948260 French Hold Armenians In Orly Airport Bombing]," ''[[Associated Press]]'', [[New York Times]], [[October 9]], [[1983]].</ref> Moreover, this attack eliminated the suspected secret agreement that the French socialist government made with ASALA, in which the government would allow ASALA to use France as a base of operations in exchange for refraining from launching attacks on French soil. Belief in this suspected agreement was further bolstered after "Interior Minister [[Gaston Defferre]] called [ASALA's] cause "just," and four Armenians arrested for taking hostages at the Turkish Embassy in September 1981 were given light sentences."<ref>Echikson, William. "[http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/csmonitor_historic/access/260828642.html?dids=260828642:260828642&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Jul+19%2C+1983&author=By+William+Echikson+Special+to+The+Christian+Science+Monitor&pub=Christian+Science+Monitor&desc=Armenian+bombing+at+Orly+ends+pact+between+Socialists+and+terrorists&pqatl=google Armenian bombing at Orly ends pact between Socialists and terrorists]," ''[[Christian Science Monitor]]'', [[July 19]], [[1983]].</ref>

== Dissolution==
With the [[1982 Lebanon War|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 last attack committed by the ASALA was the attack on the bullet-proof limousine carrying the Turkish Ambassador to [[Budapest]] ([[December 19]], [[1991]]). The ambassador was not injured in the attack, which was claimed by ASALA in [[Paris]].<ref name=hungary>{{cite web |url=http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=6723 |title=ASALA attacked Diplomatic target|date=1981-12-19|location=Hungary|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070827173744/http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=6723|archivedate=2007-08-27|work=[[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]}}</ref>

ASALA's founder Hagop Hagopian was assassinated on a sidewalk in an affluent neighborhood in [[Athens]], [[Greece]] on [[April 28]], [[1988]]. His assailants, Hovsep A., Vartan G., Garabed K., and Albert "Sultan-Minas", were all former ASALA members and lieutenants of Hagopian. His body was riddled with several bullets while he was walking with two women at 4:30 in the morning.<ref>Melkonian, Markar. ''My Brother's Road: An American's Fateful Journey to Armenia''. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005 pg. 187.</ref> Tarakchian died of [[cancer]] in [[1980]]. Assassinations of former members continued in [[Armenia]] into the late 1990s.<ref>Melkonian, Markar. ''My Brother's Road: An American's Fateful Journey to Armenia''. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005, pp. 277-278.</ref>

== Reactions ==
Continuous attacks prompted Turkey to accuse [[Cyprus]], [[Greece]], [[Syria]], [[Lebanon]], and the [[Soviet Union]] of provoking or possibly funding the ASALA.<ref name="countrystudy" /> Although they publicly distanced themselves from the ASALA,<ref name="countrystudy" /> Turkey's Armenian community came under attack by Turkish nationalists in reaction to the group's actions. This became apparent after the assassination of [[Ahmet Benler]] on [[October 12]], [[1979]] by Armenian militants in [[the Hague]]. The reaction to the attack led to the bombing of the church of the Armenian Apostolic Patriarchate in [[Istanbul]] on [[October 19]] in retaliation.<ref name=azadhye>[[Tessa Hofmann|Tessa, Hofmann]]. [http://www.armenian.ch/asa/Docs/faae02.pdf Armenians in Turkey today]</ref>

According to [[Tessa Hofmann]], Turkish officials frequently used the accusation of collaboration with the ASALA and foreign Armenian circles to incriminate extreme left-wing Turkish opposition groups.<ref name=azadhye/>

=== Counteroffensive ===

After the ASALA terrorist attack against the [[Esenboğa International Airport]] in August 1982 the then President of Turkey [[Kenan Evren]] issued a decree for the elimination of ASALA. The task was given to the [[National Intelligence Organization]]'s ({{lang-tr|Millî İstihbarat Teşkilâtı}}, MİT) Foreign Operations Department. Evren's own daughter, a member of the MİT, ran the operation.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.aksiyon.com.tr/detay.php?id=15119
|accessdate=2008-12-13
|title=Asala operasyonlarını Kenan Evren'in kızı yönetti
|date=2004-09-06
|first=Faruk
|last=Mercan
|publisher=Feza Gazetecilik A.Ş.
|journal=Aksiyon
|language=Turkish
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sabah.com.tr/2004/09/08/siy112.html
|accessdate=2008-12-13
|title=Evren: Kızım MİT'te çalışıyordu
|date=2004-09-08
|language=Turkish
}}</ref>

After being captured, Levon Ekmekjian revealed how the ASALA worked to the MİT. In the early Spring of 1983 two teams of Turkish intelligence operatives and members of the “[[Counter-Guerrilla|Special Warfare Department]]” were sent to France and Lebanon.<ref>Kilic, Ecevit. ''Özel Harp Dairesi'', 2007, pp.301-305.</ref>

==References==

{{Reflist|2}}

{{Defunct Armed Armenian Organizations}}

[[Category:1975 establishments]]
[[Category:Defunct Armenian paramilitary organizations]]
[[Category:Armenian Genocide]]
[[Category:Guerrilla organizations]]

[[az:ASALA]]
[[bg:АСАЛА]]
[[ca:ASALA]]
[[de:Asala]]
[[es:Ejército Secreto Armenio para la Liberación de Armenia]]
[[fr:Armée secrète arménienne de libération de l'Arménie]]
[[hy:Հայաստանի ազատագրության հայ գաղտնի բանակ]]
[[it:Esercito Segreto armeno per la Liberazione dell'Armenia]]
[[nl:Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia]]
[[ja:アルメニア解放秘密軍]]
[[pl:ASALA]]
[[ru:Армянская секретная армия освобождения Армении]]
[[simple:Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia]]
[[sl:Armenska tajna armada za osvoboditev Armenije]]
[[sv:ASALA]]
[[tr:ASALA]]

Halil Berktay

2008-12-06T02:28:05Z

Adoniscik: Removed category "Turkish people" (using HotCat)

{{Infobox academic
|name = Halil Berktay
|box_width =
|image =
|image_width = 131
|caption = Prof. Halil Berktay
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1947|08|27}}
|birth_place =
|death_date =
|death_place =
|residence =
|citizenship =
|nationality = Turkish
|ethnicity =
|field = Turkish history
|work_institutions = [[Sabanci University]], [[Ankara University]], [[Middle East Technical University]], [[Harvard University]]
|alma_mater = [[Yale University]], [[Birmingham University]]
|doctoral_advisor =
|doctoral_students =
|known_for =
|influences =
|influenced =
|prizes =
|religion =
|footnotes =
}}

'''Halil Berktay''' is a [[Turkish people|Turkish]] historian at [[Sabancı University]]<ref name=home>[http://people.sabanciuniv.edu/hberktay/eng/?home/index.html Home], personal Web site, Sabanci University.</ref> and columnist for the daily ''[[Taraf]]''.<ref>[http://taraf.com.tr/yazar.asp?id=21 Okuma Notlari], ''[[Taraf]]''.</ref>

==Biography==

Berktay describes himself as having been born into an intellectual Turkish Communist family. His father, Erdogan Berktay, was a member of the old clandestine [[Communist Party of Turkey (historical)|Communist Party of Turkey]]. As a result of this influence, Halil Berktay remained a Maoist for two decades, before becoming "an independent Left-intellectual".<ref name=hairenik>{{cite news|url=http://www.hairenik.com/armenianweekly/ArmenianWeeklyGenocideInsert2007.pdf |date=2007-04-24|accessdate=2008-09-04|work=Armenian Weekly|first=Halil|last=Berktay|page=4|title=A Genocide, Three Constituencies, Thoughts for the Future (Part I)}} (Talk given at the "Armenians and the Left" symposium on [[March 31]], [[2007]].)</ref>

After graduating from [[Robert College]] in 1964, Berktay studied economics at [[Yale University]] receiving his [[Bachelor of Arts]] in 1968 and [[Master of Arts (postgraduate)|Master of Arts]] in 1969.<ref name=bio/> He went on to earn a PhD from [[Birmingham University]] in 1990.<ref name=bio/> He worked as lecturer at [[Ankara University]] between 1969–1971 and 1978–1983.<ref name=bio>[http://people.sabanciuniv.edu/hberktay/eng/?background/index.html Background], personal Web site, Sabanci University.</ref> He took part in the founding of the Yale chapter of the [[Students for a Democratic Society]].<ref name=hairenik/>

Between 1992–1997, he taught at both the [[Middle East Technical University]] and [[Boğaziçi University]]. He was a visiting scholar at [[Harvard University]] in 1997, and taught at [[Sabancı University]] before returning to Harvard in 2006.

Berktay's research areas are the history and [[historiography]] of [[Turkish nationalism]] in the 20th century.<ref name=resint/> He studies social and economic history (including that of [[Europe]], and especially [[medieval history]]) from a [[Comparative history|comparative perspective]].<ref name=resint/> He has also written on the construction of Turkish national memory.<ref name=resint>[http://people.sabanciuniv.edu/hberktay/eng/?researchinterests/index.html Research Interests], personal Web site, Sabanci University.</ref>

In September 2005, Berktay and fellow historians, including [[Murat Belge]], [[Edhem Eldem]], [[Selim Deringil]], convened at a controversial conference to discuss the [[fall of the Ottoman Empire]].<ref name=conf>[http://people.sabanciuniv.edu/hberktay/eng/?conferences/index.html Conferences], personal Web site, Sabanci University.</ref>

==Excerpt from a newspaper interview==

{{quote|Preceding the Armenian events is the whole background of the 19th century. (...) With the Allies forcing the [[Dardanelles]] [in 1915], the [[Ottoman Empire]], that had suffered one defeat after the other in the [[Balkans]] and that had nothing left but the lands of [[Anatolia]], entered into a psychosis of (...) being cornered and squeezed, of helplessness. [At the same time], Armenian bands massacred large numbers of [[Muslims]]. During such a process, it is impossible to identify anyone as having thrown the first stone, deciding who committed the first crime. Everybody has a story. [[Turkish people|Turks]], [[Bulgarians]], [[Greeks]], [[Armenians]], everybody. In each of these stories, those who tell them are always in the role of victims. They themselves have never committed injustices against others, and they were the only ones who have suffered. One can remark that the 1915 killings of Armenians are remembered and the [[Crete|Cretan]] massacres committed against the [[Turkish people|Turkish]] Muslim population of the island between 1896-1900 are not remembered. I come from a family of [[Cretan Turks|Cretan immigrants]] myself. I know that two of my great uncles were hanged from the tree in our garden by a band of Greeks.|Halil Berktay|[[Radikal gazetesi|Radikal]].<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.radikal.com.tr/2000/10/09/insan/erm.shtml
|title=Ermenileri özel örgüt öldürdü
|work=[[Radikal gazetesi|Radikal]]
|accessdate=2008-09-03
|date=2000-10-09
|language=Turkish
|first=Neşe
|last=Düzel
}} Follow-up interview: {{cite news|url=http://www.milliyet.com.tr/2000/10/20/entel/ent.html
|accessdate=2008-09-03
|language=Turkish
|title=Serinkanlı olalım
|work=[[Milliyet]]
|section=ENTELLEKTÜEL BAKIŞ
|date=2000-11-30
|first=Şahin
|last=Alpay
}}</ref>}}

== Partial bibliography ==

* Kabileden Feodalizme, Kaynak Yayınları, 1983
* Cumhuriyet İdeolojisi ve Fuad Köprülü, Kaynak Yayınları, 1983
* Bir Dönem Kapanırken, Pencere Yayınları, 1991
* New Approaches to State and Peasant in Ottoman History / edited by Halil Berktay and Suraiya Faroqhi, ISBN 0714634689

==References==

<references />

==External links==

* [http://people.sabanciuniv.edu/hberktay/eng/?home/index.html Personal Web site], Sabanci University {{en}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Berktay, Halil}}

[[Category:Turkish non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:Turkish historians]]

[[Category:Turkish academics]]

[[Category:1947 births]]
[[Category:Robert College alumni]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Yale University alumni]]

[[he:חליל ברקטאי]]
[[tr:Halil Berktay]]

Halil Berktay

2008-12-06T02:27:50Z

Adoniscik: Removed category "Turkish scientists" (using HotCat)

{{Infobox academic
|name = Halil Berktay
|box_width =
|image =
|image_width = 131
|caption = Prof. Halil Berktay
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1947|08|27}}
|birth_place =
|death_date =
|death_place =
|residence =
|citizenship =
|nationality = Turkish
|ethnicity =
|field = Turkish history
|work_institutions = [[Sabanci University]], [[Ankara University]], [[Middle East Technical University]], [[Harvard University]]
|alma_mater = [[Yale University]], [[Birmingham University]]
|doctoral_advisor =
|doctoral_students =
|known_for =
|influences =
|influenced =
|prizes =
|religion =
|footnotes =
}}

'''Halil Berktay''' is a [[Turkish people|Turkish]] historian at [[Sabancı University]]<ref name=home>[http://people.sabanciuniv.edu/hberktay/eng/?home/index.html Home], personal Web site, Sabanci University.</ref> and columnist for the daily ''[[Taraf]]''.<ref>[http://taraf.com.tr/yazar.asp?id=21 Okuma Notlari], ''[[Taraf]]''.</ref>

==Biography==

Berktay describes himself as having been born into an intellectual Turkish Communist family. His father, Erdogan Berktay, was a member of the old clandestine [[Communist Party of Turkey (historical)|Communist Party of Turkey]]. As a result of this influence, Halil Berktay remained a Maoist for two decades, before becoming "an independent Left-intellectual".<ref name=hairenik>{{cite news|url=http://www.hairenik.com/armenianweekly/ArmenianWeeklyGenocideInsert2007.pdf |date=2007-04-24|accessdate=2008-09-04|work=Armenian Weekly|first=Halil|last=Berktay|page=4|title=A Genocide, Three Constituencies, Thoughts for the Future (Part I)}} (Talk given at the "Armenians and the Left" symposium on [[March 31]], [[2007]].)</ref>

After graduating from [[Robert College]] in 1964, Berktay studied economics at [[Yale University]] receiving his [[Bachelor of Arts]] in 1968 and [[Master of Arts (postgraduate)|Master of Arts]] in 1969.<ref name=bio/> He went on to earn a PhD from [[Birmingham University]] in 1990.<ref name=bio/> He worked as lecturer at [[Ankara University]] between 1969–1971 and 1978–1983.<ref name=bio>[http://people.sabanciuniv.edu/hberktay/eng/?background/index.html Background], personal Web site, Sabanci University.</ref> He took part in the founding of the Yale chapter of the [[Students for a Democratic Society]].<ref name=hairenik/>

Between 1992–1997, he taught at both the [[Middle East Technical University]] and [[Boğaziçi University]]. He was a visiting scholar at [[Harvard University]] in 1997, and taught at [[Sabancı University]] before returning to Harvard in 2006.

