Armenian Genocide Monument desecrated in Sydney

May 7, 2011 - 09:56 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia) condemned the vandalism of the monument dedicated to the victims of Armenian Genocide in Ryde City, Sydney.

The monument, which stands in memory of the 1,500,000 innocent Armenian men, women and children who perished at the hands of the Ottoman Turkish government, was discovered to be vandalized just a week after the annual Ryde City Council Armenian Genocide commemoration.

The vandals had completely removed the plaque and the foundation stone on which it rested. The only remnant of the memorial at Meadowbank Park in Ryde City is the bed of flowers which surrounded the monument.

John Alexander MP, whose Federal electorate of Bennelong is home to both the memorial and the largest Armenian population in Australia, immediately condemned the destruction labeling it "unAustralian".

"The vandalism of this plaque and headstone that commemorates the deaths of the 1.5million victims of the Armenian Genocide can only be described as unAustralian," he said. "Australia is a great country built on the values of inclusion, acceptance and respect for all cultures. The Armenian community make a wonderful contribution to our local community and have an absolute right for these dark pages in their history to be remembered forever more."

ANC Australia Executive Director Varant Meguerditchian said: "The defacement of the Armenian Genocide monument is a modern day manifestation of the hatred that was the root cause of the Armenian Genocide."

He continued: "We encourage other elected officials to join Mr Alexander in condemnation of this hate crime and appeal to our law enforcement authorities to spare no effort in bringing these xenophobic criminal vandals to justice."

The destruction of the Armenian Genocide monument in Ryde City is not the first of its like in Australia. The same monument was subject to vandalism in April of 2009, while just last year, the monument erected in memory of the victims of the Assyrian Genocide in Fairfield City was destroyed only months after its unveiling.