Armenian committees and revolts

ARMENIAN COMMITTEES AND REVOLTS

After the Treaty of Berlin, "Armenian Question" progressed in two directions. The first direction is increasing European interference and pressure on the Ottoman internal affairs, the second is Armenian armament, and secret organisations emerged in Syria, Anatolia, and Roumelia.

Russia was the initial provocateur of the secret Armenian organisations. This protective role of Russia urged Britain and France's interest on the Armenians. The number of the British Consulates in the Eastern Anatolia increased and many Protestant missionaries were sent to the region.

Because of European provocation, the Armenian subjects of the Ottoman Empire began to form local nationalist groups and secret societies. However, all these organisations remained local and failed to create a widespread influence. The Armenian habitants living in peace and welfare did not join those radical societies and many of them ended.

Henceforth, the failure to create a movement among the Ottoman Armenians led the Armenian nationalists to form societies in Russia. Thus, in 1887, an organisation was formed on socialist lines, in Geneva, named Hunchak. In Tiflis, in 1890, an Armenian Committee more rebellious, more nationalist, and more radical was founded, named Dashnaktsutium, whose members were commonly called Dashnaks. The target of those committees was Anatolia and "to give freedom to the Ottoman Armenians."

First the Hunchaks began to organise demonstrations mainly targeting to attract the attention of the European powers and the Dasnaks followed these attempts. The main characteristics of these demonstrations are their planing and leading systems. All the actions were planned and led outside Turkey.

The first revolt was in Erzurum, in 1890. Kumkapi demonstration followed this revolt and Kayseri, Yozgat, Corum and Merzifon events became next between 1892-93. In 1894, Sasun revolt, in 1895 Babiali demonstration and Zeytun revolt were organised. In 1896, the Ottoman Bank was occupied and Van was raided. In 1903, the second Sasun revolt was occurred. In 1905, an assassination to Sultan Abdulhamid was made but failed and Adana revolt, in 1909, followed this unsuccessful attempt.

The Ottoman Army repressed the revolts, they were accused as murderers, and the Armenians gave the whole world a false message as "the Muslims are killing the Christians." With these events, "Armenian Question" raised and gained a more international identity. The target of Armenian revolts was to create anarchy and chaos in Turkey to incite the Ottoman army forces. In fact, the reports of the British and Russian diplomatic missions reveal the reality. The British and Russian consulates in Anatolia and the Christian missionaries played an important role in Armenian propaganda and they have misled the public opinion.

SPECIAL BUREAU OF REPUBLIC TURKIYE

Дата добавления: 2015-11-04