Berktay's research areas are the history and [[historiography]] of [[Turkish nationalism]] in the 20th century.<ref name=resint/> He studies social and economic history (including that of [[Europe]], and especially [[medieval history]]) from a [[Comparative history|comparative perspective]].<ref name=resint/> He has also written on the construction of Turkish national memory.<ref name=resint>[http://people.sabanciuniv.edu/hberktay/eng/?researchinterests/index.html Research Interests], personal Web site, Sabanci University.</ref>

In September 2005, Berktay and fellow historians, including [[Murat Belge]], [[Edhem Eldem]], [[Selim Deringil]], convened at a controversial conference to discuss the [[fall of the Ottoman Empire]].<ref name=conf>[http://people.sabanciuniv.edu/hberktay/eng/?conferences/index.html Conferences], personal Web site, Sabanci University.</ref>

==Excerpt from a newspaper interview==

{{quote|Preceding the Armenian events is the whole background of the 19th century. (...) With the Allies forcing the [[Dardanelles]] [in 1915], the [[Ottoman Empire]], that had suffered one defeat after the other in the [[Balkans]] and that had nothing left but the lands of [[Anatolia]], entered into a psychosis of (...) being cornered and squeezed, of helplessness. [At the same time], Armenian bands massacred large numbers of [[Muslims]]. During such a process, it is impossible to identify anyone as having thrown the first stone, deciding who committed the first crime. Everybody has a story. [[Turkish people|Turks]], [[Bulgarians]], [[Greeks]], [[Armenians]], everybody. In each of these stories, those who tell them are always in the role of victims. They themselves have never committed injustices against others, and they were the only ones who have suffered. One can remark that the 1915 killings of Armenians are remembered and the [[Crete|Cretan]] massacres committed against the [[Turkish people|Turkish]] Muslim population of the island between 1896-1900 are not remembered. I come from a family of [[Cretan Turks|Cretan immigrants]] myself. I know that two of my great uncles were hanged from the tree in our garden by a band of Greeks.|Halil Berktay|[[Radikal gazetesi|Radikal]].<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.radikal.com.tr/2000/10/09/insan/erm.shtml
|title=Ermenileri özel örgüt öldürdü
|work=[[Radikal gazetesi|Radikal]]
|accessdate=2008-09-03
|date=2000-10-09
|language=Turkish
|first=Neşe
|last=Düzel
}} Follow-up interview: {{cite news|url=http://www.milliyet.com.tr/2000/10/20/entel/ent.html
|accessdate=2008-09-03
|language=Turkish
|title=Serinkanlı olalım
|work=[[Milliyet]]
|section=ENTELLEKTÜEL BAKIŞ
|date=2000-11-30
|first=Şahin
|last=Alpay
}}</ref>}}

== Partial bibliography ==

* Kabileden Feodalizme, Kaynak Yayınları, 1983
* Cumhuriyet İdeolojisi ve Fuad Köprülü, Kaynak Yayınları, 1983
* Bir Dönem Kapanırken, Pencere Yayınları, 1991
* New Approaches to State and Peasant in Ottoman History / edited by Halil Berktay and Suraiya Faroqhi, ISBN 0714634689

==References==

<references />

==External links==

* [http://people.sabanciuniv.edu/hberktay/eng/?home/index.html Personal Web site], Sabanci University {{en}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Berktay, Halil}}

[[Category:Turkish non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:Turkish historians]]

[[Category:Turkish academics]]

[[Category:1947 births]]
[[Category:Robert College alumni]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Yale University alumni]]

[[Category:Turkish people]]

[[he:חליל ברקטאי]]
[[tr:Halil Berktay]]

Morde im Zirve-Verlag

2008-11-30T05:40:14Z

Adoniscik: Court links Ergenekon to Malatya murder case

The '''Bible publishing firm murders in Malatya''' took place on [[April 18]], [[2007]] in Zirve Publishing House, [[Malatya]], [[Turkey]].<ref>[http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,478074,00.html Attack on Christians in Turkey - Three Killed at Bible Publishing Firm], [[Der Spiegel]], [[April 18]] [[2007]]</ref><ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/programmes/newshour/news/story/2007/04/070419_turkey_slayings.shtml Christians Killed in Turkey], [[BBC]] World Service, [[April 19]] [[2007]]</ref> Three employees of the [[Bible]] publishing house were attacked, tortured and murdered by five [[Muslim]] assailants.

== The attack ==
According to the human rights group ''International Christian Concern'' (ICC), the troubles began on Easter Sunday when the alleged killers, one of whom is the son of a mayor, attended a service led by Pastor Aydın. "After [Aydın] read a chapter from the Bible, the young men tied [Yüksel, Aydın, and Geske’s] hands and feet to chairs as they videoed their work on their [[camera phone|cell phones]]." Afterwards they were heavily tortured.<ref name=bosnews>[http://www.bosnewslife.com/europe/turkey/2903-turkish-believers-satanically-tortured-before Turkish Believers "Satanically Tortured" Before Being Killed], April 26, 2007.</ref> Gökhan Talas, the chief witness and a Protestant, came with his wife to the office.<ref name=haberturk>Habertürk: [http://www.haberturk.com/haber.asp?id=20684&cat=110&dt=2007/04/20 Jöleli Emre Nasil Cellat Oldu], April 20, 2007 {{tr icon}}</ref> The door was locked from inside which was quite unusual. Suspecting that something had happened, he called Uğur Yüksel not knowing that he was inside tied to a chair.<ref name=haberturk /> Yüksel replied and said that they were in a hotel for a meeting. Talas heard someone crying in the background during his talk with Yüksel, and decided to call the police, who arrived soon thereafter. According to Talas, the attackers killed Yüksel and Aydın after the police arrived.<ref name=haberturk />

== The victims ==

Two of the victims, Necati Aydın, 36, and Uğur Yüksel, 32, were [[Turkish people|Turkish]] [[apostasy in Islam|converts from Islam]]. The third man, Tilmann Geske, 45, was a [[German people|German]] citizen. Necati Aydın was an actor who played the role of [[Jesus|Jesus Christ]] in a theater production that the TURK-7 network aired over the [[Easter]] holidays.<ref name=floridabaptist>[http://www.floridabaptistwitness.com/7257.article Group of young Muslims murders 3 Christians in Turkey]</ref><ref>[http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-fg-christians19apr19,1,2798904.story?coll=la-news-a_section 3 killed in attack on Bible publisher in Turkey], [[Los Angeles Times]], April 19, 2007.</ref>

Aydın is survived by his wife, Şemse, and a son and daughter, both preschool age. Tilmann is survived by his wife Susanne and three children aged 8 to 13. Yüksel was engaged to be married within a few months.<ref name=floridabaptist /><ref name=haberturk />

== Responses ==
* "[I condemn the attacks] in the strongest terms. [We will] do everything to clear up this crime completely and bring those responsible to justice," said [[Frank-Walter Steinmeier]], the [[List of German foreign ministers|German Foreign Minister]].
* "This is savagery," said [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]], the Turkish Prime Minister.
* "Missionary work is even more dangerous than terrorism and unfortunately is not considered a crime in Turkey," said Niyazi Güney, Justice Ministry Statutes Directorate General Manager.<ref>Mehmet Ali Birand, [http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=71260 If the statutes chairman thinks like this...], ''[[Turkish Daily News]]'', [[April 21]] [[2007]]</ref>
*The massacre was protested by [[Malatyaspor]] supporters in a soccer competition between Malatyaspor and [[Gençlerbirliği]].<ref name=cnnturk />

== Court hearings ==

Eleven suspects were apprehended after the attack.<ref name=radikal>Soner Arikanoğlu, [http://www.radikal.com.tr/haber.php?haberno=219319 'Bütün suç Emre'nin'], ''[[Radikal]]'', April 24 2007 {{tr icon}}</ref> The chief suspect, Yunus Emre Günaydın, was treated for serious wounds after he attempted to jump out of a window to escape police.<ref name=radikal /> All of the alleged killers are between 19 and 20 years old.<ref>Nick Birch, [http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,2060396,00.html Three murdered at Turkish bible publishing house], ''[[The Guardian]]'', April 19 2007</ref>
Günaydın was born in 1988 in Malatya and had no previous convictions.<ref name=haberturk /> One suspect confessed that "The leader of the group was Emre. It was he who devised the plan to kill them. We went to the publishing house together. When we entered the place, we tied them to their chairs and Emre slit their throats".<ref name=zaman>Sedat Güneç, [http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=108952 Mastermind and executor of murders is Emre Günaydın], ''[[Today's Zaman (newspaper)|Today's Zaman]]'', April 20, 2007.</ref> According to another suspect, the victims knew Günaydın, as he regularly visited the publishing house.<ref name=zaman /> Another suspect added that they all knew each other.<ref name=zaman />

The verdict of the "Nöbetçi Sulh Ceza Mahkemesi" court was to jail Hamit Çeker, Salih Güler, Abuzer Yıldırım, and Cuma Özdemir for the crimes of establishing a terrorist organization, being a member of a terrorist organization, homicide, and depriving of one's liberties.<ref name=cnnturk>[http://www.cnnturk.com/TURKIYE/haber_detay.asp?PID=318&haberID=336890 "Emre Günaydın azmettirici" iddiası], 23 April, 2007 {{tr icon}}</ref> Turna Işıklı, Emre Günaydın's girlfriend, was also arrested for aiding a terrorist organization.<ref name=cnnturk /> The car that the attackers were planning to use during their escape was rented by Salih Güler.<ref name=haberturk /> According to eyewitnesses, Günaydın and his four accomplices practiced shooting two days before the event.<ref name=haberturk />

After being released from hospital in May 2007, Günaydın admitted to his guilt in his first interrogation.<ref>[http://www.ntvmsnbc.com/news/408245.asp Emre Günaydın cinayeti itiraf etti], ''[[NTV-MSNBC]]'', May 18, 2007 {{tr icon}}</ref>

The High Criminal Court heard the case in 2008. On the tenth day of the hearing, Günaydın said that a journalist, Varol Bülent Aral, had told him that the missionary work was connected to the [[Kurdistan Workers Party]] (PKK). Günaydın stated, "He told me that Christianity and the missionary work done in its name had the goal of destroying then the motherland. I asked him if someone should not stop this? He told me to then get up and stop this. I asked him how it could be done. He said they would provide us with the state support." The prosecutors then demanded a copy of the [[Ergenekon (organization)|Ergenekon]] indictment concerning an alleged high-level cabal, and the judge agreed to request this from the High Criminal Court in [[Istanbul]].<ref name=bia210808>Erol Önderoğlu, [http://www.bianet.org/english/kategori/english/109187/accused-deny-charges-in-malatya-case-court-asks-for-the-ergenekon-indictment Court Asks For The Ergenekon Indictment], ''Bianet'', 21 August 2008.</ref> Asked about a document that he was alleged to have written, Günaydın denied any connection with retired Major General Levent Ersöz, who was arrested with reference to the Ergenekon case, or the Istanbul president of an ultra-nationalist association, Levent Temiz.<ref>Anatolia News Agency, [http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=113363 Ergenekon questions in Malatya massacre case], ''[[Turkish Daily News]]'', August 23, 2008.</ref>

At the 11th hearing, on 12 September 2008, the chief suspect's girlfriend, Turna Işıklı, said that she already knew before the murders that he was going to be under interrogation on the day after they were committed.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bianet.org/english/kategori/english/109700/malatya-massacre-suspect-knew-his-interrogation-day-before-the-murders
|accessdate=2008-09-15
|title=Malatya Massacre Suspect Knew His Interrogation Day Before The Murders
|date=2008-09-12
|work=Bianet
}}</ref>

The trial will continue on 16 January 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bianet.org/english/kategori/english/111012/malatya-massacre-trial-questions-the-ergenekon-connection
|accessdate=2008-11-24
|title=Malatya Massacre Trial Questions The Ergenekon Connection
|date=2008-11-21
|work=Bianet
|first=Erol
|last=Onderoglu
}}</ref>

In November 2008 the judge presiding over the Malatya murder case, Eray Gürtekin, announced that the Malatya and Ergenekon indictments were to be merged.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=159476
|accessdate=2008-11-30
|title=Court links Ergenekon to Malatya murder case
|date=2008-11-22
|work=[[Today's Zaman]]
}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Hrant Dink]]
* [[Andrea Santoro]]

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

== Further reading ==
* Carswell, Jonathan; Wright, Joanna; Baum, Markus: ''Susanne Geske: "Ich will keine Rache" - Das Drama von Malatya''. Brunnen-Verlag, [[Gießen]] 2008, ISBN 978-3765519857

== External links ==
{{wikinews|Bible publishing firm in Turkey attacked; 3 killed}}

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqtWjI_WavQ Video of Necati's son at his father's memorial service] {{tr icon}}
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nz3J5_KkNPU Video of Tilmann's daughter at her father's memorial service] {{tr icon}}

[[Category:Anti-Christianity]]
[[Category:Religious persecution]]
[[Category:Protestant martyrs of Modern Times]]
[[Category:Islamic terrorism]]
[[Category:Terrorism in Turkey]]
[[Category:2007 in Turkey|Terrorism]]
[[Category:Human rights in Turkey]]

Karakol Cemiyeti

2008-11-26T23:49:39Z

Adoniscik:

'''Outpost Societies''' ({{lang-tr|Karakol Cemiyeti}}) were [[secret society|secret societal organizations]] outside of, yet within the [[Istanbul]] government, whose purpose was to assist the efforts of [[Mustafa Kemal Atatürk]] during the 1919-1923 [[Turkish_War_of_Independence#Precursors.2C_October_1918_.E2.80.93_May_1919|Turkish War of Independence]].<ref>{{cite book|title=History of the Ottoman Empire and Modern Turkey: Reform, Revolution, and Republic: The Rise of Modern Turkey 1808-1975|last=Shaw|first=Stanford J.|coauthors=Ezel Kural Shaw|year=1977|publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]]|isbn=0521291666|pages=340|quote= |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=M1DQooVS_oYC&pg=PA340&dq=%22Outpost+Society%22+Ottoman&sig=ACfU3U3Ja3lIZisVI60Vlx171DYNidohOA}}</ref>

After the [[Armistice of Mudros]] young and patriotic [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] officers founded secret organizations in [[Istanbul]].{{Fact|date=February 2007}} The aim of these organizations was to provide the revolution with loyal officers, weapons and armaments, most of which was stolen from [[Ottoman Army]] warehouses, which were under the control of Allied Forces during the [[Occupation of Istanbul]].

The activities of the intelligence unit came to an end when its members were arrested following the occupution of Istanbul on March 16, 1920.<ref>[http://www.mit.gov.tr/english/tarihce.html History of the MIT], [[National Intelligence Organization]]</ref>

== See also ==
* [[National Security Service (Turkey)]]

==References==
<references/>

{{Turkish War of Independence}}

[[Category:Turkish War of Independence]]
[[Category:1918 establishments]]
[[Category:Secret societies]]
[[Category:Turkish intelligence agencies]]
[[Category:Defunct intelligence agencies]]
[[tr:Karakol Cemiyeti]]

Morde im Zirve-Verlag

2008-11-25T02:18:31Z

Adoniscik: /* Court hearings */

The '''Bible publishing firm murders in Malatya''' took place on [[April 18]], [[2007]] in Zirve Publishing House, [[Malatya]], [[Turkey]].<ref>[http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,478074,00.html Attack on Christians in Turkey - Three Killed at Bible Publishing Firm], [[Der Spiegel]], [[April 18]] [[2007]]</ref><ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/programmes/newshour/news/story/2007/04/070419_turkey_slayings.shtml Christians Killed in Turkey], [[BBC]] World Service, [[April 19]] [[2007]]</ref> Three employees of the [[Bible]] publishing house were attacked, tortured and murdered by five [[Muslim]] assailants. Two of the victims, Necati Aydın, 36, and Uğur Yüksel, 32, were [[Turkish people|Turkish]] [[apostasy in Islam|converts from Islam]]. The third man, Tilmann Geske, 45, was a [[German people|German]] citizen. Necati Aydın was an actor who played the role of [[Jesus|Jesus Christ]] in a theater production that the TURK-7 network aired over the [[Easter]] holidays.<ref name=floridabaptist>[http://www.floridabaptistwitness.com/7257.article Group of young Muslims murders 3 Christians in Turkey]</ref><ref>[http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-fg-christians19apr19,1,2798904.story?coll=la-news-a_section 3 killed in attack on Bible publisher in Turkey], [[Los Angeles Times]], [[April 19]] [[2007]]</ref> The underground nationalist [[Ergenekon network]] has been suspected of involvement in this case.<ref name=Zaman_13>[http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=150071 Ergenekon indictment reopens gendarmerie major’s murder case], ''[[Today's Zaman]]'', [[13 August]] [[2008]]</ref>

Aydın is survived by his wife, Şemse, and a son and daughter, both preschool age. Tilmann is survived by his wife Susanne and three children aged 8 to 13. Yüksel was engaged to be married within a few months.<ref name=floridabaptist /><ref name=haberturk />

Protests had taken place at the firm after it was accused of "proselytizing" a Muslim nation, but it is not known if the murders are related to the protests.

