Bedros Kapamajian
Bedros Kapamajian (Armenian: Պետրոս Քափամաճեան) (1840 – 1912 in Van), was an Armenian citizen of the Ottoman Empire, a textile importer, member of the Van Executive Council, and mayor of the town of Van.[1]
Kapamajian was appointed the mayor of Van on February 2, 1908.[2] Although some sources put the date of his first election as mayor in 1909[3]. He was elected twice on the strength of both Muslim and non-Muslim votes because of his successful efforts improving the local economy (including the first regular municipal boat service in Lake Van).
He was strongly supported by the merchant class of Van, who were mostly Armenian. He worked closely with the central government and the governor to enact local reforms. This put him in conflict with the Dashnaks, who have been agitating against the Ottoman state throughout Eastern provinces. The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (a.k.a. ARF) accused Kapamajian of being a puppet of the Ottoman Government.[4]
According to Turkish sources, Kapamajian was executed on December 10, 1912, with two gun shot wounds in the head by ARF leader Aram Manukian and his ARF fellows in 1912.[5]
In his research, Turkish Historian Hasan Oktay states that the perpetrators of his murder were arrested and charged with "encouraging murder." However, the perpetrators were later released and murder charges were dropped, as the case was later highly politicized by ARF.[6]
References
- ^ By Y. G. Çarkçıyan, (1953), "Armenians working for the Ottoman Empire between 1453-1953 (tr:Türk devleti hizmetinde Ermeniler, 1453-1953) 302 pages.
- ^ BOA İrade Taltifat, 1325. Za/111.
- ^ By Y. G. Çarkçıyan, (1953), "Armenians working for the Ottoman Empire between 1453-1953 (tr:Türk devleti hizmetinde Ermeniler, 1453-1953) 302 pages.
- ^ By Altan Deliorman, "Türklere Karsi Ermeni Komitecileri" Published 1973 Boğaziçi Basım ve Yayınevi 335 pages
- ^ Hüseyin Çelik, ‘The 1915 Armenian Revolt in Van: Eyewitness Testimony’, in The Armenians in the Late Ottoman Period, pp. 91-92.
- ^ Oktay, Hasan. "On the assassination of Van Mayor Kapamacıyan Efendi by the Tashnak Committee". Republic of Turkey Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Retrieved 15 October 2013.