Response to Keghart’s Recent Editorial

Krikor Khodanian, Chairman, Executive Committee, SDHP Western USA, 7 September 2018

Recently, Keghart.com published an editorial under the headline "No more Teflon ARF", reflecting on the past and present of the three traditional Armenian political parties.

The other two parties may respond to the editorial, if they choose to do so.  As to the Social Democrat Hunchakian Party (SDHP), Keghart.com’s Editor is of the opinion that, “the Hnchags, once serious rivals of the ARF, are ghosts with a flag, a negligible membership and activity”.

First, let us state that there are no "Hnchags" in the Armenian reality, there is only the Social Democrat Hunchakian Party (SDHP) established in 1887 in Geneva, Switzerland with the aim of achieving an independent, democratic and just Armenian nation.  Journalistic integrity and respect to the readers require that the proper name be used to identify the SDHP.

Krikor Khodanian, Chairman, Executive Committee, SDHP Western USA, 7 September 2018

Recently, Keghart.com published an editorial under the headline "No more Teflon ARF", reflecting on the past and present of the three traditional Armenian political parties.

The other two parties may respond to the editorial, if they choose to do so.  As to the Social Democrat Hunchakian Party (SDHP), Keghart.com’s Editor is of the opinion that, “the Hnchags, once serious rivals of the ARF, are ghosts with a flag, a negligible membership and activity”.

First, let us state that there are no "Hnchags" in the Armenian reality, there is only the Social Democrat Hunchakian Party (SDHP) established in 1887 in Geneva, Switzerland with the aim of achieving an independent, democratic and just Armenian nation.  Journalistic integrity and respect to the readers require that the proper name be used to identify the SDHP.

Back in the thirties of the last century, the ARF's "Hayrenik Weekly," published in Boston, announced on its front page that the SDHP is now history. Since that time, every now and then, a writer expresses similar opinions – the last of which is the editor of Keghart.com, who must be either; uninformed about the activities of the SDHP, or has blinders on and rejects seeing outside a narrow circle, or worse yet, has a hidden agenda. As with all the others, the implication will be proven wrong and the Party will continue its journey in the service of the Armenian nation. 

Regarding the so called "negligible membership and activity" as referenced in the editorial, the SDHP is not accustomed to publishing a list of its activities being implemented in most Armenian communities.  Like the other parties, the SDHP has its chapters and centers from the Middle East to Europe, from South America to Australia and from the United States to Armenia.  With the support of the Party, primary and secondary schools, cultural organization (Nor Serount Cultural Association)   philanthropic (Armenian Educational and Benevolent Union), sporting organization (Armenian Athletic Association-HMM), youth, student and political units (Dkhrouni, Gaidz, Nazarpek) are functioning in many parts of the world.  In addition to the respective Executive Committees throughout the world organizing events in their respective regions, these sub-organizations also organize various activities and events throughout the year.    Additionally, throughout the world, commemorative events and SDHP political rallies are regularly held in large venues and attended by thousands of people. 

With the political and democratic changes in Armenia, SDHP  plans on expanding its political presence  in the homeland.  SDHP Lebanon’s members hold positions in local City Councils, and until recently the Party was represented in the Lebanese Parliament. In the elections held last May, the SDHP was not successful in retaining a Parliamentary seat, none the less, this has become a motivating factor for SDHP Lebanon to work harder towards future elections.

In the United States and Europe, the Party has established advocacy organizations; the Armenian Council of America (ACA) and its European counterpart the Armenian Council of Europe (ACE).  Both organizations have been staunch advocates of democracy in Armenia and the self-determination of Artsakh. ACA played a major role in the California and Louisiana state legislature’s recognition of Artsakh. These efforts were duly acknowledged by the Artsakh government.

We are also proud that two Hunchakian units, "Medzen Murat" and "Paramaz," participated in the Artsakh’s struggle for independence. Our fallen members have found their resting place in the "Yerablour" cemetery overlooking the Armenian capital of Yerevan.  During the 2015 four-day-war, the veterans of these units, like many others, rushed to defend the homeland against Azeri aggression, a few paying with their lives.

In the last twenty years, the SDHP was the only party in the diaspora which consistently opposed the corrupt government in Armenia and contributed extensively in shaping Armenian public opinion against the Kocharyan-Sargsyan regimes. Now that the people of Armenia succeeded in toppling the old system, through a peaceful revolution, the SDHP supports the new government without hesitation. 

On another important matter, the SDHP is the only diasporan party which established regular relations with progressive organizations and intellectuals in Turkey. The Party’s designated representative frequently visits Turkey to discuss various issues and collaborative opportunities. These are the same organizations and intellectuals that commemorate the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, in Istanbul and elsewhere in Turkey.   

They are also the same organizations and intellectuals who commemorate the anniversary of the "Twenty Hunchakian Gallows," the twenty Party leaders and activists who were hung in Istanbul on June 15, 1915.  These events have led to published books and documentaries.  The books "Paramazlar," translated into Turkish by Armenian journalist Aris Nalci, and “Ermeni Devrimci Paramaz” by Turkish progressive intellectual Kadir Akin, have both recently received their fourth publication.  As a follow up to his book, Kadir Akin produced documentary film "Red”, which is currently being screened in Europe and Turkey. Through all these efforts, the Turkish public is being introduced to the suffering of the Armenian people during  the Ottoman Empire and afterwards. 

These activities are an example of the Party’s determination to not only gain recognition of the Armenian Genocide throughout the world, but to also educate and garner Genocide recognition among Turkey’s citizenry.  After all, it is important that Armenians continue to demand the Turkish government’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide from the outside, but Armenians must also help nurture change from the inside, from the bottom up within Turkey. 

All of these activities can be read about through various Armenian and non-Armenian media. The SDHP has its own media outlets, daily, weekly, monthly newspapers, radio programs and online publications. For example, here in Los Angeles, we  publish Massis Weekly and an online news site Massis Post. We recommend that your readers visit Massispost.com to learn more about the  SDHP activities and its positions on various national issues. 

Keghart.com referring to the SDHP as a "ghosts with a flag, a negligible membership and activity"' is unfair and misleading, and worse yet, disingenuous.