== The attack ==
According to the human rights group ''International Christian Concern'' (ICC), the troubles began on Easter Sunday when the alleged killers, one of whom is the son of a mayor, attended a service led by Pastor Aydın. "After [Aydın] read a chapter from the Bible, the young men tied [Yüksel, Aydın, and Geske’s] hands and feet to chairs as they videoed their work on their [[camera phone|cell phones]]." Afterwards they were heavily tortured.<ref name=bosnews>[http://www.bosnewslife.com/europe/turkey/2903-turkish-believers-satanically-tortured-before Turkish Believers "Satanically Tortured" Before Being Killed], [[April 26]] [[2007]]</ref> Gökhan Talas, the chief witness and a Protestant, came with his wife to the office.<ref name=haberturk>Habertürk: [http://www.haberturk.com/haber.asp?id=20684&cat=110&dt=2007/04/20 Jöleli Emre Nasil Cellat Oldu], [[April 20]] [[2007]] {{tr icon}} </ref> The door was locked from inside which was quite unusual. Suspecting that something had happened, he called Uğur Yüksel not knowing that he was inside tied to a chair.<ref name=haberturk /> Yüksel replied and said that they were in a hotel for a meeting. Talas heard someone crying in the background during his talk with Yüksel, and decided to call the police, who arrived soon thereafter. According to Talas, the attackers killed Yüksel and Aydın after the police arrived.<ref name=haberturk />

== Responses ==
* "[I condemn the attacks] in the strongest terms. [We will] do everything to clear up this crime completely and bring those responsible to justice," said [[Frank-Walter Steinmeier]], the [[List of German foreign ministers|German Foreign Minister]].
* "This is savagery," said [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]], the Turkish Prime Minister.
* "Missionary work is even more dangerous than terrorism and unfortunately is not considered a crime in Turkey," said Niyazi Güney, Justice Ministry Statutes Directorate General Manager.<ref>Mehmet Ali Birand, [http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=71260 If the statutes chairman thinks like this...], ''[[Turkish Daily News]]'', [[April 21]] [[2007]]</ref>
*The massacre was protested by [[Malatyaspor]] supporters in a soccer competition between Malatyaspor and [[Gençlerbirliği]].<ref name=cnnturk />

== Court hearings ==

Eleven suspects were apprehended after the attack.<ref name=radikal>Soner Arikanoğlu, [http://www.radikal.com.tr/haber.php?haberno=219319 'Bütün suç Emre'nin'], ''[[Radikal]]'', April 24 2007 {{tr icon}}</ref> The chief suspect, Yunus Emre Günaydın, was treated for serious wounds after he attempted to jump out of a window to escape police.<ref name=radikal /> All of the alleged killers are between 19 and 20 years old.<ref>Nick Birch, [http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,2060396,00.html Three murdered at Turkish bible publishing house], ''[[The Guardian]]'', April 19 2007</ref>
Günaydın was born in 1988 in Malatya and had no previous convictions.<ref name=haberturk /> One suspect confessed that "The leader of the group was Emre. It was he who devised the plan to kill them. We went to the publishing house together. When we entered the place, we tied them to their chairs and Emre slit their throats".<ref name=zaman>Sedat Güneç, [http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=108952 Mastermind and executor of murders is Emre Günaydın], ''[[Today's Zaman (newspaper)|Today's Zaman]]'', April 20 2007</ref> According to another suspect, the victims knew Günaydın, as he regularly visited the publishing house.<ref name=zaman /> Another suspect added that they all knew each other.<ref name=zaman />

The verdict of the "Nöbetçi Sulh Ceza Mahkemesi" court was to jail Hamit Çeker, Salih Güler, Abuzer Yıldırım, and Cuma Özdemir for the crimes of establishing a terrorist organization, being a member of a terrorist organization, homicide, and depriving of one's liberties.<ref name=cnnturk>[http://www.cnnturk.com/TURKIYE/haber_detay.asp?PID=318&haberID=336890 "Emre Günaydın azmettirici" iddiası], 23 April, 2007 {{tr icon}}</ref> Turna Işıklı, Emre Günaydın's girlfriend, was also arrested for aiding a terrorist organization.<ref name=cnnturk /> The car that the attackers were planning to use during their escape was rented by Salih Güler.<ref name=haberturk /> According to eyewitnesses, Günaydın and his four accomplices practiced shooting two days before the event.<ref name=haberturk />

After being released from hospital in May 2007, Günaydın admitted to his guilt in his first interrogation.<ref>[http://www.ntvmsnbc.com/news/408245.asp Emre Günaydın cinayeti itiraf etti], ''[[NTV-MSNBC]]'', May 18 2007 {{tr icon}}</ref>

The High Criminal Court heard the case in 2008. On the tenth day of the hearing, Günaydın said that a journalist, Varol Bülent Aral, had told him that the missionary work was connected to the [[Kurdistan Workers Party]] (PKK). Günaydın stated, "He told me that Christianity and the missionary work done in its name had the goal of destroying then the motherland. I asked him if someone should not stop this? He told me to then get up and stop this. I asked him how it could be done. He said they would provide us with the state support." The prosecutors then demanded a copy of the [[Ergenekon network|Ergenekon]] indictment concerning an alleged high-level cabal, and the judge agreed to request this from the High Criminal Court in [[Istanbul]].<ref name=bia210808>Erol Önderoğlu, [http://www.bianet.org/english/kategori/english/109187/accused-deny-charges-in-malatya-case-court-asks-for-the-ergenekon-indictment Court Asks For The Ergenekon Indictment], ''Bianet'', 21 August 2008.</ref> Asked about a document that he was alleged to have written, Günaydın denied any connection with retired Major General Levent Ersöz, who was arrested with reference to the Ergenekon case, or the Istanbul president of an ultra-nationalist association, Levent Temiz.<ref>Anatolia News Agency, [http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=113363 Ergenekon questions in Malatya massacre case], ''[[Turkish Daily News]]'', August 23 2008.</ref>

At the 11th hearing, on 12 September 2008, the chief suspect's girlfriend, Turna Işıklı, said that she already knew before the murders that he was going to be under interrogation on the day after they were committed.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bianet.org/english/kategori/english/109700/malatya-massacre-suspect-knew-his-interrogation-day-before-the-murders
|accessdate=2008-09-15
|title=Malatya Massacre Suspect Knew His Interrogation Day Before The Murders
|date=2008-09-12
|work=Bianet
}}</ref>

The trial will continue on 16 January 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bianet.org/english/kategori/english/111012/malatya-massacre-trial-questions-the-ergenekon-connection
|accessdate=2008-11-24
|title=Malatya Massacre Trial Questions The Ergenekon Connection
|date=2008-11-21
|work=Bianet
|first=Erol
|last=Onderoglu
}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Hrant Dink]]
* [[Andrea Santoro]]

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

== Further reading ==
* Carswell, Jonathan; Wright, Joanna; Baum, Markus: ''Susanne Geske: "Ich will keine Rache" - Das Drama von Malatya''. Brunnen-Verlag, [[Gießen]] 2008, ISBN 978-3765519857

== External links ==
{{wikinews|Bible publishing firm in Turkey attacked; 3 killed}}

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqtWjI_WavQ Video of Necati's son at his father's memorial service] {{tr icon}}
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nz3J5_KkNPU Video of Tilmann's daughter at her father's memorial service] {{tr icon}}

[[Category:Anti-Christianity]]
[[Category:Religious persecution]]
[[Category:Protestant martyrs of Modern Times]]
[[Category:Islamic terrorism]]
[[Category:Terrorism in Turkey]]
[[Category:2007 in Turkey|Terrorism]]
[[Category:Human rights in Turkey]]

Morde im Zirve-Verlag

2008-11-25T02:18:13Z

Adoniscik: /* Court hearings */ Malatya Massacre Trial Questions The Ergenekon Connection

The '''Bible publishing firm murders in Malatya''' took place on [[April 18]], [[2007]] in Zirve Publishing House, [[Malatya]], [[Turkey]].<ref>[http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,478074,00.html Attack on Christians in Turkey - Three Killed at Bible Publishing Firm], [[Der Spiegel]], [[April 18]] [[2007]]</ref><ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/programmes/newshour/news/story/2007/04/070419_turkey_slayings.shtml Christians Killed in Turkey], [[BBC]] World Service, [[April 19]] [[2007]]</ref> Three employees of the [[Bible]] publishing house were attacked, tortured and murdered by five [[Muslim]] assailants. Two of the victims, Necati Aydın, 36, and Uğur Yüksel, 32, were [[Turkish people|Turkish]] [[apostasy in Islam|converts from Islam]]. The third man, Tilmann Geske, 45, was a [[German people|German]] citizen. Necati Aydın was an actor who played the role of [[Jesus|Jesus Christ]] in a theater production that the TURK-7 network aired over the [[Easter]] holidays.<ref name=floridabaptist>[http://www.floridabaptistwitness.com/7257.article Group of young Muslims murders 3 Christians in Turkey]</ref><ref>[http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-fg-christians19apr19,1,2798904.story?coll=la-news-a_section 3 killed in attack on Bible publisher in Turkey], [[Los Angeles Times]], [[April 19]] [[2007]]</ref> The underground nationalist [[Ergenekon network]] has been suspected of involvement in this case.<ref name=Zaman_13>[http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=150071 Ergenekon indictment reopens gendarmerie major’s murder case], ''[[Today's Zaman]]'', [[13 August]] [[2008]]</ref>

Aydın is survived by his wife, Şemse, and a son and daughter, both preschool age. Tilmann is survived by his wife Susanne and three children aged 8 to 13. Yüksel was engaged to be married within a few months.<ref name=floridabaptist /><ref name=haberturk />

Protests had taken place at the firm after it was accused of "proselytizing" a Muslim nation, but it is not known if the murders are related to the protests.

== The attack ==
According to the human rights group ''International Christian Concern'' (ICC), the troubles began on Easter Sunday when the alleged killers, one of whom is the son of a mayor, attended a service led by Pastor Aydın. "After [Aydın] read a chapter from the Bible, the young men tied [Yüksel, Aydın, and Geske’s] hands and feet to chairs as they videoed their work on their [[camera phone|cell phones]]." Afterwards they were heavily tortured.<ref name=bosnews>[http://www.bosnewslife.com/europe/turkey/2903-turkish-believers-satanically-tortured-before Turkish Believers "Satanically Tortured" Before Being Killed], [[April 26]] [[2007]]</ref> Gökhan Talas, the chief witness and a Protestant, came with his wife to the office.<ref name=haberturk>Habertürk: [http://www.haberturk.com/haber.asp?id=20684&cat=110&dt=2007/04/20 Jöleli Emre Nasil Cellat Oldu], [[April 20]] [[2007]] {{tr icon}} </ref> The door was locked from inside which was quite unusual. Suspecting that something had happened, he called Uğur Yüksel not knowing that he was inside tied to a chair.<ref name=haberturk /> Yüksel replied and said that they were in a hotel for a meeting. Talas heard someone crying in the background during his talk with Yüksel, and decided to call the police, who arrived soon thereafter. According to Talas, the attackers killed Yüksel and Aydın after the police arrived.<ref name=haberturk />

== Responses ==
* "[I condemn the attacks] in the strongest terms. [We will] do everything to clear up this crime completely and bring those responsible to justice," said [[Frank-Walter Steinmeier]], the [[List of German foreign ministers|German Foreign Minister]].
* "This is savagery," said [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]], the Turkish Prime Minister.
* "Missionary work is even more dangerous than terrorism and unfortunately is not considered a crime in Turkey," said Niyazi Güney, Justice Ministry Statutes Directorate General Manager.<ref>Mehmet Ali Birand, [http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=71260 If the statutes chairman thinks like this...], ''[[Turkish Daily News]]'', [[April 21]] [[2007]]</ref>
*The massacre was protested by [[Malatyaspor]] supporters in a soccer competition between Malatyaspor and [[Gençlerbirliği]].<ref name=cnnturk />

== Court hearings ==
Eleven suspects were apprehended after the attack.<ref name=radikal>Soner Arikanoğlu, [http://www.radikal.com.tr/haber.php?haberno=219319 'Bütün suç Emre'nin'], ''[[Radikal]]'', April 24 2007 {{tr icon}}</ref> The chief suspect, Yunus Emre Günaydın, was treated for serious wounds after he attempted to jump out of a window to escape police.<ref name=radikal /> All of the alleged killers are between 19 and 20 years old.<ref>Nick Birch, [http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,2060396,00.html Three murdered at Turkish bible publishing house], ''[[The Guardian]]'', April 19 2007</ref>
Günaydın was born in 1988 in Malatya and had no previous convictions.<ref name=haberturk /> One suspect confessed that "The leader of the group was Emre. It was he who devised the plan to kill them. We went to the publishing house together. When we entered the place, we tied them to their chairs and Emre slit their throats".<ref name=zaman>Sedat Güneç, [http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=108952 Mastermind and executor of murders is Emre Günaydın], ''[[Today's Zaman (newspaper)|Today's Zaman]]'', April 20 2007</ref> According to another suspect, the victims knew Günaydın, as he regularly visited the publishing house.<ref name=zaman /> Another suspect added that they all knew each other.<ref name=zaman />

The verdict of the "Nöbetçi Sulh Ceza Mahkemesi" court was to jail Hamit Çeker, Salih Güler, Abuzer Yıldırım, and Cuma Özdemir for the crimes of establishing a terrorist organization, being a member of a terrorist organization, homicide, and depriving of one's liberties.<ref name=cnnturk>[http://www.cnnturk.com/TURKIYE/haber_detay.asp?PID=318&haberID=336890 "Emre Günaydın azmettirici" iddiası], 23 April, 2007 {{tr icon}}</ref> Turna Işıklı, Emre Günaydın's girlfriend, was also arrested for aiding a terrorist organization.<ref name=cnnturk /> The car that the attackers were planning to use during their escape was rented by Salih Güler.<ref name=haberturk /> According to eyewitnesses, Günaydın and his four accomplices practiced shooting two days before the event.<ref name=haberturk />

After being released from hospital in May 2007, Günaydın admitted to his guilt in his first interrogation.<ref>[http://www.ntvmsnbc.com/news/408245.asp Emre Günaydın cinayeti itiraf etti], ''[[NTV-MSNBC]]'', May 18 2007 {{tr icon}}</ref>

