Lets see the Asala (See previous post) through a "national hero" Armenian Monte Melkonian.
Last week we were invited, members of the Peace Corps s Armenian and American and I make a visit to the village school Gargar (pronounced "Gyargyar"), near Stepanavan. The children had prepared a show on the theme of Fall and a small adjustment of Small gold fish of Alexander Pushkin . "Too cute."
Then we met the mayor of the village and some members of his staff.
On the walls of the offices of mayor, two posters had attracted my attention. On one of them entitled "National Heroes of the Republic of Armenia", twelve faces in black and white: Catholicos Vazgen Viktor Hamharsumian, Karen Demichian, Vazgen Sarsian ... And in one of them, Monte Melkonian I found in his short biography of the name Asala. " Hey, curious ," I said. "A terrorist among the national heroes of the Armenian Republic ...?"
 |
| The famous poster that is on the walls of the town hall Gargar. Melkonian is on the extreme left the third row of portraits from the top. |
So who is this Monte Melkonian? Here's a quick biography based largely on the article in English on Wikipedia.
It's actually a famous commander during the war at Karabakh who made his first steps as a soldier during the late 70s and early 80s, in Lebanon against Israeli troops.
Born in the USA, in November 1957, it was not until age 11, during a long trip to Europe that Melkonian interested in his Armenian roots. And it is his English teacher who, unsatisfied with his response when asked where he came from and he replied: "California " will reflect on its origins.
later visit to Turkey in the hometown of his mother, Terzifon the Melkonian meet one of only three Armenian families remained behind after the Armenian Genocide (17000 Armenians lived out there before. ..). Monte Young then learn very quickly that the only reason this family was still here is that in 1915, the year of the tragedy, the family patriarch had exchanged the safety of his family against the identification of all Armenians with the Turkish army during the genocide. This will mark lifetime Monte Melkonian who saw with his own eyes the land that his ancestors had lost.
Back in the USA, Melkonian entered the University of Berkeley where he graduated in spring Asian History and Archaeology. He then taught English in Iran, where he participated actively in the movement for removal of the Shah of Iran. Then he finds himself in Iranian Kurdistan.
In Fall 78, he went to Lebanon where he participated in the defense against the Armenian quarter forces Phalangists right . In
1980, he joined the Asala ( people come! ) and participates actively in the newspaper of the organization, Hayastan, while conducting armed operations in Rome, Athens and in various other regions. It also helps in the preparation and planning of Operation Van of September 24, 1981 during which four militants Asala hijack Turkish Embassy in Paris.
In November of that year, a young man in possession of a Cypriot passport bearing the name Dimitrei Georgiu was arrested and imprisoned. The police suspect a terrorist act. But the explosion of several bombs in Paris allows its release. Back in Lebanon, Georgiu reveals his true identity, it is obviously of Monte Melkonian.
After several years in hiding, he was finally arrested in Paris in 1985 and sentenced to six years in prison for illegal possession of firearms, explosives and forged papers. After three years in prison in Fresnes and Poissy, he was released and returned to Armenia, where he participated actively in the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan in Upper Karabakh.
He was assassinated in June 1993 in the abandoned village of Merzuli where he will have his head cut off by the Azerbaijani troops.
English Section Wikipedia (as always, unfortunately ...) on Melkonian focuses on character and behavior in Monte's life every day. Personality traits are reminiscent of those of another revolutionary, not least ... You guessed it, it is indeed Ernesto Che Guevara!
Having read the biography of Peter Kalfon, I can assure you that a parallel can be drawn between the two characters known for their asceticism, their uprightness, their culture and their intransigence in the face of injustice every day.
Melkonian spoke fluent five languages: English, English, French, Armenian and Japanese. He also had notions of Arabic, Italian, Kurdish, Persian and Turkish.
In Karabagh, he never wore a gun, do not smoke, do not drink if he wore the uniform (in the traditional toasts, he raised a glass of yogurt swore to heaven ...), almost never ... He lived under the same conditions as soldiers and had even introduced a tax on wine to Martuni as fuel and ammunition for his fighters. Finally, he saw women as equal to men, encouraging them to fight at the front and considering those who planned the kitchen and took care of the radio to the front as soldiers back to full ...
As always, be careful with this kind of hagiography often devoid of any critical sense, yet necessary for the creation of a legend ...
" When The Legend Becomes Fact, Print the legend." The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance John Ford .
Some useful links for more information about Monte Melkonian:
The Melkonian Foundation website: http : / / www.melkonian.org/
Photos: http://www.melkonian.org/gal/
A document in Armenian; http://armtorrent.com/viewtopic.php?style=2&f=35&t=718 & p = 800 & Hilit = up # p800
An interview in English and 5 parts: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EA70A1qIv9I
