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THE DEFINITION
AND PURPOSE OF RELOCATION (TEHCIR)
The Arabic originated word “tehcir” means “emigration / immigration”,
it definitely not means “deportation” or “exile”. Hence the
law commonly known as the “Tehcir Law” is the same as “Temporary
Law On The Military Measures To Be Taken For Those Who Resist
The Governmental Acts And Supplementation’s.” The word used
to explain the implementation in line with this law is “tenkil”
in the Ottoman language and means “transport- not the equivalent
of “deportation”, “exile” or “proscription” in Latin originated
languages.
The immigration, which was started with the orders of Talaat
Pasha, and approved by the Government and the Parliament as
a measure against the Armenian riots and massacres, which
had arisen in a number of places in the Country - pre - dominantly
in Van province, was only implemented only in the regions
in which such riots and massacres affected the security of
the fronts directly. The first area was Erzurum, Van and Bitlis
Vicinities which formed the rear part of the Caucasian - Iran
Front; and the second was Mersin - Iskenderun Region which
formed the rear part of the Sina Front. In both of these regions,
Armenians had collaborated with the enemy and involved in
activities to facilitate the enemy’s invasion.
Later, the scope of the immigration was widened in order to
include the Armenians in the other provinces, who rioted,
collaborated with the enemy and screened the activities of
Armenian Gangs. Although the Catholic and Protestant Armenians
were excluded from immigration at the beginning, later those
whose harmful activities were observed, were also relocated.
Since 1915, numerous papers, reports, books, etc. were written
and published about the immigration implementation. The Armenians,
by using false documents have succeeded to deceit the World
for a long time. The rumor about Armenian holocaust (!) which
expressed at first as three hundred thousand and later increased
to three million has no basis at all. In fact, although English
and French authorities have extensively studied the Ottoman
archives during their occupation in Istanbul have failed to
find even a single document hinting about such holocaust.
Had the Ottoman State intended to make genocide on Armenians;
could not they realize such an act at the places where the
Armenians live? Why would it be necessary “to immigrate” them
for such an intention? Why did they undertake the significant
fiscal and material costs of their security, safety, health
and food of the immigrating Armenians? During this immigration
and re-settlement process which lasted approximately 1,5 year
from May 1915 until October 1916, why would the central and
local administrations take measures to ensure the lives and
properties of Armenians in spite of the difficult war circumstances?
In addition, would it be necessary to accept great administrative,
military and financial burden —as if opening a new front-
to protect and secure these people?
The answers to these questions shall be sufficient to understand
the real intention of the Ottoman State. Also there is no
logical explanation that why the Ottoman State suddenly changed
its policy towards a community which had always been called
as “millet-i sadika” (loyal people) due to their being really
faithful to the Government. Hence the party whose attitude
had changed was not the Ottoman Government, but the Armenians
who were deceived by the independence promises of Russia and
the Entente States.
In conclusion, it can be said that the Armenian Immigration
which was a necessary measure to ensure the State Security
and Safety is among one of the most
successful transportation and re-settlement processes; and
has no intention whatsoever to annihilate Armenians.
REFERENCE:
Halacoglu, Prof. Dr. Yusuf, Ermeni Tehcirine Dair Gerekceler
(1915), TTK Yayini, Ankara, 2001.
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