The High Criminal Court heard the case in 2008. On the tenth day of the hearing, Günaydın said that a journalist, Varol Bülent Aral, had told him that the missionary work was connected to the [[Kurdistan Workers Party]] (PKK). Günaydın stated, "He told me that Christianity and the missionary work done in its name had the goal of destroying then the motherland. I asked him if someone should not stop this? He told me to then get up and stop this. I asked him how it could be done. He said they would provide us with the state support." The prosecutors then demanded a copy of the [[Ergenekon network|Ergenekon]] indictment concerning an alleged high-level cabal, and the judge agreed to request this from the High Criminal Court in [[Istanbul]].<ref name=bia210808>Erol Önderoğlu, [http://www.bianet.org/english/kategori/english/109187/accused-deny-charges-in-malatya-case-court-asks-for-the-ergenekon-indictment Court Asks For The Ergenekon Indictment], ''Bianet'', 21 August 2008.</ref> Asked about a document that he was alleged to have written, Günaydın denied any connection with retired Major General Levent Ersöz, who was arrested with reference to the Ergenekon case, or the Istanbul president of an ultra-nationalist association, Levent Temiz.<ref>Anatolia News Agency, [http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=113363 Ergenekon questions in Malatya massacre case], ''[[Turkish Daily News]]'', August 23 2008.</ref>

At the 11th hearing, on 12 September 2008, the chief suspect's girlfriend, Turna Işıklı, said that she already knew before the murders that he was going to be under interrogation on the day after they were committed.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bianet.org/english/kategori/english/109700/malatya-massacre-suspect-knew-his-interrogation-day-before-the-murders
|accessdate=2008-09-15
|title=Malatya Massacre Suspect Knew His Interrogation Day Before The Murders
|date=2008-09-12
|work=Bianet
}}</ref>

The trial will continue on 16 January 2009.{{cite news|url=http://www.bianet.org/english/kategori/english/111012/malatya-massacre-trial-questions-the-ergenekon-connection
|accessdate=2008-11-24
|title=Malatya Massacre Trial Questions The Ergenekon Connection
|date=2008-11-21
|work=Bianet
|first=Erol
|last=Onderoglu
}}

== See also ==
* [[Hrant Dink]]
* [[Andrea Santoro]]

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

== Further reading ==
* Carswell, Jonathan; Wright, Joanna; Baum, Markus: ''Susanne Geske: "Ich will keine Rache" - Das Drama von Malatya''. Brunnen-Verlag, [[Gießen]] 2008, ISBN 978-3765519857

== External links ==
{{wikinews|Bible publishing firm in Turkey attacked; 3 killed}}

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqtWjI_WavQ Video of Necati's son at his father's memorial service] {{tr icon}}
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nz3J5_KkNPU Video of Tilmann's daughter at her father's memorial service] {{tr icon}}

[[Category:Anti-Christianity]]
[[Category:Religious persecution]]
[[Category:Protestant martyrs of Modern Times]]
[[Category:Islamic terrorism]]
[[Category:Terrorism in Turkey]]
[[Category:2007 in Turkey|Terrorism]]
[[Category:Human rights in Turkey]]

Elie Kedourie

2008-11-25T02:02:48Z

Adoniscik: who ate the refs?

{{norefs}}
'''Elie Kedourie''' [[Order of the British Empire|C.B.E.]], [[Fellow of the British Academy|FBA]] ([[25 January]] [[1926]] – [[29 June]][[1992]]) was a [[United Kingdom|British]] [[historian]] of the [[Middle East]]. He wrote from a [[Conservatism|conservative]] perspective, dissenting from many points of view taken as orthodox in the field. He was at the [[London School of Economics]] (LSE) from 1953 to 1990, becoming Professor of Politics.

He was born in [[Baghdad]]; his background was [[Iraqi Jew]]ish and he grew up in the Jewish quarter, attending the Alliance Française primary school and then the Shammash High School. He took an undergraduate degree at the LSE.

Kedourie's doctoral thesis (later ''England and the Middle East'') was critical ''inter alia'' of Britain's inter-war role in [[Iraq]]. It was refused the degree of D. Phil. of the [[University of Oxford]], but was published in 1956. It castigated British policy makers, for their encouragement of [[Arab nationalism]], and contained a very negative view of [[T. E. Lawrence]]. He refused to make changes requested by one of the examiners, Sir [[Hamilton Alexander Rosskeen Gibb|Hamilton Gibb]], and so did not proceed to take the degree. [[Michael Oakeshott]] brought Kedourie back to the LSE in 1953.

In 1964 Kedourie was founder and Editor of the [[learned journal]] ''[[Middle Eastern Studies]]''.

His 1960 book ''Nationalism'' provoked replies, in ''Thought and Change'' (1964) and ''Nations and Nationalism'' (1983), by his LSE colleague [[Ernest Gellner]], contesting Kedourie's theories on the potential eliminability of nationalist thought.

Kedourie was critical of [[Marxist]] interpretations of history and of [[nationalism]], which he described as 'anti-individualist, despotic, racist, and violent'. He claimed it had turned the Middle East into 'a wilderness of tigers'.

Kedourie also documented and criticised as what he saw as the [[British Empire]]'s debilitation through over-indulgence in self-criticism. He in 1970 attacked another British celebrity, [[Arnold J. Toynbee]], in an essay ''The Chatham House Version'', holding him responsible, in part, for British imperial abdication of responsibility for the state of the Middle East.

Elie Kedourie died in Washington on 29 June 1992.

==Books==
*''England and the Middle East: The Vital Years 1914–1921'' (1956) later as England and the Middle East; the destruction of the Ottoman Empire 1914–1921
*''Nationalism'' (1960) revised edition 1993
*''Afghani and 'Abduh: An essay on religious unbelief and political activism in modern Islam'' (1966)
*''The Chatham House Version: And Other Middle Eastern Studies'' (1970)
*''Nationalism in Asia and Africa'' (1970) editor
*''Arabic Political Memoirs and Other Studies'' (1974)
*''In the Anglo-Arab Labyrinth: The McMahon-Husayn Correspondence and its Interpretations 1914–1939'' (1976)
*''Middle Eastern Economy: Studies in Economics and Economic History'' (1976)
*''The Jewish World: Revelation, Prophecy and History'' (1979) editor, as The Jewish World: History and Culture of the Jewish World'' (US)
*''Islam in the Modern World and Other Studies'' (1980)
*''Towards a Modern Iran; Studies in Thought, Politics and Society'' (1980) editor with Sylvia G. Haim
*''Modern Egypt: Studies in Politics and Society'' (1980) editor
*''Zionism and Arabism in Palestine and Israel'' (1982) editor with Sylvia G. Haim
*''The Crossman Confessions and Other Essays in Politics, History and Religion'' (1984)
*''Diamonds into Glass: The Government and the Universities'' (1988)
*''Essays on the Economic History of the Middle East'' (1988) editor with Sylvia G. Haim
*''Democracy and Arab Political Culture'' (1992)
*''Politics in the Middle East'' (1992)
*''Spain and the Jews: The Sephardi Experience, 1492 and after'' (1992)
*''Hegel & Marx: Introductory Lectures'' (1995)

==External links==
*[http://www.geocities.com/martinkramerorg/Kedourie.htm Elie Kedourie], entry in ''Encyclopedia of Historians and Historical Writing''.
*[http://www.geocities.com/martinkramerorg/PolicyAcademy.htm Policy and the Academy: An Illicit Relationship?], on Kedourie's politics, by [[Martin Kramer]].
*[http://covenant.idc.ac.il/en/2006/issue1/sieff.html Isaiah Berlin and Elie Kedourie: Recollections of Two Giants], by Martin Sieff.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kedourie, Elie}}
[[Category:1926 births|Kedourie, Elie]]
[[Category:1992 deaths|Kedourie, Elie]]
[[Category:British historians|Kedourie, Elie]]
[[Category:Fellows of the British Academy|Kedourie, Elie]]
[[Category:Jewish historians|Kedourie, Elie]]
[[Category:British Jews|Kedourie, Elie]]
[[Category:British people of Iraqi descent|Kedourie, Elie]]
[[Category:Iraqi Jews|Kedourie, Elie]]
[[Category:Iraqi historians|Kedourie, Elie]]
[[Category:Historians of the Middle East]]
[[Category:Academics of the London School of Economics|Kedourie, Elie]]
[[Category:People from Baghdad]]
[[Category:Scholars of nationalism]]
[[Category:Iraqi immigrants to the United Kingdom]]

[[sv:Elie Kedourie]]

Benutzer:Kurator71/Workers' Party (Turkey)

2008-11-11T06:57:40Z

Adoniscik: cleaned up

{{Infobox Turkish Political Party |
party_name = İşçi Partisi Workers' Party |
party_logo = [[Image:Isci partisi.png|Workers' Party Logo]] |
party_wikicolourid = CHP|
leader = [[Doğu Perinçek]] |
foundation = [[July 10]], [[1992]] |
ideology = [[Socialism]] [[Kemalism]] [[Turkish nationalism]] (also ''neo-nationalism''<ref name=Zaman>[http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=150621 Ergenekon document reveals MİT’s assassination secrets], ''[[Today's Zaman]]'', [[19 August]] [[2008]]</ref>) |
european = none |
international = none |
colours = Red, white |
headquarters = Toros Sokak No: 9 Sıhhiye [[Ankara]], [[Turkey]] |
website = http://www.ip.org.tr
}}

'''Workers' Party''' ({{lang-tr|İşçi Partisi}}) is a [[political party]] in [[Turkey]] led by [[Doğu Perinçek]]. İP has its roots in the [[Revolutionary Workers and Peasants Party of Turkey]] (TİİKP) and [[Workers and Peasants Party of Turkey]] (TİKP).

The İP traditionally combined Maoist rhetoric with a hardline [[Turkish nationalism]]. Today, it has come to resemble the far right [[Nationalist Movement Party]], with which it shares positions concerning [[Cyprus]], [[Greece]] or [[Armenia]]. It has been said that his political alliance is a deliberate attempt to counter the [[Justice and Development Party]], which decisively commands the political center in Turkey today. On the international level, it is linked with [[Eurasianism]].

Documents seized in the frame of the 2008 [[Ergenekon]] investigation at the Workers' Party headquarters proved that the [[National Intelligence Organization|MIT]] intelligence agency had paid in the 1980s neo-nationalist militants, headed by [[Abdullah Catli]], to carry out assassinations against [[ASALA]] and [[PKK]] members.<ref name=Zaman/> [[Turkish diaspora|Diaspora]] members of the party worked with nationalists to take out an [[Armenian genocide]] memorial and similar actions.

The youth wing of İP is known as ''[http://www.oncugenclik.org.tr/ Öncü Gençlik]'' (Vanguard Youth).
The women wing of İP is known as ''Öncü Kadin'' (Vanguard Women).

== Media ==

* ''[http://www.aydinlik.com.tr/ Aydınlık]'' (Light), weekly news magazine.
* ''Teori'' (Theory), monthly review.
* ''Bilim ve Ütopya'' (Science and Utopia), monthly science journal.
* ''[http://www.ulusalkanal.com.tr/ Ulusal Kanal]'' (National Channel), television station.
* ''Kaynak Yayınları'' (Source Publications), publisher.

[[Image:Ippartyoffice251.jpg|thumb|left|İP office in [[Üsküdar]]]]

==Election results==
* [[Turkish_general_election, 1995|1995 General Election]]: 61,428 votes (0.22%)
* [[Turkish_general_election, 1999|1999 General Election]]: 57,593 votes (0.18%)
* [[Turkish general election, 2002|2002 General Election]]: 160,227 votes (0.51%)
* [[Turkish_general_election, 2007|2007 General Election]]: 69,498 votes (0.38%) - preliminary results

== References ==

<references/>

{{Political parties of Turkey}}

[[Category:Political parties in Turkey]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 1992]]

[[de:Arbeiterpartei (Türkei)]]
[[fr:Parti des travailleurs (Turquie)]]
[[it:Partito dei Lavoratori di Turchia]]
[[tr:İşçi Partisi (Türkiye)]]

Noel Harrison

2008-11-07T03:59:53Z

Adoniscik: Added {{unreferenced}} tag to article. using Friendly

{{unreferenced|date=November 2008}}
{{Infobox Person
| image = Replace this image male.svg 
| image_size = 150px |
| name = Noel Harrison
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1934|01|29}}
| birth_place = [[London|London, England]]
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_cause =
| resting_place =
| resting_place_coordinates =
| residence =
| nationality = [[English people|English]]
| other_names =
| known_for =
| education =
| employer =
| occupation = actor/singer
| height =
| weight =
| spouse =
| children = [[Cathryn Harrison]] [[Simon Harrison (actor)|Simon Harrison]] Harriet Harrison Chloe Harrison Will Harrison
| parents = [[Rex Harrison|Sir Rex Harrison]] Collette Thomas
| relatives = [[Leslie Law]] (son-in-law)
| signature =
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
'''Noel Harrison''' (born [[29 January]] [[1934]], [[London]]) is an [[English people|English]] [[actor]] and [[singer]].

==Career==
He is best known for:
*A recurring role as Mark Slate in ''[[The Man from U.N.C.L.E.]]'', and, in that role, as the co-star of [[Stefanie Powers]] (April Dancer) in ''[[The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.]]''.
*Singing "[[The Windmills of Your Mind]]", the [[theme music|theme tune]] from the [[film]] ''[[The Thomas Crown Affair (1968 film)|The Thomas Crown Affair]]'', which won the [[Academy Award]] for best [[song]] in 1968, and was also a [[Top 40|Top 10]] [[hit single|hit]] in the [[UK Singles Chart]].

==Early Life==
As a teenager he joined the Ipswich repertory theatre group and taught himself guitar, but his main interest was sport and most of his spare time was spent skiing in Switzerland.

At an early age he was a member of the British ski team, becoming its first giant-slalom champion in 1953 and representing Britain at the [[1952 Winter Olympics]] in [[Oslo]], [[Norway]] and at the [[1956 Winter Olympics]] in [[Cortina d'Ampezzo]], [[Italy]].

Noel did his [[National Service]] and, after leaving the army in the fifties, toyed with the idea of becoming a journalist, but instead, concentrated on his guitar .

His early break came when he took a regular part in the [[BBC]] TV programme Tonight, as part of a team who sang the day's news in a calypso style.

When he was 20, he started playing professionally, around the tables in a Greek restaurant in London, for meals and tips. He also made a living playing in bars and nightclubs all over Europe, including appearances at the famous Blue Angel Club, where one show was recorded for a live album.

==Move to America==
He left for America in 1956, working as a nightclub entertainer at such venues as San Francisco's Hungry I and at the Persian Room in New York

Thanks to his managers Bob Chartoff and lrwin Winkler, who went on to produce the [[Rocky]] films, he had a record hit the charts, A Young Girl, written by [[Charles Aznavour]], and landed the co-lead with [[Stefanie Powers]] in the television show [[The Girl from U.N.C.L.E]].

A Young Girl was included as one of the tracks on his debut album, Noel Harrison, in 1966.

The TV series, plus the top 40 record, landed Noel a contract with Reprise, who he released three albums for, Collage, Santa Monica Pier and The Great Electric Experiment is Over.

He also toured with the [[Beach Boys]], and [[Sonny and Cher]], appeared on the [[Ed Sullivan show]], featured on a music program called Hullabaloo and appeared on Johnny Carson’s [[Tonight Show]].

==The Windmills of Your Mind==
The high point of his Hollywood period came with his [[Academy Award|Oscar]]-winning version of The Windmills of My Mind, written for the original [[Thomas Crown Affair]] film.

Despite the song winning the 1968 Oscar for best original song, Noel did not sing it at the Oscar ceremony. Instead his place was taken by [[Jose Feliciano]].
The change came because Noel was working on the film Take A Girl Like You in England with [[Oliver Reed]] and [[Hayley Mills]].

