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[4]. The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (a.k.a. ARF) accused Kapamajian of being a puppet of the Ottoman Government.[5]
According to Turkish sources, Kapamajian was executed on the evening of December 10, 1912, with two gun shot wounds in the head as he was was leaving his home with his wife and and daughter to visit his son-in-law. A quick investigation identified the murderer as a jeweler named Karakin and his associates. Later Karakin, Potur and Sarac Otep were apprehended in the village of Karagündüz. A few more Dashnak members were also arrested in the aftermath. ARF leader Aram Manukian and his ARF fellows were identified as the planners and instigators.[6]
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 and foreign embassies interfered on their behalf.[7]
Mayor Kapamajian's funeral was attended by a large crowd including non-Armenian residents of Van and consuls of major powers. He was buried in the Armenian cemetery in the Bağlar district[8].
After Kapamajian's assassination, all opposition to Dashnaks and their policies by Armenians ceased.
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.
- ^ Libaridian, Gerard J. (2004). Modern Armenia: People, Nation, State. Transaction Publishers. ISBN 978-0-7658-0205-7.
- ^ 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.
- ^ G.C. Reynolds (American missionary), Summer Report in 1913, ABC, 16.9.7, Eastern Turkey Mission, 1910-1919, Documents, vol. 25a, no 113, "Report of Van Station, Eastern Turkey Mission, 1912-1913"