Another Assyrian memorial planned

There are plans for an Assyrian genocide park to be established and statue to be built in Fairfield city.

The Assyrian Universal Alliance have made an application to Fairfield city council to seek approval for the erection of the statue and renaming Bonnyrigg Park to the “gardens of Nineveh”.

The genocide park plans were supported by Fairfield councillors at the service committee meeting earlier this month.

The statue will be in memory of Assyrians who were killed in the genocides of the early 20th century.

Louis Boutrous, a well known local Assyrian artist and sculptor designed the 4.5 metre statue which consists of a hand holding the world globe.

This comes after another Assyrian memorial was opened in Fairfield two weeks ago in honour those who served in the Assyrian and Australian forces in both world wars and the refugees who perished in the Assyrian genocides.

Hermiz Shahen, who is the leader of the Assyrian Universal Alliance in Australia, said the Assyrian genocide memorial park and statue will serve to educate people on the crime of genocide.

“The Genocide monument will become a pilgrimage site and an integral part of Australia’s architecture, with a beautiful landscape it will create a perfect harmony with its surroundings,'' he said.

The Assyrian Universal Alliance was founded in 1968, with an aim of promoting the Assyrian name and rights and has been pushing for an Assyrian homeland.

The alliance is now based in Iran with a chapter in Australia centred at Fairfield.

http://www.fairfieldchampion.com.au/news/local/news/general/another-assyrian-memorial-planned/1683346.aspx