==Move to Canada==
In 1972, Harrison left America for Nova Scotia on Canada’s south-east coast and built a house from scratch with no electricity, inspired by the fashionable pioneers Scott and Helen Nearing and their self-help bible, Living The Good Life.

But one day the wood stove caught fire and the house burned down.
Noel rebuilt it with money earned from touring musicals in America and hosting a show called Take Time for Canada’s CBC channel.

==Touring Shows==
During the Seventies he toured America in productions of Camelot and The Sound of Music. He also played Henry Higgins in [[My Fair Lady]], the part made famous by his father [[Rex Harrison]] in the film of the same name. Other touring roles included King Arthur in Camelot, Count von Trapp in The Sound of Music, Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha, Brian Runicles in No Sex Please, We're British and Lloyd Dallas in Noises Off.

An admirer of Jacques Brel, the Belgian troubadour, Noel later created a one-man musical, Adieu Jacques, and released a CD of songs from the show.

==Return to Britain==
Before the millennium he returned to Britain, moving to Devon.

He still sings, putting on occasional gigs and finances his own CDs including the album Hold Back Time.

A compilation of his work for reprise called Life is a Dream was released in 2003 and his debut album, Noel Harrison, was re-released in 2008.

==Albums==
Noel Harrison at the Blue Angel : 1960 
Noel Harrison : 1966 
Collage : 1967 
Santa Monica Pier : 1968 
The Great Electric Experiment is Over : 1969 
Live From Boulevard Music (Live album recorded in America) 
Adieu, Jacques ... (Music from the show, sung in French) 
Hold back time 
The World of Noel Harrison : 1969 (Compilation) 
Life is a Dream : 2003 (Compilation) 

==External links==
*[http://www.Noelharrison.co.nr Noel Harrison fan site - www.noelharrison.co.nr]
*[http://www.myspace.com/noel_harrison Unofficial MySpace fan page]
*[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0365786/ IMDB profile]

{{BD|1934||Harrison, Noel}}
[[Category:English male singers]]
[[Category:English actors]]
[[Category:English alpine skiers]]
[[Category:Olympic alpine skiers of Great Britain]]
[[Category:Alpine skiers at the 1952 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Alpine skiers at the 1956 Winter Olympics]]

{{England-actor-stub}}

[[sv:Noel Harrison]]

Robert Parry (Journalist)

2008-10-21T03:33:56Z

Adoniscik:

{{For|the British MP|Robert Parry (MP)}}
''' Robert Parry''' is an [[United States|American]] [[investigative journalist]]. He was awarded the [[George Polk Awards|George Polk Award]] for National Reporting in 1984 for his work with the [[Associated Press]] on the [[Iran-Contra]] story and uncovered [[Oliver North]]'s involvement in it as a Washington-based correspondent for [[Newsweek]].<ref>[http://www.salon.com/media/media960611.html Parry's Thrust] [[Salon.com]]</ref><ref>[http://www.brooklyn.liu.edu/polk/prev/prev80.html Polk Award Winners]</ref> In 1995, he established Consortium News as an online [[ezine]] dedicated to [[investigative journalism]]. From 2000 to 2004, he worked for the financial wire service [[Bloomberg L.P.|Bloomberg]].<ref>[http://www.consortiumnews.com/2004/122104.html A Brief History of Consortium News] ConsortiumNews.com </ref>

Major subjects of Parry's articles and reports on Consortium News include the presidency of [[George W. Bush]]<ref>[http://www.consortiumnews.com/archive/bush-3.html Bush End Game '07-'08]</ref>, the career of Army general and Bush Secretary of State [[Colin Powell]] (with [[Norman Solomon]])<ref>[http://www.consortiumnews.com/archive/powell.html Behind Colin Powell's Legend]</ref>, the [[October Surprise]] controversy of the 1980 election <ref>[http://www.consortiumnews.com/archive/xfile.html The October Surprise Mystery]</ref>, the Nicaraguan contra-cocaine investigation <ref>[http://www.consortiumnews.com/archive/crack.html Contra Crack Series]</ref>, the efforts to impeach President [[Bill Clinton|Clinton]] <ref>[http://www.consortiumnews.com/archive/clinton.html Clinton Scandals]</ref>, right-wing terrorism in Latin America <ref>[http://www.consortiumnews.com/archive/nazi.html Nazi Echoes]</ref>, the political influence of [[Sun Myung Moon]]<ref>[http://www.consortiumnews.com/archive/moon.html The Dark Side of Rev. Sun Myung Moon]</ref>, mainstream American media imbalance <ref>[http://www.consortiumnews.com/archive/media.html Media in Crisis]</ref>, United States Defense Secretary [[Robert Gates]] <ref>[http://www.consortiumnews.com/archive/gates.html Who is Robert Gates?]</ref>, as well as international stories <ref>[http://www.consortiumnews.com/archive/international.html International]</ref>.

Parry has written several books, including ''Lost History: Contras, Cocaine, the Press & "Project Truth."'' (1999) and ''Secrecy & Privilege: Rise of the Bush Dynasty from Watergate to Iraq'' (2004).

==References==

<references/>

==External links==
* http://www.consortiumnews.com

{{DEFAULTSORT:Parry, Robert}}
[[Category:American reporters and correspondents]]
[[Category:Investigative journalists]]
[[Category:Alternative journalists]]
[[Category:George Polk Award recipients]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Critics of the Unification Church]]

Benutzer:Matthiasb/Westarmenien

2008-10-13T23:19:15Z

Adoniscik: /* Modern period */

:''This article is about the historical subregion in Eurasia. See [[Armenian Highland]] for the geographical region.''
'''Western Armenia''' ([[Western Armenian language|Western]] {{lang-hy|Արեւմտեան Հայաստան ''Arevmdjan Hajasdan''}}), also referred to as '''[[Byzantine Armenia]]''', later '''Turkish Armenia''', or '''Ottoman Armenia''' is a term coined following the division of [[Greater Armenia]] between [[Byzantine Empire]] (''Western Armenia'') and [[Persia]] (''Eastern Armenia'') in 387 AC.<ref name=slovari33200>[http://slovari.yandex.ru/dict/bse/article/00075/33200.htm Феодальный строй], Great Soviet Encyclopedia {{ru icon}}</ref><ref name=dre0218>[http://slovari.yandex.ru/dict/monarchsancienteast/article/dre/dre-0218.htm Рыжов К. В. Все монархи мира: Древний Восток: (Справочник). - М.: Вече, 2006] {{ru icon}}</ref>

==History==
After the death of Armenian king ''Arshak III'', in 390 AC, the Western Armenia was governed by Byzantine generals.<ref>[[s:Catholic Encyclopedia (1913)/Mesrob]]</ref><ref name=dre0218/> In the 7th century Western Armenia was one of the centers of ''Pavlikian'' [[Christianity|Christian]] popular [[sect]].<ref>[http://slovari.yandex.ru/dict/bse/article/00013/45000.htm Византия], Great Soviet Encyclopedia {{ru icon}}</ref> Since 9th century the most part of Western Armenia included [[Vaspurakan]] and [[Taron]] was under the rule of [[Bagratid dynasty of Armenia]]. Then the [[Zakarid Armenia]] of 13-14th centuries included some parts of Western Armenia.

After Turkish-Persian wars of 1602-1639 Western Armenia became part of [[Ottoman Empire]].<ref name=slovari33200/> Since [[Russo-Turkish War, 1828-1829]] that term is referred to the [[Armenians|Armenian]]-populated historical regions of the Ottoman Empire that remained under [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] rule after the [[Eastern Armenia|eastern part]] was [[annexation|ceded]] to the [[Russian Empire]].

[[Image:Flag of Administration of Western Armenia.svg|thumb|right|150px|Flag of the [[Administration for Western Armenia]] (1915–1918).]]
Western (Ottoman) Armenia was composed of six [[vilayet]]s (''vilâyat-ı sitte''), the vilayets of [[Erzurum Province, Ottoman Empire|Erzurum]], [[Van Province, Ottoman Empire|Van]], [[Bitlis Province, Ottoman Empire|Bitlis]], [[Diyarbekir Province, Ottoman Empire|Diyarbekir]], [[Mamuret-el-Aziz Province, Ottoman Empire|Kharput]], and [[Sivas Province, Ottoman Empire|Sivas]].<ref>[http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Armenia.html Armenia]</ref>After the collapse of [[Ottoman Empire]] Western Armenia remained under [[Turkey|Turkish]] rule, and in 1894–96 and 1915 Turkey perpetrated [[Armenian genocide|systematic massacres and forced deportations of Armenians]]<ref>[http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9108699 Britannica Online: Armenia]</ref>. The [[Administration for Western Armenia]] (Free Vaspurakan) was a provisional Armenian government in areas of Western Armenia under [[Russian Empire|Russian]] occupation from 1915–1918.

After the [[Armenian genocide]] the distinct [[Western Armenian language|Western Armenian]]<ref>[http://slovari.yandex.ru/dict/litenc/article/le1/le1-2521.htm АРМЯНСКИЙ ЯЗЫК, «Литературная энциклопедия» (М., 1929-1939. Т. 1-11)] {{ru icon}}</ref> dialect of the [[Armenian language]] (recognized as one of the major dialects of Armenian<ref>http://www.umd.umich.edu/dept/armenian/search/collections.html</ref>) is spoken primarily in [[Istanbul]], [[Lebanon]], [[Egypt]], other parts of [[Armenian diaspora]], and formerly in eastern Turkey.<ref>[http://www.lmp.ucla.edu/Profile.aspx?LangID=55&menu=004 UCLA Language materials Project page: Armenian]</ref> It differs orthographically from [[Eastern Armenian]], there are also phonological differences. In some parts of the diaspora, the Armenian schools, such as [[L'École Arménienne Sourp Hagop]] and the [[Armenian Sisters Academy]] instruct Western Armenian to the students, instead of [[Eastern Armenian]], the official dialect of the [[Republic of Armenia]].

==Modern period==
[[Image:West Armenian flag.png|thumb|right|150px|Flag of the "Kingdom of West Armenia" political movement]]
The fate of Western Armenia — commonly referred to as "The Armenian Question" — is considered as a key issue in the modern history of the Armenian people.<ref>Arman J. Kirakossian, [http://www.gomidas.org/books/kirakossian-preface.htm British Diplomacy and the Armenian Question, from the 1830s to 1914]</ref> The first and second congresses of Western Armenians took place in [[Yerevan]] in 1917 and 1919. Since 2000, an organizing committee of congress of heirs of Western Armenians who survived the Armenian Genocide is active in diasporan communities.<ref>[http://www.a1plus.am/en/?page=issue&iid=54602 WESTERN ARMENIANS ARE PREPARING, A1plus, 16 November, 2007]</ref> The name "'''Kingdom of West Armenia'''" ([[Western Armenian language|Western]] {{lang-hy|Արեւմտեան Հայաստանի Արքայութիւն}}, Arevmdian Hayasdani Arka'yout'iun) is sometimes used to establish an Armenian claim to the eastern part of Turkey.

==Regions==
*[[Eastern Anatolia Region]]
*[[Geography of Armenia]]
*[[Eastern Armenia]]
*[[Armenian Highland]]

==See also==
*[[Armenians in the Ottoman Empire]]
*[[Administration for Western Armenia]]
*[[Kingdom of Armenia]]
*[[Russian Armenia]]
*[[Wilsonian Armenia]]

==References==
<references/>

==Further reading==
*Arman J. Kirakosian, "English Policy towards Western Armenia and Public Opinion in Great Britain (1890-1900)", Yerevan, 1981, 26 p. (in Armenian and Russian).

==External links==
*[http://www.ourararat.com/eng/e_disappear.htm Disappearance of Western Armenia after World War 1]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2B3dqlkstQ Video: Provinces of Western Armenia]

[[Category:History of Armenia]]

[[fr:Arménie occidentale]]
[[hy:Արևմտյան Հայաստան]]
[[it:Armenia occidentale]]
[[ru:Западная Армения]]
[[simple:Western Armenia]]
[[sv:Västarmenien]]

Karakol Cemiyeti

2008-10-11T04:16:51Z

Adoniscik:

'''Outpost Society''' ({{lang-tr|Karakol Cemiyeti}}) were secret societal organizations outside of, yet within the [[Istanbul]] government, whose purpose was to resist the efforts of [[Mustafa Kemal Atatürk]] during the 1919-1923 [[Turkish_War_of_Independence#Precursors.2C_October_1918_.E2.80.93_May_1919|Turkish War of Independence]].<ref>{{cite book|title=History of the Ottoman Empire and Modern Turkey: Reform, Revolution, and Republic: The Rise of Modern Turkey 1808-1975|last=Shaw|first=Stanford J.|coauthors=Ezel Kural Shaw|year=1977|publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]]|isbn=0521291666|pages=340|quote= |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=M1DQooVS_oYC&pg=PA340&dq=%22Outpost+Society%22+Ottoman&sig=ACfU3U3Ja3lIZisVI60Vlx171DYNidohOA}}</ref> After the [[Armistice of Mudros]] young and patriotic [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] officers founded secret organizations in [[Istanbul]].{{Fact|date=February 2007}} The aim of these organizations was to provide the revolution with loyal officers, weapons and armaments (most of which was stolen from Ottoman Army warehouses which were under the control of Allied forces during the Occupation of Istanbul).

==References==

<references/>

{{Turkish War of Independence}}

[[Category:Turkish War of Independence]]

Türkische Nationalbewegung

2008-10-11T04:15:51Z

Adoniscik: no need for that here

{{norefs}}
[[Image:Ataturk-(1967) - Sivas congress Refet-Rauf-bekir.png|thumb|280px|Members of the movement during the [[Sivas Congress]]]]
The '''Turkish National Movement''' encompasses the political and military activities of the [[Turkish revolutionaries]] which resulted with the creation and shaping of the [[Republic of Turkey]], a consequence of the [[partitioning of the Ottoman Empire]] in the aftermath of [[World War I]]. The [[Turkish people]] would gradually unite around the leadership of [[Mustafa Kemal Pasha]] and the authority of the [[Turkish Grand National Assembly]] set up in [[Ankara]], which pursued the [[Turkish War of Independence]].

The movement terminated the [[Treaty of Sèvres]] and negotiated the [[Treaty of Lausanne]], assuring recognition of the national borders, termed [[Misak-ı Milli]] (''National Oath'').

The national forces were gathered around a progressively defined political ideology that is generally termed "[[Kemalism]]", or "Atatürkism". Its basic principles stress the [[Republic]] - a form of government representing the power of the electorate, secular administration ([[laïcité]]), [[nationalism]], a mixed economy with state participation in many sectors (as opposed to [[state socialism]]), and national modernization.

{{Turkish War of Independence}}
[[Category:Mustafa Kemal Atatürk]]
[[Category:20th century revolutions]]

{{Turkey-stub}}

[[zh:土耳其國民運動]]

Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia

2008-10-10T05:46:02Z

Adoniscik: repaired MIPT links. check for errors.

