Artsakh and Their Televised Ethnic Cleansing

Artsakh and Their Televised Ethnic Cleansing

Alain Jocard | Afp | Getty Images

Armenians have long been witnessing their world being crushed and crumpled. Nearly a century of ongoing ethnic cleansing has left generations resisting another ethnic cleansing. Last month “agreement” has left more than 100,000 Armenians expelled from their land. This is definitely not a new experience for Armenians. But now, instead of seeing pictures of death march just like when we’re talking the infamous 1900s Armenian genocide, we’re seeing their ethnic cleansing being televised. Cars cramped with families, children, fleeing their own homes not knowing when they’ll be able to return. Despite the fact of people around the world commemorating Armenian genocide, yet still no actions or sanctions have been imposed for the ongoing cruelty.

If we’re talking about Armenians, we’re talking about a long ongoing struggle akin to Palestinian struggle of liberation. Both are seeing constant and continuous land theft, oppression, and denial of their dispossession. The drawing of both fights yet also shows the link of their respective oppressors. Both Israel and Azerbaijan have a strong military cooperation, with Israel being a major provider artillery and weaponry provider for Azerbaijan. The relations of both regimes also seem flourishing even more with the recent developments from Azerbaijan opening its embassy in Tel Aviv in March this year to Azerbaijan being Israel’s weapons second largest purchaser and in return Azerbaijan supplying 40% of Israel energy demands according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). To think that the bullets and bombs that being used to force Armenians fleeing their homes were also used against the Palestinians, completes the irony of both peoples’ subjugation being televised and consumed with impunity.

Artshakh, or Nagarno-Karabakh is not a yesterday event. The land has been contested and disputed especially since the fall of Uni Soviet. Just like the struggle of the Palestinian people, both oppressors have an upper hand in front of international law. Nagarno-Karabakh is “recognised” as part of Azerbaijan territory. This abated material fact both on paper and in reality serves more justification for, in this case, Azerbaijan to act as it wishes. The current development also shows the disparity of power both parties show, hence again calling this a conflict is a false denomination. Just few weeks ago at the end of last month, fuel depot blast took more than 60 Armenian lives that were in line fleeing their homes. The long line was caused by the scarcity of fuel because of Azerbaijan illegal blockade. Azerbaijan is imposing a blockade that has been going for almost a year, leaving Armenians inside Nagarno-Karabakh in dire need of essential needs. The blockade is also limiting their access to electricity, gas, and internet. Despite the illegal status of the blockade being televised, the world yet still fail the Armenians.

Nagarno-Karabakh, as possibly might be the last hope of Armenian resistance, finally fell. An agreement was reached for the dissolvement of the Artsakh Republic, as of next year January 1, 2024. As we’re reading and writing Armenians’ last effort of living lives with dignity, the constant propaganda was also seen portraying them fleeing “voluntarily”. Institute of Human Rights in 2020 following the escalation of the event noticing there was a negative tone against Armenia blaming them for the current development at that time. One of the headlines quoting “Armenia is biggest threat to regional peace” from Daily Sabah. We’re also seeing person behind media such as TRT and other well-known media, also daily sabah, such as Yusuf Erim on his twitter account tweeting propaganda of Armenians assaults linking Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA) and Justice Commandos of the Armenian Genocide (JCAG) although in fact both were resistance groups. The demonizing of Armenians and their resistance and despite the constant blockade and offense is also akin to any oppression around the world, especially the Palestinians. From what we learn, the uncertainty of their future and the increasing hostility leave them no choice but to leave. Being under the rule of their oppressor doesn’t guarantee their safety, as we saw from Palestinians staying inside historic Palestine faced with constant threat that was constitutionalized under a racist law. Portraying this as a voluntarily leave, just like what the Middle East Eye Turkey Bureau Chief tweeted on his page, was simply wrong and ignorant. Cause by the end of the day, no one will believe and trust their own oppressor.

The reality of Armenians is dire, as the rest of the world watching their loss being televised. It’s obviously not the Armenians’ failure, or more correctly it’s not up to us to decide whether they’d done their best. But as this dehumanization being televised, what have the international community done to prevent this is a more important question. The sole conclusion of this is we failed the Armenians.