Peace and Conflict Studies - Spring 2014

Peace and Conflict Studies Volume 21, Number 1 81 documentaries with filmmakers from both sides of the Turkish-Armenian border (“Cross- Border film,” 2012). Theriault (2001) has warned, “Denial is becoming the inevitable future of genocide” (p. 241). The global recognition and remembrance of the Armenian genocide is an issue that has personal significance for Armenians, but also political significance for the world community as a human rights issue. In their identity negotiation, Armenians have to reconcile the violent deaths of family members, neighbours and entire communities; the permanent removal of Armenians from much of their traditional homelands; and the ongoing and virulent effort to permanently erase those events from world history. In light of this, it seems imperative for Armenians to continue to not only advocate for genocide recognition and Turkish admittance of responsibility, but to consider the most effective ways of doing so, even if this may require overcoming uncomfortable barriers such as those of representational force. April 24, 2015 will mark the one-hundredth anniversary of the Armenian genocide. In the lead up to this event and the commemorations themselves, Armenians and human rights activists have the opportunity to draw increasing attention to the issue of Turkish denial. The 2013 Taksim Square protests in Istanbul were also helpful in drawing international attention to the democratic failings of Turkey’s government and its repressive tactics against free speech. Activists should use the opportunity to tie the protests, which began as a way to protect Gezi Park from demolition, to the issue of Armenian repression in Turkey – Gezi Park was, for several centuries, an Armenian cemetery, but it was destroyed in the period of Turkification and Armenia erasure after World War I (Greenhouse, 2013). Just as during the Taksim Square protests, Turkish activists can continue to draw attention to their government’s ongoing failures of justice, and make genocide recognition part of this platform. Diasporans in the United States, Europe, Australia and elsewhere would benefit by joining in solidarity with Turkish activists, both in their home nations and in Turkey. As Akçam and other Turkish scholars have demonstrated by working together with Armenian scholars, a collaborative approach changes the debate from one of Turks versus Armenians to one of repression versus human rights. Armenian diasporan communities have many international community organizations, such as the Armenian General Benevolent Union and the Armenian National Committee. These organizations serve their Armenian communities and support recognition efforts, as success in recognizing countries and other state bodies, and near success in the United States demonstrates. Turning some of these efforts specifically to working with Turkish activists may strengthen the already growing awareness movement in