{{Infobox militant organization
|name = Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia {{rtl-lang|hy|Հայաստանի ազատագրութեան հայ գաղտնի բանակ}} 
|logo = Flag of the ASALA.png
|caption = Flag of the ASALA
|dates = [[1975]]<ref name=hunsicker/> to [[1986]]<ref name=roy170/>
|leader = [[Hagop Hagopian]] [[Monte Melkonian]] [[Hagop Tarakchian]]<ref name="MIPT">[http://web.archive.org/web/20071115020146/http://www.tkb.org/Group.jsp?groupID=258 Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA)], [[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]</ref>
|motives = "To compel the Turkish Government to acknowledge publicly its responsibility for the [[Armenian Genocide|deaths of 1.5 million Armenians]] in 1915, pay reparations, and cede territory for an Armenian homeland."<ref name=hunsicker/>
|area = [[Turkey]], [[United States]], [[Lebanon]], [[Western Europe]], [[Armenia]], and [[Middle East]].
|ideology = [[Marxism-Leninism]], [[Greater Armenia (political concept)|Greater Armenia]]
|crimes = Assassination of a number of Turkish diplomats and their relatives. Bombing of Turkish, French and Swiss targets for varying motives. Several minor bombing attacks against US airline offices in Western Europe. 
|attacks = Armed attack and bombing of the [[Esenboğa International Airport]], [[Ankara]].<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20070930041244/http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=3316 Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA) attacked Airports & Airlines target (Aug. 7, 1982, Turkey)], [[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]</ref> [[Orly airport attack|Bombing of Turkish airline counter]] at [[Orly Airport (Paris)]].<ref name=hunsicker/>
|allies =
|enemies = [[Turkish government]] and [[Turkish diplomats|its representatives]].<ref name=countrystudy>"[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/85.htm Political Interest Groups]," ''[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/ Turkey: A Country Study]'' ed. Helen Chapin Metz. Washington D.C.: The Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, 283, 354-355 {{oclc|17841957}}</ref>
|status = Dissolved
}}

The '''Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia''' ('''ASALA''') was a [[militant]]<ref>[http://www.bartleby.com/67/2679.html 1982. 2001. The Encyclopedia of World History]</ref> [[Marxism-Leninism|Marxist-Leninist]] organization, that operated from 1975 to 1986<ref name=roy170>Roy, Olivier. ''Turkey Today: A European Nation?'' p. 170. Roy suggests that the Orly incident led to "dissension end[ing] in the settling of scores in which ASALA militants killed each other in their camp at Bekaa (Al-Biqa, Lebanon)... (It) practically disappeared. It resurfaced once again, however, to assassinate important members of the Lebanese section of the Dashnak Party (March 1985 - May 1986)."</ref> and was responsible for the assassination of many Turkish diplomats and their families. The group also operated under other names such as '''The Orly Group''' and the '''3 October Organization'''.<ref name=countrystudy>"[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/85.htm Political Interest Groups]," ''[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/ Turkey: A Country Study]'' ed. Helen Chapin Metz. Washington D.C.: The Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, 283, 354-355 {{oclc|17841957}}</ref> The intention of ASALA was purportedly "to compel the Turkish Government to acknowledge publicly its alleged responsibility for the [[Armenian Genocide|deaths of 1.5 million Armenians]] in 1915, pay reparations, and cede territory for an Armenian homeland".<ref name=hunsicker>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=K4XefrTlSygC&pg=PA431&lpg=PA431&dq=%22to+compel+the+Turkish+Government+to+acknowledge+publicly+its+alleged+responsibility+for+the+deaths+of+1.5+million+Armenians+in+1915,+pay+reparations,+and+cede+territory+for+an+Armenian+homeland%22&source=web&ots=pXUcCHSQ_K&sig=g_wv7KBmKIdDoKiZ2P5nF2r952M&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=2&ct=result|title=Understanding International Counter Terrorism|publisher=Universal-Publishers|last=Hunsicker|isbn=158112905X|pages=431|year=2006}}</ref> ASALA was listed as a [[terrorism|terrorist]] organization by the United States in 1980s.<ref name=pgt>{{citation
|chapterurl=http://www.nps.edu/Library/Research/SubjectGuides/SpecialTopics/TerroristProfile/Prior/ASALA.html
|url=http://www.mipt.org/pdf/1997pogt.pdf
|accessdate=2008-09-02
|title=Patterns of Global Terrorism
|chapter=Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA)
|year=1997
|publisher=[[U.S. Department of State]]
}}</ref>

==Background==
ASALA was founded in 1975 in [[Beirut]], [[Lebanon]] during the [[Lebanese Civil War]] by [[Hagop Hagopian]] (Harutiun Tagushian) and [[Kevork Ajemian]],<ref>"[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-22427363.html Kevork Ajemian, Prominent Contemporary Writer and Surviving Member of Triumvirate Which Founded ASALA, Dies in Beirut, Lebanon]," ''Armenian Reporter'', [[1999-02-01]]</ref> a prominent contemporary writer, with the help of sympathetic [[Palestinians]].<ref name="countrystudy" /> Consisting primarily of Lebanese-born Armenians of the Diaspora (whose parents and/or grandparents were survivors of the [[Armenian Genocide]]), the organization followed a theoretical model based on [[leftism|leftist ideology]].<ref>Roy, Olivier. ''Turkey Today: A European Nation?'' p. 169.</ref>
The group's activities were primarily assassinations of Turkish diplomats and politicians in [[Western Europe]], in the [[United States]] and the [[Middle East]].<ref name="countrystudy" /> Their first acknowledged killing was the assassination of the Turkish diplomat, [[Daniş Tunalıgil]], in [[Vienna]] on [[October 22]], [[1975]]. A failed attack in [[Geneva]] on [[October 3]], [[1980]], in which two Armenian militants were injured resulted in a new nickname for the group, the 3 October Organization. The ASALA's eight point manifesto was published in 1981.

ASALA, trained in the Beirut camps of [[Palestine Liberation Organization]], is the best known of the guerilla groups responsible for assassinations of at least 36 Turkish diplomats.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,955176,00.html
|accessdate=2008-09-02
|title=Long Memories
|work=TIME
|date=1983-08-08
|author=Iyer, Pico
|volume=32}}</ref>

== Attacks ==
{{See also|List of attacks by the Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia}}

According to [[National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism|MIPT]] website, there had been 84 incidents involving ASALA leaving 46 people dead, and 299 people injured including the following:<ref name="MIPT"/>
* [[February 16]], [[1976]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Beirut]], Oktar Cirit was killed.
* [[October 12]], [[1979]] in Turkish Embassy in the [[Hague]], Ahmet Benler, the son of the Ambassador Özdemir Benler, was killed (This attack was one of the attacks co-claimed by JCAG.
* [[July 31]], [[1980]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Athens]], Galip Özmen and his 14 year old daughter Neslihan were killed in the Turkish consulate. Galip Özmen's wife Sevil Özmen and their son Kaan survived the attack with injuries.
* [[December 29]], [[1980]] in [[Madrid]], a [[Spain|Spanish]] journalist, assistant director of the "Pueblo" newspaper, [[José Antonio Gurriarán]] was accidentally injured during an October 3 group attack. Then Gurriarán was interested what the group's purposes were; he found and interviewed ASALA members. In 1982 his "La Bomba" book was published, dedicated to the Armenian cause and Armenian militant's struggle.<ref>[http://www.elpais.com/articulo/ultima/GURRIARaN/_JOSe_ANTONIO_/PERIODISTA/Jose/Antonio/Gurriaran/elpepiult/19820404elpepiult_2/Tes/ GENTE José Antonio Gurriarán], ''[[El Pais]]'', [[April 4]], [[1982]]. "Subdirector del diario Pueblo, relatará en su libro La bomba, que será publicado en el próximo mes de abril, el atentado de que fue víctima en la Gran Vía de Madrid el 29 de diciembre de 1980, hecho del que luego se responsabilizaría el grupo armenio Octubre 3. El autor entrevista en el libro a los miembros del comando que activaron las dos cargas de Goma 2."</ref>
* [[March 4th]], 1981 in the Turkish Embassy in [[Paris]], Reşat Moralı was killed and Tecelli Arı was injured.
* [[June 9th]], 1981 in the Turkish Consulate in [[Geneva]], Mehmet Savaş Yergüz was killed.
* [[September 24]], [[1981]] in Turkish Consulate in Paris, 56 Turks were held hostage in the embassy by ASALA militants (none of the hostages were harmed), Turkish guard Cemal Özen was killed. ASALA members demanded the Turkish government free Armenian political prisoners within 12 hours and fly them to Paris. After 15 hours they surrendered peacefully requesting political asylum from the French government.<ref name=hungary/>
* [[April 28]], [[1984]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Tehran|Tehran, Iran]], Işık Yönder was killed.

The ASALA's most criticized attack was on [[August 7]], [[1982]] in [[Ankara]] at the [[Esenboğa International Airport]], when its members targeted both diplomats and non-diplomat civilians for the first time. Two militants opened fire in a crowded passenger waiting room. One of the shooters took more than 20 hostages while the second was apprehended by police. Altogether, nine people died and 82 were injured. The arrested 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'') led by Hagopian and the 'Popular Movement' (''ASALA-Mouvement Révolutionnaire'') led by [[Monte Melkonian]]. While Melkonian's faction insisted on attacks strictly against Turkish officials and the Turkish government, Hagopian's group disregarded the losses of unintended victims and regularly executed dissenting members.
On [[August 10]], [[1982]], [[Artin Penik]] a Turk of Armenian descent, set himself on fire in protest of this attack.<ref name="oran"> {{cite news|
| last = Oran
| first = Baskın
| title = The Reconstruction of Armenian Identity in Turkey and the Weekly Agos (Interview with Hrant Dink)
| work = Nouvelles d'Armenie
| date = 2006-12-17
| url = http://www.armenews.com/article.php3?id_article=27696
| accessdate = 2008-09-02 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=Armenian Issue: Chronology | publisher=[[Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism]] | url=http://www.kultur.gov.tr/EN/BelgeGoster.aspx?17A16AE30572D313A781CAA92714FCE0A3216081A23BEF0D | accessdate=2007-02-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=He was an Armenian: Artin Penik|work=Turkish Journal|url=http://www.turkishjournal.com/i.php?newsid=361|accessdate=2007-02-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title = Armenian Dies from Self-Inflicted Burns | work=[[Associated Press]]| date = 1982-08-15 }}</ref>

Prominent Armenian poet [[Silva Kaputikyan]] in [[1983]] wrote "Its raining my sonny" poem dedicated to the memory of ASALA member Ekmekjian.<ref>[[Spurk Journal]], #1-12, 2005, [[Beirut]], p. 35.</ref>

On [[July 15]], [[1983]], the ASALA carried out another attack at the [[Orly Airport]] near [[Paris]], in which 8 people were killed. The attack resulted in a split in ASALA, between those individuals who carried it out, called the "Orly Group," and those who believed the attack to be counter productive.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hetq.am/eng/society/7332/
|accessdate=2008-09-02
|title=He Was a Man Deeply Connected to the Natural World
|work=Hetq Online
|date=2007-11-26
|first=Edik
|last=Baghdasaryan
}}</ref> Afterwards, French forces promptly arrested those involved.<ref>"[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9804E0DF143BF93AA35753C1A965948260 French Hold Armenians In Orly Airport Bombing]," ''[[Associated Press]]'', [[New York Times]], [[October 9]], [[1983]].</ref> Moreover, this attack eliminated the suspected secret agreement that the French socialist government made with ASALA, in which the government would allow ASALA to use France as a base of operations in exchange for refraining from launching attacks on French soil. Belief in this suspected agreement was further bolstered after "Interior Minister [[Gaston Defferre]] called [ASALA's] cause "just," and four Armenians arrested for taking hostages at the Turkish Embassy in September 1981 were given light sentences."<ref>Echikson, William. "[http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/csmonitor_historic/access/260828642.html?dids=260828642:260828642&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Jul+19%2C+1983&author=By+William+Echikson+Special+to+The+Christian+Science+Monitor&pub=Christian+Science+Monitor&desc=Armenian+bombing+at+Orly+ends+pact+between+Socialists+and+terrorists&pqatl=google Armenian bombing at Orly ends pact between Socialists and terrorists]," ''[[Christian Science Monitor]]'', [[July 19]], [[1983]].</ref>

== Dissolution==
With the [[1982 Lebanon War|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 last attack committed by the ASALA was the attack on the bullet-proof limousine carrying the Turkish Ambassador to [[Budapest]] ([[December 19]], [[1991]]). The ambassador was not injured in the attack, which was claimed by ASALA in [[Paris]].<ref name=hungary>{{cite web |url=http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=6723 |title=ASALA attacked Diplomatic target|date=1981-12-19|location=Hungary|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070827173744/http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=6723|archivedate=2007-08-27|work=[[MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]]}}</ref>

ASALA's founder Hagop Hagopian was assassinated on a sidewalk in an affluent neighborhood in [[Athens]], [[Greece]] on [[April 28]], [[1988]]. His assailants, Hovsep A., Vartan G., Garabed K., and Albert "Sultan-Minas", were all former ASALA members and lieutenants of Hagopian. His body was riddled with several bullets while he was walking with two women at 4:30 in the morning.<ref>Melkonian, Markar. ''My Brother's Road: An American's Fateful Journey to Armenia''. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005 pg. 187.</ref> Tarakchian died of [[cancer]] in [[1980]]. Assassinations of former members continued in [[Armenia]] into the late 1990s.<ref>Melkonian, Markar. ''My Brother's Road: An American's Fateful Journey to Armenia''. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005, pp. 277-278.</ref>

== Reactions ==
Continuous attacks prompted Turkey to accuse [[Cyprus]], [[Greece]], [[Syria]], [[Lebanon]], and the [[Soviet Union]] of provoking or possibly funding the ASALA.<ref name="countrystudy" /> Although they publicly distanced themselves from the ASALA,<ref name="countrystudy" /> Turkey's Armenian community came under attack by Turkish nationalists in reaction to the group's actions. This became apparent after the assassination of [[Ahmet Benler]] on [[October 12]], [[1979]] by Armenian militants in [[the Hague]]. The reaction to the attack led to the bombing of the church of the Armenian Apostolic Patriarchate in [[Istanbul]] on [[October 19]] in retaliation.<ref name=azadhye>[[Tessa Hofmann|Tessa, Hofmann]]. [http://www.armenian.ch/asa/Docs/faae02.pdf Armenians in Turkey today]</ref>

According to [[Tessa Hofmann]], Turkish officials frequently used the accusation of collaboration with the ASALA and foreign Armenian circles to incriminate extreme left-wing Turkish opposition groups.<ref name=azadhye/>

==References==

{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[http://www.ermenisorunu.gen.tr/ Armenian Issue]
{{Defunct Armed Armenian Organizations}}

[[Category:1975 establishments]]
[[Category:Defunct Armenian paramilitary organizations]]
[[Category:Armenian Genocide]]
[[Category:Guerrilla organizations]]

[[az:ASALA]]
[[bg:АСАЛА]]
[[ca:ASALA]]
[[de:Asala]]
[[es:Ejército Secreto Armenio para la Liberación de Armenia]]
[[fr:Armée secrète arménienne de libération de l'Arménie]]
[[hy:Հայաստանի ազատագրության հայ գաղտնի բանակ]]
[[it:Esercito Segreto armeno per la Liberazione dell'Armenia]]
[[nl:Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia]]
[[ja:アルメニア解放秘密軍]]
[[ru:Армянская секретная армия освобождения Армении]]
[[simple:Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia]]
[[sl:Armenska tajna armada za osvoboditev Armenije]]
[[sv:ASALA]]
[[tr:ASALA]]

Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia

2008-09-22T04:29:00Z

Adoniscik: pls try again, paying attention to name refs Undid revision 240156940 by VartanM (talk)

