I am Siamanto

I was born in 1878, in the town on Agn (Armenian: Ակն) on the shores of the river Euphrates. Graduated in 1896, during the same year of the bloody Hamidian massacres, like many other Armenian intellectuals, I fled the country for fear of persecution, ending up in Egypt.In 1897, I moved to Paris and enrolled in literature at the prestigious Sorbonne University: I was captivated by philosophy and Middle Eastern literature.

From Paris I moved to Geneva in Switzerland, and worked for the newspaper Flag (Troshag, Armenian: Դրօշակ), which was condemning the Turkish authorities and trying to get international attention for the plight of the Armenians, and demanding equal rights for Armenians and more autonomy.

In 1908, along with many other Armenians, I returned to Constantinople. The reason for our return was the change in the Ottoman government wherein the constitution was enacted. Freed from the fear of persecution, I returned. However, in 1909, the Turkish government made it clear that they were not safe by perpetrating the Adana massacre. I was once again deeply affected by the bloodshed. These events lead me to write my famous "My Friend’s Bloody News" (Garmir loorer paregames Armenian: Կարմիր լուրեր Բարեկամէս).

In 1910, I moved to the United States and immediately found employment at the Homeland newspaper Hayrenik (Armenian: Հ այրենիք).

Three years later I moved once again, this time to the city of Tbilisi. On the way to my destination, I visited many famous Armenian landmarks such as Mount Ararat, Khor Virap and Echmiadzin.

And finaly...in 1915, I was killed by the Turkish authorities during the Armenian Genocide.

But I'm always alive in the heart of all Armenians....