Remembering Colonel Atilla Altikat

OTTAWA (Bizim Anadolu) - Canadians of Turkish origin gathered once again to remember Colonel Atilla Altikat, on Sunday, August 29, 2010, at the intersection of Ottawa River Parkway and Island Park Drive where he was gunned down by Armenian terrorists and became the first victim of international terrorism on Canadian soil.

On the morning of August 27, 1982, while driving to work in Ottawa, Col. Altikat, the Military Attaché at the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey, was shot 10 times at point blank range. Armenian terrorist organizations claimed responsibility for the attack. In spite of some leads by journalists and others, no arrests have been made and the murderers remain at large.

The commemoration ceremony started with a one minute silence at 3 p.m. and was attended by more than 130 people from Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal.

Distinguished guests, including MP Royal Galipeau, RCMP Officer L. Wayne Russett, his Excellency Farid Shafiyev, Ambassador of Republic of Azerbaijan; Emin Battika, President of Turco-Canadian Chamber and Council for Commerce and Industry, Levent Bilgen, Consul General of Turkey in Toronto and Military Attaché Colonel Ugur Goksen joined his Excellency Rafet Akgunay, Ambassador of Republic of Turkey, at this sad gathering in condemning acts of hatred and in remembering victims of terrorism.

After CTC's president Dr. Kevser Taymaz's speech, the following speakers addressed the crowd: Mr. Demir Delen, RCMP Officer Wayne Russett, Hon. Gar Knutson, Mr. Bora Celikel, MP Royal Galipeau, Mr. Emin Battika and Ambassador Rafet Akgunay.

"Did the man who killed Colonel Altikat know him personally? No. Did Colonel Altikat have any kind of direct or indirect relationship with this man or have any dispute with him? No. Why did the gunman kill Colonel Atilla Altikat? Because he was a Turk" said Demir Delen during his speech. Mr. Delen mentioned some of the other attacks of Armenian terror organizations in Canada and pointed out that today Armenian organizations who were trying to gain support in their attempts to have the tragic events of 1915 of Eastern Anatolia recognized as "genocide", actually were committing genocide themselves.

RCMP, Aboriginal & Ethnic Liaison Officer L.W. Russet told about his own experience regarding the Altikat case. He said that it was an honour for him to be with the Turkish community on such a sad day, that he would like to help to the best of his abilities. Russett stated that he knew the case very well, that he took an important role in organizing the shooting of the "Crime Stoppers" television program which included a re-enactment of the crime.

During his speech, The Ambassador Mr. Rafet Akgunay stated that those who perpetrate terrorism were a disgrace to humanity, a threat to the culture of tolerance and an obstacle to peaceful resolution of disputes. "Almost forty Turkish diplomats and their family members were killed by Armenian terrorists around the world. We know that nothing will bring them back. But we at least expect the perpetrators to be brought to justice" said Ambassador Rafet Akgunay. He stressed that the Turkish community, Colonel Altikat's family and friends had been waiting for 28 years the outcome of the investigation and asked once again to the relevant authorities to have a new look at the facts and circumstances surrounding Colonel Altikat's assassination.

The ceremony ended with a prayer by Selman Cetin, preacher at Montreal Turkish Cultural Association Yunus Mosque.

On the evening of the commemoration ceremony, the Turkish community conducted a canlelight vigil around the Centennial Flame in front of the Parliament building between 8 and 9 p.m. in memory of Colonel Altikat.

August - September 2010