The 21st of May, 2013
By: Adel Bashqawi 20, May, 2013
No commemoration event can be compared with its predecessor, as the difference between this year’s Circassian Memorial Day and the one on the 21st of May, 2012, have shown positive differences. Whereas the gains that were noticeable last year have crystallized in the inauguration of the victims of the Circassian Genocide Monument built in Anaklia on the Black Sea.
Let’s not forget or underestimate the efforts executed this past year by the Circassians at homeland in the North Caucasus or in the Russian Federation especially in Moscow for continuously carrying out their relentless efforts to highlight the fact about the Circassians of Syria and the necessity to extend a helping hand for them to be able to leave the battlefield of the grinding civil war and to enable them to return to the Circassian homeland.
The issuance and sending of an unexpected message with a non surprising gesture taken by the Circassian leaders in the North Caucasus which have reviewed all important events that took place recently in the Circassian homeland in the North Caucasus and in Diaspora, which required thanks and praise for the meaningful letter sent to the Russian president Vladimir Putin and Deputies of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation (http://www.natpress.ru/index.php?newsid=8234)! The letter is deeply appreciated by many Circassians in the North Caucasus and in Diaspora alike, because it demanded clearly the recognition of the Circassian Genocide and the firm rights of the Circassian nation that will not budge them one iota. The letter proved beyond any reasonable doubt the common destiny that brings all Circassians together regardless the time and distance away from homeland. This gesture proved to everyone that skeptics and doubters who always tried to influence the Circassian communities that any work related to claiming the Circassian rights would negatively affect our people in the North Caucasus, which always had proven to be false and untrue, and here goes the honorable Circassians who advanced forward across rows for achieving noble objectives.
Numerous proceedings occurred since then, which include but not limited to continuous Circassian activities on the way to achieving and reclaiming the Circassian rights whether in the North Caucasus or in Diaspora. Important conferences and events have taken place in various places such as Tbilisi, Kfar Kama, Istanbul, N.J., USA, and Jordan. Some of the events and activities occurred on the Circassian scene are mentioned for example but not limited to the following:
– Seventh Circassian Day in the European Parliament, June, 2012 (http://euroxase.com/en/index.php?action=fullnews&id=50).
– A gathering in Kfar Kama included a paper under the title of “The Circassian Mobility During the Past Few Years”, July, 2012 (http://justicefornorthcaucasus.info/?p=1251670398).
– Tbilisi Symposium Conference, July, 2012 (http://www.justicefornorthcaucasus.com/jfnc_message_boards/circassia_adiga.php?entry_id=1343449150).
– During 2012 London Summer Olympic Games, Circassians protested in East London against the plight of Circassians and the planned Sochi Winter Olympic games, July, 2012 (http://www.natpress.ru/index.php?newsid=7736).
– Solo and group demonstrations to bring the attention on the situation of the Circassians of Syria (http://www.eng.kavkaz-uzel.ru/articles/22997/), which were held in the North Caucasus, Turkey and Moscow.
– In November, 2012, the Russian police suppressed a peaceful Circassian sit-in in Nalchik, the capital city of KBR (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=e_wqocupAMs#!), demanding to extend a helping hand to Circassians caught in the midst of the civil war that currently exist in Syria.
– In December, 2012, a hostile workshop against Circassians held in Rostov (http://justicefornorthcaucasus.info/?p=1251662272).
– In December, 2012, Circassians of Turkey demonstrated in Istanbul against Vladimir Putin’s state visit (http://www.caucasusforum.org/we-are-welcoming-a-dictator/).
– The leader of Nalchik Adigha khasa in KBR, Ibrahim Yaganov who is called Hero of Abkhazia, stated in December, 2012, that he does not understand “why the Abkhazian leadership voluntarily took on the mission to prove that there was no Circassian genocide” (http://eng.expertclub.ge/portal/cnid__13078/alias__Expertclub/lang__en/tabid__2546/dfault.aspx).
