[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 119 (Tuesday, July 24, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H8391]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  ARMENIAN GENOCIDE--THE WAR TRIBUNALS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, the denial of the Armenian genocide is an 
absurdity. Looking at the history of this catastrophic event from 1915 
to 1918, it is impossible to deny that this was indeed genocide on all 
accounts.
  One way to bear witness to the truth is to make reference to the war 
trials that took place immediately following the end of World War I. 
Looking at the substantial evidence and testimony gathered during these 
war trials proves that this was an indisputable genocide aimed at 
destroying a race of people.
  Following the Ottoman Empire's defeat in World War I, a new 
government formed and accused its predecessor, Young Turk regime, of 
serious crimes. These accusations led to the court-martialing of the 
leadership of the Committee on Union and Progress, the party that had 
seized and held power since 1908.
  Nearly 400 of the key government officials implicated in the 
atrocities committed against the Armenians were arrested. They were 
deported to Malta, where they were held while searches were made of 
archives in Istanbul, London, Paris, and Washington to investigate 
their actions. The charges included the unconstitutional seizure of 
power, wartime profiteering, and the massacre of Armenians.
  At least six regional courts convened in provincial cities where 
massacres had occurred. The first recorded trial took place in Yozgat, 
charging three officials, including the governor, of mass murder of the 
Armenians of Ankara.
  Testimony revealed Major Tevfik Bey, commander of the Yozgat military 
police, had almost completely wiped out the Armenian population of 
Yozgat. It confirmed that the deportation of the Armenians was ``a 
policy of extermination,'' and that the people were marched off with 
``arms and hands tied up'' and later killed with ``axes, spades, 
swords, knives and hatchets.'' Meanwhile, Governor Kemal told the 
captain that he had ``made a vow on the honor of the prophet: I shall 
not leave a single Armenian alive in the sanjak of Yozgat.''
  The most famous trial took place in Istanbul in April 1919. There, 12 
defendants, all members of the Committee on Union and Progress 
leadership and former ministers, were tried. Seven key figures, 
including Talat Pasha, Minister of Interior; Enver Pasha, Minister of 
War; and Cemal Pasha, Governor of Aleppo, had fled and they were tried 
in absentia. One authenticated secret telegram from July 17, 1915, 
quoted orders from Pasha that quoted: ``The salvation of the country 
requires the elimination of the Armenians.''
  Even more evidence against these top officials was delivered in the 
key indictment which included 42 incriminating documents that had been 
gathered by the Mazhar Commission. These documents, such as telegrams, 
memos, statements, and depositions all confirmed that the campaign to 
exterminate the Armenians was premeditated and deliberate.
  Some of the accused were found guilty of the charges. There were 
three hangings and numerous convictions. Most significantly, the ruling 
triumvirate of Young Turks consisting of Mehmed Talaat, Ismail Enver, 
and Ahmed Djemal, were condemned to death. They, however, eluded 
justice by fleeing abroad. Many more of the convicted did not serve out 
their prison sentences, and a majority of the perpetrators escaped 
punishment after a prisoner exchange deal. To this day, there is still 
no justice for the victims of the Armenian genocide.
  Madam Speaker, I wish to express my support for swift passage of 
House Resolution 106, which reaffirms the Armenian genocide. It now has 
224 cosponsors, a majority of the House. As the first genocide of the 
20th century, it is morally imperative that we remember this atrocity 
and collectively demand reaffirmation of this crime against humanity.
  We must stand up and recognize the tragic events that began in 1915 
for what they were, the systematic elimination of the people. By 
recognizing these actions as genocide, we can renew our commitment to 
prevent such atrocities from ever occurring again.

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