JINHA

ISTANBUL – The vigil is in its third day at Camp Armen, the Armenian children's camp in Istanbul that was one of the few Armenian institutions to successfully resist assimilation policies, now under threat of demolition. A large gathering is planned for tomorrow.

Camp Armen, or the Tuzla Armenian Orphanage, provided a space for decades for Armenian children who had no other place to receive an education after the Armenian genocide. Slain Armenian journalist Hrant Dink and his wife were among the children who attended Camp Armen.

This Wednesday, May 6, construction machinery entered the historic site and destroyed some parts of the camp. A group has maintained a vigil at the site, located in the Tuzla district on the outskirts of Istanbul, to prevent the demolition. Around 20 have remained at the camp in spite of heavy rains over the previous night, according to the newspaper Agos.

Those at the camp have organized academic atelier activities as support for the Camp Armen vigil grows from Istanbul academics. A sociology atelier, hosted by Buket Türkmen of Galatasaray University, and one on history, hosted by Boğaziçi University's Muzaffer Kaya, were scheduled for today. After a group environmental clean up, Nedim Nomer of Sabancı University will host a sociology atelier.

The vigil-keepers have called for a massive present tomorrow, with buses scheduled to bring people to the camp from Bakırköy and Kadıköy. Ani Balıkçı, mother of the Armenian youth Sevag Balıkçı, slain while on military duty, will start the day with an Armenian atelier. Other events planned include tree plantings, concerts, and a theater atelier involved middle schoolers visiting the camp.

There will be a showing of Camp Armen alumnus Garabet Orunöz's documentary "Get Lost, Kids," about the story of Camp Armen.

The camp reports a need for floodlights and lanterns.

(fk/cm)