– In January, 2013 (http://justicefornorthcaucasus.info/?p=1251662840), the Committee of Nationalities of the Russian State Duma and Ministry of Regional Development of the Russian Federation stated that “Syrian Circassians are descendents of families of Adyghe people from the North and West Caucasus that have not adopted the Russian citizenship and made a voluntary choice to leave the region after the Caucasus War (1817 – 1864). Thus, ancestors of the Syrian Circassians living in the territories, until their resettlement in 1864 in the Ottoman Empire were not part of the Russian State” (http://www.jaccf.org/?p=683).
– In March, 2013, rain washed out part of a dam in Krasnaya Polyana near Sochi (http://www.itar-tass.com/en/c154/674268.html), also created floods and mudslides (http://www.itar-tass.com/en/c154/674383.html).
– Also in March, 2013, Veterans Federation of Abkhazia condemned statements made by the Head of the International Circassian Association on the recognition of the Circassian Genocide crime committed by Tsarist Russia (http://www.natpress.ru/index.php?newsid=8108)
– The Jordanian Circassian Political Movement has held on the 24th of March, 2013, its “Third Workshop” in cooperation with the “Circassian House” and “Al Jeel Al Jadeed Club” at Al Jeel Al Jadeed Club’s Hall, which came in three main axes (http://www.jaccf.org/?p=1238)
– The establishment of the Circassian Nationalist Movement emanating from Jordan Association of Circassian Caucasus Friends (http://www.jaccf.org/),
– A new Circassian center is established in Latvia in the name of “The Circassian Culture and Human Rights Center” (http://ccahrc.com/about-us).
– “Window on Eurasia” (http://windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2013/05/window-on-eurasia-sochi-countdown-38.html) issued a special weekly Sochi Count-down feature published by political analyst Paul Goble, which lists all information that pertains to the intended 2014 Sochi Olympic Games.
– A letter is sent to Beslan Kopakhia, the Coordinator of the International Movement for the Protection of the Rights of Peoples, about his statements against Circassians (https://www.facebook.com/groups/351047254906986/permalink/590783074266735/).
– A Fund Raising event was held by the International Circassians Council in N.J., USA, in 27 April, 2012, which Circassians from USA, Turkey, Syria and Jordan participated in and gave speeches (http://www.jaccf.org/?p=1378).
– A letter was sent by Circassian Khasa leaders in the North Caucasus to Vladimir Putin and the Russian leadership stated that Russia should recognize Genocide (http://www.natpress.ru/index.php?newsid=8234).
– The establishment of a new organization in the Republic of Adygea in the name of Adigha Khasa of Maykop (http://circassiatimesnews.blogspot.co.il/2013/05/i_16.html), which doesn’t belong to the Adigha Khasa of the Republic of Adygea,
One of the most important issues tackled is the Circassians of Syria in regard to their safety and security, which showed a real Circassian solidarity in regard to fund raising and to provide whether directly or through third parties, food, cash, in-kind, and medical assistance, not to mention the housing. Many of the Circassians of Syria got to be refugees one more time, as they had to leave and flee the fighting zones after their places of residence got destroyed, which they had to leave to safer areas within Syria or to neighboring countries such as Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey. Circassians were able to help their brethren Circassians in Jordan and Turkey, and the Solidarity Committee of World Circassians’ (http://www.circassiansolidarity.org/en/) help was not limited only to raise funds to offer mentioned types of assistance but managed to get the Turkish government’s assistance to recognize documents and identification cards for the refugees, to establish a special camp for Circassians, and on top of that, the establishment of an air bridge (http://www.jaccf.org/?p=1277) to transport Circassians of Syria from Beirut to Gaziantep.
Hopes are pinned on the intellectuals and the educated generation, who are aware of the Circassian legitimate rights which need to seek the right approach to demand and claim all Circassian confiscated rights.