{{Infobox militant organization
|name = Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia {{rtl-lang|hy|Հայաստանի ազատագրութեան հայ գաղտնի բանակ}} 
|logo = Flag of the ASALA.png
|caption = Flag of the ASALA
|dates = [[1975]]<ref name=hunsicker/> to [[1986]]<ref name=roy170/>
|leader = [[Hagop Hagopian]] [[Monte Melkonian]] [[Hagop Tarakchian]]<ref>[http://www.tkb.org/Group.jsp?groupID=258 MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]{{Dead link|date=August 2008}}</ref>
|motives = "To compel the Turkish Government to acknowledge publicly its responsibility for the [[Armenian Genocide|deaths of 1.5 million Armenians]] in 1915, pay reparations, and cede territory for an Armenian homeland."<ref name=hunsicker/>
|area = [[Turkey]], [[United States]], [[Lebanon]], [[Western Europe]], [[Armenia]], and [[Middle East]].
|ideology = [[Marxism-Leninism]], [[Greater Armenia (political concept)|Greater Armenia]]
|crimes = Assassination of a number of Turkish diplomats and their relatives. Bombing of Turkish, French and Swiss targets for varying motives. Several minor bombing attacks against US airline offices in Western Europe. 
|attacks = Armed attack and bombing of the [[Esenboğa International Airport]], [[Ankara]].<ref>[http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=3316 MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]{{Dead link|date=August 2008}}</ref> Bombing of Turkish airline counter at [[Orly Airport (Paris)]].<ref name=hunsicker/>
|allies =
|enemies = [[Turkish government]] and [[Turkish diplomats|its representatives]].<ref name=countrystudy>"[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/85.htm Political Interest Groups]," ''[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/ Turkey: A Country Study]'' ed. Helen Chapin Metz. Washington D.C.: The Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, 283, 354-355 {{oclc|17841957}}</ref>
|status = Dissolved, was listed as a [[terrorism|terrorist]] organization by the United States in 1980s.<ref name=pgt>{{cite book
|chapterurl=http://www.nps.edu/Library/Research/SubjectGuides/SpecialTopics/TerroristProfile/Prior/ASALA.html
|url=http://www.mipt.org/pdf/1997pogt.pdf
|accessdate=2008-09-02
|title=Patterns of Global Terrorism
|chapter=Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA)
|year=1997
|publisher=[[U.S. Department of State]]
}}</ref>
}}

The '''Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia''' ('''ASALA''') was a [[militant]]<ref>[http://www.bartleby.com/67/2679.html 1982. 2001. The Encyclopedia of World History]</ref> [[Marxism-Leninism|Marxist-Leninist]] organization, that operated from 1975 to 1986<ref name=roy170>Roy, Olivier. ''Turkey Today: A European Nation?'' p. 170. Roy suggests that the Orly incident led to "dissension end[ing] in the settling of scores in which ASALA militants killed each other in their camp at Bekaa (Al-Biqa, Lebanon)... (It) practically disappeared. It resurfaced once again, however, to assassinate important members of the Lebanese section of the Dashnak Party (March 1985 - May 1986)."</ref> and was responsible for the assassination of many Turkish diplomats and their families. The group also operated under other names such as '''The Orly Group''' and the '''3 October Organization'''.<ref name=countrystudy>"[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/85.htm Political Interest Groups]," ''[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/ Turkey: A Country Study]'' ed. Helen Chapin Metz. Washington D.C.: The Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, 283, 354-355 {{oclc|17841957}}</ref> The intention of ASALA was purportedly "to compel the Turkish Government to acknowledge publicly its alleged responsibility for the [[Armenian Genocide|deaths of 1.5 million Armenians]] in 1915, pay reparations, and cede territory for an Armenian homeland".<ref name=hunsicker>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=K4XefrTlSygC&pg=PA431&lpg=PA431&dq=%22to+compel+the+Turkish+Government+to+acknowledge+publicly+its+alleged+responsibility+for+the+deaths+of+1.5+million+Armenians+in+1915,+pay+reparations,+and+cede+territory+for+an+Armenian+homeland%22&source=web&ots=pXUcCHSQ_K&sig=g_wv7KBmKIdDoKiZ2P5nF2r952M&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=2&ct=result|title=Understanding International Counter Terrorism|publisher=Universal-Publishers|last=Hunsicker|isbn=158112905X|pages=431|year=2006}}</ref> ASALA was listed as a [[terrorism|terrorist]] organization by the United States in 1980s.<ref name=pgt/>

==Background==
ASALA was founded in 1975 in [[Beirut]], [[Lebanon]] during the [[Lebanese Civil War]] by [[Hagop Hagopian]] (Harutiun Tagushian) and [[Kevork Ajemian]],<ref>"[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-22427363.html Kevork Ajemian, Prominent Contemporary Writer and Surviving Member of Triumvirate Which Founded ASALA, Dies in Beirut, Lebanon]," ''Armenian Reporter'', [[1999-02-01]]</ref> a prominent contemporary writer, with the help of sympathetic [[Palestinians]].<ref name="countrystudy" /> Consisting primarily of Lebanese-born Armenians of the Diaspora, the organization followed a theoretical model based on [[leftism|leftist ideology]].<ref>Roy, Olivier. ''Turkey Today: A European Nation?'' p. 169.</ref>
The group's activities were primarily assassinations of Turkish diplomats and politicians in [[Western Europe]], in the [[United States]] and the [[Middle East]].<ref name="countrystudy" /> Their first acknowledged killing was the assassination of the Turkish diplomat, [[Daniş Tunalıgil]], in [[Vienna]] on [[October 22]], [[1975]]. A failed attack in [[Geneva]] on [[October 3]], [[1980]], in which two Armenian militants were injured resulted in a new nickname for the group, the 3 October Organization. The ASALA's eight point manifesto was published in 1981.

ASALA, trained in the Beirut camps of [[Palestine Liberation Organization]], is the best known of the guerilla groups responsible for assassinations of at least 36 Turkish diplomats.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,955176,00.html
|accessdate=2008-09-02
|title=Long Memories
|work=TIME
|date=1983-08-08
|author=Iyer, Pico
|volume=32}}</ref>

== Attacks ==
{{See also|List of attacks by the Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia}}

According to [[National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism|MIPT]] website, there had been 84 incidents involving ASALA leaving 46 people dead, and 299 people injured including the following:<ref name="MIPT">[http://www.tkb.org/Group.jsp?groupID=258 MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]{{Dead link|date=August 2008}}</ref>
* [[February 16]], [[1976]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Beirut]], Oktar Cirit was killed.
* [[October 12]], [[1979]] in Turkish Embassy in the [[Hague]], Ahmet Benler, the son of the Ambassador Özdemir Benler, was killed (This attack was one of the attacks co-claimed by JCAG.
* [[July 31]], [[1980]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Athens]], Galip Özmen and his 14 year old daughter Neslihan were killed in the Turkish consulate. Galip Özmen's wife Sevil Özmen and their son Kaan survived the attack with injuries.
* [[December 29]], [[1980]] in [[Madrid]], a [[Spain|Spanish]] journalist, assistant director of the "Pueblo" newspaper, [[José Antonio Gurriarán]] was accidentally injured during an October 3 group attack. Then Gurriarán was interested what the group's purposes were; he found and interviewed ASALA members. In 1982 his "La Bomba" book was published, dedicated to the Armenian cause and Armenian militant's struggle.<ref>[http://www.elpais.com/articulo/ultima/GURRIARaN/_JOSe_ANTONIO_/PERIODISTA/Jose/Antonio/Gurriaran/elpepiult/19820404elpepiult_2/Tes/ GENTE José Antonio Gurriarán], ''[[El Pais]]'', [[April 4]], [[1982]]. "Subdirector del diario Pueblo, relatará en su libro La bomba, que será publicado en el próximo mes de abril, el atentado de que fue víctima en la Gran Vía de Madrid el 29 de diciembre de 1980, hecho del que luego se responsabilizaría el grupo armenio Octubre 3. El autor entrevista en el libro a los miembros del comando que activaron las dos cargas de Goma 2."</ref>
* [[March 4th]], 1981 in the Turkish Embassy in [[Paris]], Reşat Moralı was killed and Tecelli Arı was injured.
* [[June 9th]], 1981 in the Turkish Consulate in [[Geneva]], Mehmet Savaş Yergüz was killed.
* [[September 24]], [[1981]] in Turkish Consulate in Paris, 56 Turks were held hostage in the embassy by ASALA militants (none of the hostages were harmed), Turkish guard Cemal Özen was killed. ASALA members demanded the Turkish government free Armenian political prisoners within 12 hours and fly them to Paris. After 15 hours they surrendered peacefully requesting political asylum from the French government.<ref>[http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=2987 ASALA attacked Diplomatic target] ([[September 24]], [[1981]], France){{Dead link|date=September 2008}}</ref>
* [[April 28]], [[1984]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Tehran|Tehran, Iran]], Işık Yönder was killed.

The ASALA's most criticized attack was on [[August 7]], [[1982]] in [[Ankara]] at the [[Esenboğa International Airport]], when its members targeted both diplomats and non-diplomat civilians for the first time. Two militants opened fire in a crowded passenger waiting room. One of the shooters took more than 20 hostages while the second was apprehended by police. Altogether, nine people died and 82 were injured. The arrested 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'') led by Hagopian and the 'Popular Movement' (''ASALA-Mouvement Révolutionnaire'') led by [[Monte Melkonian]]. While Melkonian's faction insisted on attacks strictly against Turkish officials and the Turkish government, Hagopian's group disregarded the losses of unintended victims and regularly executed dissenting members.
On [[August 10]], [[1982]], [[Artin Penik]] a Turk of Armenian descent, set himself on fire in protest of this attack.<ref name="oran"> {{cite news|
| last = Oran
| first = Baskın
| title = The Reconstruction of Armenian Identity in Turkey and the Weekly Agos (Interview with Hrant Dink)
| work = Nouvelles d'Armenie
| date = 2006-12-17
| url = http://www.armenews.com/article.php3?id_article=27696
| accessdate = 2008-09-02 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=Armenian Issue: Chronology | publisher=[[Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism]] | url=http://www.kultur.gov.tr/EN/BelgeGoster.aspx?17A16AE30572D313A781CAA92714FCE0A3216081A23BEF0D | accessdate=2007-02-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=He was an Armenian: Artin Penik|work=Turkish Journal|url=http://www.turkishjournal.com/i.php?newsid=361|accessdate=2007-02-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title = Armenian Dies from Self-Inflicted Burns | work=[[Associated Press]]| date = 1982-08-15 }}</ref>

Prominent Armenian poet [[Silva Kaputikyan]] in [[1983]] wrote "Its raining my sonny" poem dedicated to the memory of ASALA member Ekmekjian.<ref>[[Spurk Journal]], #1-12, 2005, [[Beirut]], p. 35.</ref>

On [[July 15]], [[1983]], the ASALA carried out another attack at the [[Orly Airport]] near [[Paris]], in which 8 people were killed. The attack resulted in a split in ASALA, between those individuals who carried it out, called the "Orly Group," and those who believed the attack to be counter productive.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hetq.am/eng/society/7332/
|accessdate=2008-09-02
|title=He Was a Man Deeply Connected to the Natural World
|work=Hetq Online
|date=2007-11-26
|first=Edik
|last=Baghdasaryan
}}</ref> Afterwards, French forces promptly arrested those involved.<ref>"[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9804E0DF143BF93AA35753C1A965948260 French Hold Armenians In Orly Airport Bombing]," ''[[Associated Press]]'', [[New York Times]], [[October 9]], [[1983]].</ref> Moreover, this attack eliminated the suspected secret agreement that the French socialist government made with ASALA, in which the government would allow ASALA to use France as a base of operations in exchange for refraining from launching attacks on French soil. Belief in this suspected agreement was further bolstered after "Interior Minister [[Gaston Defferre]] called [ASALA's] cause "just," and four Armenians arrested for taking hostages at the Turkish Embassy in September 1981 were given light sentences."<ref>Echikson, William. "Armenian bombing at Orly ends pact between Socialists and terrorists," ''[[Christian Science Monitor]]'', [[July 19]], [[1983]].</ref>

== Dissolution==
With the [[1982 Lebanon War|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 last attack committed by the ASALA was the attack on the bullet-proof limousine carrying the Turkish Ambassador to [[Budapest]] ([[December 19]], [[1991]]). The ambassador was not injured in the attack, which was claimed by ASALA in [[Paris]]. <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=6723 |title=ASALA attacked Diplomatic target|date=1981-12-19|location=Hungary}}{{Dead link|date=September 2008}}</ref>

ASALA's founder Hagop Hagopian was assassinated on a sidewalk in an affluent neighborhood in [[Athens]], [[Greece]] on [[April 28]], [[1988]]. His assailants, Hovsep A., Vartan G., Garabed K., and Albert "Sultan-Minas", were all former ASALA members and lieutenants of Hagopian. His body was riddled with several bullets while he was walking with two women at 4:30 in the morning.<ref>Melkonian, Markar. ''My Brother's Road: An American's Fateful Journey to Armenia''. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005 pg. 187.</ref> Tarakchian died of [[cancer]] in [[1980]]. Assassinations of former members continued in [[Armenia]] into the late 1990s.<ref>Melkonian, Markar. ''My Brother's Road: An American's Fateful Journey to Armenia''. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005, pp. 277-278.</ref>

== Reactions ==
Continuous attacks prompted Turkey to accuse [[Cyprus]], [[Greece]], [[Syria]], [[Lebanon]], and the [[Soviet Union]] of provoking or possibly funding the ASALA.<ref name="countrystudy" /> Although they publicly distanced themselves from the ASALA,<ref name="countrystudy" /> Turkey's Armenian community came under attack by Turkish nationalists in reaction to the group's actions. This became apparent after the assassination of [[Ahmet Benler]] on [[October 12]], [[1979]] by Armenian militants in [[the Hague]]. The reaction to the attack led to the bombing of the church of the Armenian Apostolic Patriarchate in [[Istanbul]] on [[October 19]] in retaliation.<ref name=azadhye>[[Tessa Hofmann|Tessa, Hofmann]]. [http://www.armenian.ch/asa/Docs/faae02.pdf Armenians in Turkey today]</ref>

According to [[Tessa Hofmann]], Turkish officials frequently used the accusation of collaboration with the ASALA and foreign Armenian circles to incriminate extreme left-wing Turkish opposition groups.<ref name=azadhye/>

==References==
{{Citations broken|date=September 2008}}
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[http://www.ermenisorunu.gen.tr/ Armenian Issue]
{{Defunct Armed Armenian Organizations}}

[[Category:1975 establishments]]
[[Category:Defunct Armenian paramilitary organizations]]
[[Category:Armenian Genocide]]
[[Category:Guerrilla organizations]]

[[az:ASALA]]
[[bg:АСАЛА]]
[[ca:ASALA]]
[[de:Asala]]
[[es:Ejército Secreto Armenio para la Liberación de Armenia]]
[[fr:Armée secrète arménienne de libération de l'Arménie]]
[[hy:Հայաստանի ազատագրության հայ գաղտնի բանակ]]
[[it:Esercito Segreto armeno per la Liberazione dell'Armenia]]
[[nl:Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia]]
[[ja:アルメニア解放秘密軍]]
[[ru:Армянская секретная армия освобождения Армении]]
[[simple:Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia]]
[[sl:Armenska tajna armada za osvoboditev Armenije]]
[[sv:ASALA]]
[[tr:ASALA]]

Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia

2008-09-20T19:02:08Z

Adoniscik: Reverted to revision 236298122 by Adoniscik; all that stuff is in the navbox at the bottom. (TW)

