Epress.am News from Armenia
Union of Dersim Armenians Chair Mihran Prkich (“Saviour”) Gültekin has come to Armenia to become more familiar with the country and to introduce Armenians in Armenia to his organization and its aims and programs. The union is comprised of Armenians born in Dersim, in Turkey’s Tunceli province.
Meeting with journalists in Yerevan today, Gültekin said the union’s goal is to restore Dersim Armenians’ identity, preserving cultural riches and learning the Armenian language. However, Gültekin himself does not speak Armenian well.
“Including me, it’s three generations [of Armenians], who have lived in Dersim, completely cut off from their roots, all religious traditions and national traditions in general,” he said.
Armenians began to move to Dersim at the end of the 19th century, escaping from the massacre, and all those of different nationalities who live here, according to Gültekin, definitely have Armenian roots.
“Since the same fear continues to live on in people, they can’t find the courage to confess that they have Armenian roots,” he said. Gültekin recalled Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s words that “being Armenian is considered a certain [type of] opposition,” noting that he, nevertheless, has made his decision, after which he went to court and changed his name and religious affiliation.
Gültekin was unable to say how many Armenians live in Dersim; however, he stressed that 75% of the population in Dersim villages are Armenian. “Dersim’s village-cities are not that populated, but after creating the union, I did some research and in a span of 15 days, I found 200 families with Armenian roots.”
The Union of Dersim Armenians chair noted that the number of Armenians who go to court and change their religious affiliation is very few.
“There is a fear in people that the past government could return and again exert pressure [on the people]. They continue to live with the fear of the past,” he said.