The day after: March 22, 2014

 I transcribed the comments Stepan Apelian made on March 22, 2014, the day after the extremists attacked Kessab. Stepan too fled Kessab with his wife, son Hovag and mother and took refuge in Lattakia with the rest of the Kessabtsis and other residents of Kessab. It is apparent that he posted the attached on the spur of the moment, a day after the carnage. 

Other than minor editorial intrusions, for archival purposes, I reproduced Stepan’s post in its entirety and attached its screen shot I had saved (see note). 

I should note that the Kessabtsis stayed in Lattakia until June 15. In Lattakia he took part of an ad hoc committee that came about to attend to the various needs of the displaced. On June 15, word reached them that Kessab is liberated and the extremists have left.

He also returned to his home in Keurkune to find it all sacked. His soap manufacturing factory that exported all the way to Japan, under the label LaurApel, was looted of raw materials, machinery and was left in ruin. In short, a life time work was left is ruins. 

Stepan lives in Corona, CA, with his wife, son and mother.

In Latakia, the day after

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Stepan’s comment. 

To all our brothers and sisters in the Diaspora and mainland Armenia.

It is a very sad day for Kessab. 

The first day of spring - 2014, March 21 - the barbaric enemy with the full support of Turkey as government; logistically, militarily, and even participated in military action and attacked Kesssab early morning at 4 a.m. The attack started with a heavy shelling of the peaceful village, with mortars and grads, creating a chaotic state. 

The civilians fled to Lattakia, but no one can assure safety in Lattakia too. 

Stepan Apelian among the ruins of his house, factory

This aggression of Turkey is not justified in any way. The extremists are hopeless and frustrated. They could not sustain their existence in many parts of Syria, so they poured their venom on a peaceful, farming, and touristic area – Kessab – and its peaceful people who had no inclination to politics and power, whatsoever.  All through the 3 years of dirty (civil) war, we stayed very peaceful, created no friction with any party, showed military activities against no one. All were busy supporting their families and gave a safe haven to more than 1000 displaced families from all over Syria, of all denominations and faiths without any discrimination. These people are now being penalized for such a peaceful stand. 

The super powers of West are making humanitarian and human rights declarations as the safeguards of all values. But in fact are blindfolded and deaf to all such act s that they secretly support as well. President Obama in his presidency oath clearly declared that the U.S.A. will return back to its ancestors’ and founding fathers’ values. Wonder if he really did fulfill his promise. 
We ask all living world of conscience to raise their voice against all aggressions at peaceful and life loving civilians.

Stepan J Apelian

Stepan J Apelian;s commentary on his  Facebook page on March 22, 2014