{{Infobox militant organization
|name = Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia {{rtl-lang|hy|Հայաստանի ազատագրութեան հայ գաղտնի բանակ}} 
|logo = Flag of the ASALA.png
|caption = Flag of the ASALA
|dates = [[1975]]<ref name=hunsicker/> to [[1986]]<ref name=roy170/>
|leader = [[Hagop Hagopian]] [[Monte Melkonian]] [[Hagop Tarakchian]]<ref>[http://www.tkb.org/Group.jsp?groupID=258 MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]{{Dead link|date=August 2008}}</ref>
|motives = "To compel the Turkish Government to acknowledge publicly its responsibility for the [[Armenian Genocide|deaths of 1.5 million Armenians]] in 1915, pay reparations, and cede territory for an Armenian homeland."<ref name=hunsicker/>
|area = [[Turkey]], [[United States]], [[Lebanon]], [[Western Europe]], [[Armenia]], and [[Middle East]].
|ideology = [[Marxism-Leninism]], [[Greater Armenia (political concept)|Greater Armenia]]
|crimes = Assassination of a number of Turkish diplomats and their relatives. Bombing of Turkish, French and Swiss targets for varying motives. Several minor bombing attacks against US airline offices in Western Europe. 
|attacks = Armed attack and bombing of the [[Esenboğa International Airport]], [[Ankara]].<ref>[http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=3316 MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]{{Dead link|date=August 2008}}</ref> Bombing of Turkish airline counter at [[Orly Airport (Paris)]].<ref name=hunsicker/>
|allies =
|enemies = [[Turkish government]] and [[Turkish diplomats|its representatives]].<ref name=countrystudy>"[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/85.htm Political Interest Groups]," ''[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/ Turkey: A Country Study]'' ed. Helen Chapin Metz. Washington D.C.: The Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, 283, 354-355 {{oclc|17841957}}</ref>
|status = Dissolved, was listed as a [[terrorism|terrorist]] organization by the United States in 1980s.<ref name=pgt>{{cite book
|chapterurl=http://www.nps.edu/Library/Research/SubjectGuides/SpecialTopics/TerroristProfile/Prior/ASALA.html
|url=http://www.mipt.org/pdf/1997pogt.pdf
|accessdate=2008-09-02
|title=Patterns of Global Terrorism
|chapter=Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA)
|year=1997
|publisher=[[U.S. Department of State]]
}}</ref>
}}

The '''Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia''' ('''ASALA''') was a [[militant]]<ref>[http://www.bartleby.com/67/2679.html 1982. 2001. The Encyclopedia of World History]</ref> [[Marxism-Leninism|Marxist-Leninist]] organization, that operated from 1975 to 1986<ref name=roy170>Roy, Olivier. ''Turkey Today: A European Nation?'' p. 170. Roy suggests that the Orly incident led to "dissension end[ing] in the settling of scores in which ASALA militants killed each other in their camp at Bekaa (Al-Biqa, Lebanon)... (It) practically disappeared. It resurfaced once again, however, to assassinate important members of the Lebanese section of the Dashnak Party (March 1985 - May 1986)."</ref> and was responsible for the assassination of many Turkish diplomats and their families. The group also operated under other names such as '''The Orly Group''' and the '''3 October Organization'''.<ref name=countrystudy>"[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/85.htm Political Interest Groups]," ''[http://countrystudies.us/turkey/ Turkey: A Country Study]'' ed. Helen Chapin Metz. Washington D.C.: The Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, 283, 354-355 {{oclc|17841957}}</ref> The intention of ASALA was purportedly "to compel the Turkish Government to acknowledge publicly its alleged responsibility for the [[Armenian Genocide|deaths of 1.5 million Armenians]] in 1915, pay reparations, and cede territory for an Armenian homeland".<ref name=hunsicker>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=K4XefrTlSygC&pg=PA431&lpg=PA431&dq=%22to+compel+the+Turkish+Government+to+acknowledge+publicly+its+alleged+responsibility+for+the+deaths+of+1.5+million+Armenians+in+1915,+pay+reparations,+and+cede+territory+for+an+Armenian+homeland%22&source=web&ots=pXUcCHSQ_K&sig=g_wv7KBmKIdDoKiZ2P5nF2r952M&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=2&ct=result|title=Understanding International Counter Terrorism|publisher=Universal-Publishers|last=Hunsicker|isbn=158112905X|pages=431|year=2006}}</ref> ASALA was listed as a [[terrorism|terrorist]] organization by the United States in 1980s.<ref name=pgt/>

==Background==
ASALA was founded in 1975 in [[Beirut]], [[Lebanon]] during the [[Lebanese Civil War]] by [[Hagop Hagopian]] (Harutiun Tagushian) and [[Kevork Ajemian]],<ref>"[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-22427363.html Kevork Ajemian, Prominent Contemporary Writer and Surviving Member of Triumvirate Which Founded ASALA, Dies in Beirut, Lebanon]," ''Armenian Reporter'', [[1999-02-01]]</ref> a prominent contemporary writer, with the help of sympathetic [[Palestinians]].<ref name="countrystudy" /> Consisting primarily of Lebanese-born Armenians of the Diaspora, the organization followed a theoretical model based on [[leftism|leftist ideology]].<ref>Roy, Olivier. ''Turkey Today: A European Nation?'' p. 169.</ref>
The group's activities were primarily assassinations of Turkish diplomats and politicians in [[Western Europe]], in the [[United States]] and the [[Middle East]].<ref name="countrystudy" /> Their first acknowledged killing was the assassination of the Turkish diplomat, [[Daniş Tunalıgil]], in [[Vienna]] on [[October 22]], [[1975]]. A failed attack in [[Geneva]] on [[October 3]], [[1980]], in which two Armenian militants were injured resulted in a new nickname for the group, the 3 October Organization. The ASALA's eight point manifesto was published in 1981.

ASALA, trained in the Beirut camps of [[Palestine Liberation Organization]], is the best known of the guerilla groups responsible for assassinations of at least 36 Turkish diplomats.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,955176,00.html
|accessdate=2008-09-02
|title=Long Memories
|work=TIME
|date=1983-08-08
|author=Iyer, Pico
|volume=32}}</ref>

== Attacks ==
{{See also|List of attacks by the Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia}}

According to [[National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism|MIPT]] website, there had been 84 incidents involving ASALA leaving 46 people dead, and 299 people injured including the following:<ref name="MIPT">[http://www.tkb.org/Group.jsp?groupID=258 MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base]{{Dead link|date=August 2008}}</ref>
* [[February 16]], [[1976]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Beirut]], Oktar Cirit was killed.
* [[October 12]], [[1979]] in Turkish Embassy in the [[Hague]], Ahmet Benler, the son of the Ambassador Özdemir Benler, was killed (This attack was one of the attacks co-claimed by JCAG.
* [[July 31]], [[1980]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Athens]], Galip Özmen and his 14 year old daughter Neslihan were killed in the Turkish consulate. Galip Özmen's wife Sevil Özmen and their son Kaan survived the attack with injuries.
* [[December 29]], [[1980]] in [[Madrid]], a [[Spain|Spanish]] journalist, assistant director of the "Pueblo" newspaper, [[José Antonio Gurriarán]] was accidentally injured during an October 3 group attack. Then Gurriarán was interested what the group's purposes were; he found and interviewed ASALA members. In 1982 his "La Bomba" book was published, dedicated to the Armenian cause and Armenian militant's struggle.<ref>[http://www.elpais.com/articulo/ultima/GURRIARaN/_JOSe_ANTONIO_/PERIODISTA/Jose/Antonio/Gurriaran/elpepiult/19820404elpepiult_2/Tes/ GENTE José Antonio Gurriarán], ''[[El Pais]]'', [[April 4]], [[1982]]. "Subdirector del diario Pueblo, relatará en su libro La bomba, que será publicado en el próximo mes de abril, el atentado de que fue víctima en la Gran Vía de Madrid el 29 de diciembre de 1980, hecho del que luego se responsabilizaría el grupo armenio Octubre 3. El autor entrevista en el libro a los miembros del comando que activaron las dos cargas de Goma 2."</ref>
* [[March 4th]], 1981 in the Turkish Embassy in [[Paris]], Reşat Moralı was killed and Tecelli Arı was injured.
* [[June 9th]], 1981 in the Turkish Consulate in [[Geneva]], Mehmet Savaş Yergüz was killed.
* [[September 24]], [[1981]] in Turkish Consulate in Paris, 56 Turks were held hostage in the embassy by ASALA militants (none of the hostages were harmed), Turkish guard Cemal Özen was killed. ASALA members demanded the Turkish government free Armenian political prisoners within 12 hours and fly them to Paris. After 15 hours they surrendered peacefully requesting political asylum from the French government.<ref>[http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=2987 ASALA attacked Diplomatic target] ([[September 24]], [[1981]], France){{Dead link|date=September 2008}}</ref>
* [[April 28]], [[1984]] in Turkish Embassy in [[Tehran|Tehran, Iran]], Işık Yönder was killed.

The ASALA's most criticized attack was on [[August 7]], [[1982]] in [[Ankara]] at the [[Esenboğa International Airport]], when its members targeted both diplomats and non-diplomat civilians for the first time. Two militants opened fire in a crowded passenger waiting room. One of the shooters took more than 20 hostages while the second was apprehended by police. Altogether, nine people died and 82 were injured. The arrested 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'') led by Hagopian and the 'Popular Movement' (''ASALA-Mouvement Révolutionnaire'') led by [[Monte Melkonian]]. While Melkonian's faction insisted on attacks strictly against Turkish officials and the Turkish government, Hagopian's group disregarded the losses of unintended victims and regularly executed dissenting members.
On [[August 10]], [[1982]], [[Artin Penik]] a Turk of Armenian descent, set himself on fire in protest of this attack.<ref name="oran"> {{cite news|
| last = Oran
| first = Baskın
| title = The Reconstruction of Armenian Identity in Turkey and the Weekly Agos (Interview with Hrant Dink)
| work = Nouvelles d'Armenie
| date = 2006-12-17
| url = http://www.armenews.com/article.php3?id_article=27696
| accessdate = 2008-09-02 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=Armenian Issue: Chronology | publisher=[[Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism]] | url=http://www.kultur.gov.tr/EN/BelgeGoster.aspx?17A16AE30572D313A781CAA92714FCE0A3216081A23BEF0D | accessdate=2007-02-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=He was an Armenian: Artin Penik|work=Turkish Journal|url=http://www.turkishjournal.com/i.php?newsid=361|accessdate=2007-02-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title = Armenian Dies from Self-Inflicted Burns | work=[[Associated Press]]| date = 1982-08-15 }}</ref>

Prominent Armenian poet [[Silva Kaputikyan]] in [[1983]] wrote "Its raining my sonny" poem dedicated to the memory of ASALA member Ekmekjian.<ref>[[Spurk Journal]], #1-12, 2005, [[Beirut]], p. 35.</ref>

On [[July 15]], [[1983]], the ASALA carried out another attack at the [[Orly Airport]] near [[Paris]], in which 8 people were killed. The attack resulted in a split in ASALA, between those individuals who carried it out, called the "Orly Group," and those who believed the attack to be counter productive.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hetq.am/eng/society/7332/
|accessdate=2008-09-02
|title=He Was a Man Deeply Connected to the Natural World
|work=Hetq Online
|date=2007-11-26
|first=Edik
|last=Baghdasaryan
}}</ref> Afterwards, French forces promptly arrested those involved.<ref>"[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9804E0DF143BF93AA35753C1A965948260 French Hold Armenians In Orly Airport Bombing]," ''[[Associated Press]]'', [[New York Times]], [[October 9]], [[1983]].</ref> Moreover, this attack eliminated the suspected secret agreement that the French socialist government made with ASALA, in which the government would allow ASALA to use France as a base of operations in exchange for refraining from launching attacks on French soil. Belief in this suspected agreement was further bolstered after "Interior Minister [[Gaston Defferre]] called [ASALA's] cause "just," and four Armenians arrested for taking hostages at the Turkish Embassy in September 1981 were given light sentences."<ref>Echikson, William. "Armenian bombing at Orly ends pact between Socialists and terrorists," ''[[Christian Science Monitor]]'', [[July 19]], [[1983]].</ref>

== Dissolution==
With the [[1982 Lebanon War|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 last attack committed by the ASALA was the attack on the bullet-proof limousine carrying the Turkish Ambassador to [[Budapest]] ([[December 19]], [[1991]]). The ambassador was not injured in the attack, which was claimed by ASALA in [[Paris]]. <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tkb.org/Incident.jsp?incID=6723 |title=ASALA attacked Diplomatic target|date=1981-12-19|location=Hungary}}{{Dead link|date=September 2008}}</ref>

ASALA's founder Hagop Hagopian was assassinated on a sidewalk in an affluent neighborhood in [[Athens]], [[Greece]] on [[April 28]], [[1988]]. His assailants, Hovsep A., Vartan G., Garabed K., and Albert "Sultan-Minas", were all former ASALA members and lieutenants of Hagopian. His body was riddled with several bullets while he was walking with two women at 4:30 in the morning.<ref>Melkonian, Markar. ''My Brother's Road: An American's Fateful Journey to Armenia''. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005 pg. 187.</ref> Tarakchian died of [[cancer]] in [[1980]]. Assassinations of former members continued in [[Armenia]] into the late 1990s.<ref>Melkonian, Markar. ''My Brother's Road: An American's Fateful Journey to Armenia''. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005, pp. 277-278.</ref>

== Reactions ==
Continuous attacks prompted Turkey to accuse [[Cyprus]], [[Greece]], [[Syria]], [[Lebanon]], and the [[Soviet Union]] of provoking or possibly funding the ASALA.<ref name="countrystudy" /> Although they publicly distanced themselves from the ASALA,<ref name="countrystudy" /> Turkey's Armenian community came under attack by Turkish nationalists in reaction to the group's actions. This became apparent after the assassination of [[Ahmet Benler]] on [[October 12]], [[1979]] by Armenian militants in [[the Hague]]. The reaction to the attack led to the bombing of the church of the Armenian Apostolic Patriarchate in [[Istanbul]] on [[October 19]] in retaliation.<ref name=azadhye>[[Tessa Hofmann|Tessa, Hofmann]]. [http://www.armenian.ch/asa/Docs/faae02.pdf Armenians in Turkey today]</ref>

According to [[Tessa Hofmann]], Turkish officials frequently used the accusation of collaboration with the ASALA and foreign Armenian circles to incriminate extreme left-wing Turkish opposition groups.<ref name=azadhye/>

==References==
{{Citations broken|date=September 2008}}
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[http://www.ermenisorunu.gen.tr/ Armenian Issue]
{{Defunct Armed Armenian Organizations}}

[[Category:1975 establishments]]
[[Category:Defunct Armenian paramilitary organizations]]
[[Category:Armenian Genocide]]
[[Category:Guerrilla organizations]]

[[az:ASALA]]
[[bg:АСАЛА]]
[[ca:ASALA]]
[[de:Asala]]
[[es:Ejército Secreto Armenio para la Liberación de Armenia]]
[[fr:Armée secrète arménienne de libération de l'Arménie]]
[[hy:Հայաստանի ազատագրության հայ գաղտնի բանակ]]
[[it:Esercito Segreto armeno per la Liberazione dell'Armenia]]
[[nl:Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia]]
[[ja:アルメニア解放秘密軍]]
[[ru:Армянская секретная армия освобождения Армении]]
[[simple:Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia]]
[[sl:Armenska tajna armada za osvoboditev Armenije]]
[[sv:ASALA]]
[[tr:ASALA]]