KAFFED organizes commemoration activities in Istanbul for the 21st May Exile and Genocide day
22 марта 2011
The 21 May commemoration activities, which started with the participation of a few hundred people in Kefken, reached thousands and finally 10.000 last year. With the initiative of our federation, KAFFED, and the member associations in the region, the caves in Babali coast were declared as the protected area by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and new arrangements were made in Karagac Cemetery. Besides our people, the local community learned the meaning and importance of Kefken very well and was impressed by the emotional atmosphere there.
The extent of the participation in Kefken last year revealed two organizational shortcomings:
That the infrastructure of Karaagac Village and Babali coast is inadequate regarding traffic, parking lots, fulfilling the basic needs of the participators is the primary issue. KAFFED, which observed that the number of the participants increased every year, took step at the Izmit Provincial Culture Directorate, Izmit Metropolitan Municipality and Kandira Governorship last year with the demand to improve existing infrastructure. However, because of the restrictive laws and general regulations regarding the coasts, all the intended improvements could not be done and although there were additional facilities last year, they were inadequate for the number of people attending the activities.
The second issue is that the reflection of the commemoration day in the general public and the media, in spite of its emotional atmosphere shared by thousands of people, falls short of the mark. The main reason is that the area the event takes place is very distant regarding the access of the press and the wider public.
Because of these two issues, KAFFED decided to move this year’s main commemoration activities for the 21st May Exile and Genocide Day to Besiktas, which was one of the first settlements of the Circassian people in Istanbul when they were exiled to the Ottoman territories. The target is to bring 25.000 people to the Besiktas Square and to express our demands for the homeland and for Turkey while remembering our losses on the way of exile just like we do every year. Kefken will be visited by a small group on the same day.
In accordance with this decision, an organization committee was formed by the representatives of the regional associations to proceed with planning and organization of activities. The detailed program for the commemoration activities is going to be announced to the public in due course.
Acknowledgement: All available information and documents in "Justice For North Caucasus Group" is provided for the "fair use". There should be no intention for ill-usage of any sort of any published item for commercial purposes and in any way or form. JFNC is a nonprofit group and has no intentions for the distribution of information for commercial or advantageous gain. At the same time consideration is ascertained that all different visions, beliefs, presentations and opinions will be presented to visitors and readers of all message boards of this site. Providing, furnishing, posting and publishing the information of all sources is considered a right to freedom of opinion, speech, expression, and information while at the same time does not necessarily reflect, represent, constitute, or comprise the stand or the opinion of this group. If you have any concerns contact us directly at:
eagle@JusticeForNorthCaucasus.com
