Social Democrat Hunchakian Party

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Social Democrat Hunchakian Party

Foundation:

Founders:

Avetis Nazarbekian, Mariam Vardanian, Gevorg Gharadjian, Ruben Khan-Azat, Christopher Ohanian, Gabriel Kafian and Manuel Manuelian

Head:

Setrag Ajemian

Ideology:

Socialism

International alignment:

Colour:

Red

Seats:

Website:

Party's Official Web Site

The Social Democrat Hunchakian Party (SDHP), also known as Hentchak, Henchak, Social-Democratic Hentchakists, Huntchakians, Hnchakian, Henchags is one of the oldest political parties in Armenia and the first Socialist party in the Ottoman Empire and in Persia in the 1880s.^[1] It was founded in 1887 by Avetis Nazarbekian, Mariam Vardanian, Gevorg Gharadjian, Ruben Khan-Azat, Christopher Ohanian, Gabriel Kafian and Manuel Manuelian, a group of college students in Geneva, Switzerland, with the goal to gain Armenia's independence from the Ottoman Empire, which is part of Armenian national liberation movement ^[2]. Its name, taken from its newspaper Hunchak, means "Bell" in English, and is taken by party members to represent "awakening, enlightenment, and freedom."

1 History
2 Modern
3 Affiliate organizations
4 See also
5 External links
6 References

[edit] History

Hnchakian leaders hung during the Armenian Genocide.

Hunchak party fought many battles against the Ottoman Empire, to free the Armenian people from Turkish rule. One of Armenia's famous national heros Andranik Ozanian, at first, joined the Hunchak party, but disagreement with party policies led Andranik to leave the Hunchak ranks and join the Dashnak party.^[3]

Hunchak newsletter.

[edit] Activities in the Ottoman Empire

See also: Armenian rebellions in the Ottoman Empire

Kum Kapu Affray: (July 27, 1890)
Sasun Resistance: (1894)
Defense of Van: (June, 1896)
Khanasor Expedition: (July 25, 1897)
Zeitun Resistance: (August 30, 1914 - December 1, 1914 and March 25, 1915)
Van Resistance: (April 19, 1915 - May 6, 1915)
Shabin-Karahisar Resistance: (June 2, 1915 - June 30, 1915)

[edit] Democratic Republic of Armenia

The party also played role in establishment of Democratic Republic of Armenia, as party members took part in the Battle of Sardarapat, during the World War I at Caucasus Campaign, which defended the Armenian capital of Yerevan from Army of Islam of Ottoman Empire.

[edit] Activities in Lebanon

In the 1950s, it clashed, sometimes violently, with the Dashnak Party, due to tensions that escalated when the ARF elected Bishop Zareh as Catholicos of Cilicia, a move that was rejected by the Hunchaks. In the midst of increasing sectarian strife in the late 1960s and early 1970s, however, Lebanon's Armenian community began to close ranks, and in 1972, the Hunchakian Party ran a joint ticket with the Dashnaks. In 2000, the Hunchakian Party joined forces with Rafik Hariri's Dignity party, which swept the city of Beirut.

[edit] Modern

Armenia
This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Armenia

Constitution National Assembly President of Armenia Robert Kocharian Prime Minister (vacant) Defence Minister Serzh Sargsyan Political parties Elections: 2007 Administrative divisions Foreign relations Human rights See also: Politics of Nagorno Karabakh
Other countries · Politics Portal view • talk • edit

Lebanon
This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Lebanon

Constitution President Émile Lahoud Prime Minister Fouad Siniora Present government Parliament Speaker Political parties Elections Governorates Districts Foreign relations
Other countries · Politics Portal view • talk • edit

In the early 1990s, the party took part in the fight to separate Nagorno Karabakh from Azerbaijan. The party today forms part of the opposition "Justice" bloc.

This party is also active in Lebanon, where it competes for the six National Assembly seats reserved for ethnic Armenians. The party subscribes to a socialist ideology and advocates a planned economy for Lebanon. Social Democrat Hunchakian Party has an official newspaper in Lebanon which is the Ararad Daily Newspaper.

[edit] Affiliate organizations

The Hunchakian party has established affiliate organizations such as the AEBU which is an organization that helps with educational, health and social care, the Armenian Dkhrouhi Youth Association and HMM (Homenmen) which is a sporting organization (not to be confused with Homenetmen).