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Assyrian memorial supporters put their case 25 Nov, 2009 09:55 AM PLANS to build the monument opposite Bonnyrigg Park, on the corner of Smithfield Road and Elizabeth Drive, were spearheaded by the Assyrian Universal Alliance earlier this year. The group has proposed a memorial statue that stands 4.5metres tall surrounded by a landscaped garden that is proposed to be named the Garden of Nineveh, after the capital city of ancient Assyria. Assyrian Universal Alliance deputy secretary-general Hermiz Shahen said the monument ``would mean a lot to the Assyrian community, who are now a stateless people''. ``It's something to remind us of the atrocities of war and to enlighten people about the displacement of the Assyrian people,'' he said. This memorial was proposed to the council at the same time as the unveiling of the Assyrian/Anzac war memorial in Fairfield Park. ``The memorials are different. One honours the soldiers who fought alongside the Australians in the war and this proposed one is for the martyrs who were massacred,'' he said. Mr Shahen has big plans for the site, which he hopes will become ``a pilgrimage site''. ``Erecting this Assyrian Genocide Statue at Fairfield will remind viewers of a time gone by and reflect upon the achievements of mankind,'' he said. ``Without these artefacts, we would have no knowledge of human events and for this reason it is important to share those memories with our future generations.'' Assyrian-Aust ralian Joseph Adams supports a memorial for the genocide but would rather see the genocide officially recognised by the Commonwealth. ``I'm all for memorials but I think this issue needs to be officially recognised and erecting a memorial is misleading,'' he said. ``The genocide should be officially recognised to show the Assyrian community that we're sensitive to the massacre that occurred more than 95 years ago.'' In 2002, the NSW Local Government Association met with the Assyrian Universal Alliance to discuss recognition of the Assyrian Genocide and Martyrs' Day but no official recognition has been granted. Mr Adams would like to see Prospect MP Chris Bowen or Smithfield MP Ninos Khoshaba standing up for the Assyrian community on this issue. ``We need to see ink on paper to say that the genocide actually occurred,'' he said. ``If you're going to build something that big it should be officially recognised.'' |