On March 28, 1985 during the Lebanese Civil War, Unger 
was abducted on his way to work in Beirut, Lebanon. His body was never found; his abductors were neither identified nor prosecuted.
Thirty three years have passed, and his case remains unresolved. Why the mystery? Why the silence? In 2015,, on the 30th anniversary of his abduction, some memorials were held but no new light was shed on his demise.
Unger Sarkis was born in 1930 in the village of Kheder-Beg on the slopes of Mousa Dagh. In 1939, his family settled in Lebanon and he graduated from the Nshan Palanjian Jemaran (Academy in Beirut). He was a promising leader and a compelling writer. In 1954, he was sent by Simon Vratsian (the last Prime Minister of the First Armenian Republic and the former Dean of the Jemaran) to Cairo where he taught history at the Kalousdian Armenian School. He also joined the editorial staff of the ARF organ Houssaper, where he eventually become editor.
In 1957, he married his colleague—Sona Zeitlian. She was a teacher at Kalousdian, and her family had survived the Armenian Genocide. Later on in 1963, he turned down an offer with the Asbarez, the ARF organ in California. He decided to move to Lebanon with his family and become the dean of Ainjar’s Harach school. There he became immersed in the ARF Ainjar organization and community.
In 1965, Zeitlian moved from Ainjar to Beirut and became the editor of the ARF organ Aztag. He was later elected to the ARF Bureau in 1972 after serving as a member and then chairman of the ARF Central Committee in Lebanon. He also served as editor of the ARF Bureau organ Aztag Shapatoriag-Troshag.
Many of my close friends and I around the world were fortunate to have Ung. Sarkis as a teacher and then a mentor in Egypt. I am confident young people in Lebanon share our sentiment. Our minds and souls were ingrained with the love of our country and the ideological and moral integrity of the party. We all are what we are today thanks to Ung. Sarkis.
I was fortunate that I was able to stay in touch with him and follow his tireless work and contributions to the Armenian cause. His main objective was to strengthen diasporan institutions, promoting a unity of purpose. He set the standard for the formation of an independent Armenian State. He was indefatigable and adamant on the issue of the Armenians’ right to self-determination, self-assessment, self-enhancement and self-actualization.
On March 16, 1985 in Aztag Shapatoriag-Troshag he wrote, “The issue of issues is to avail ourselves of the current general renaissance of the Armenian people; its cultural, economic and scientific professional accomplishments and manpower in order to increase our organizational strength and political significance on behalf of the completion of the Armenian liberation struggle.”
Zeitlian’s writings always underscored the concept and firm belief that an Independent Armenian state was the only means of salvation of the Armenian people. We now have an independent Armenia.
A compassionate teacher, a distinguished political leader, a superb mentor, a prolific writer—a remarkable track record until he was taken away from us prematurely by a conspiracy.
Why is the crime still unresolved and who was responsible? Why can’t we uncover the truth? Was it carried out as a contract on behalf of the KGB? Was it carried out by militiamen belonging to Walid Joumblatt’s Socialist Party (PSP) an organization that was loyal to the KGB? Was it the ASALA? Were they really involved or were subject to disinformation? Were they falsely being accused?
Who was the Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Revolutionary Movement (ARF-RM), whose true identity was never established? In 1985 and 1986, several communiques were issued by them claiming responsibility. A blatant effort to misinform and divert attention from further investigation.
This was an anti-Armenian and anti-ARF act. For reasons that cannot or have not been explained, no full and complete investigation was conducted neither by the Lebanese authorities nor the ARF, neither by the Central Committee in Lebanon nor the Bureau. Several statements have been made by various authorities, none conclusive, none verified, properly followed up or confirmed. Recently there were rumors that the location of his body and his remains were revealed, but nothing happened.
Why can’t we discover unequivocal evidence and bring to justice the responsible parties? This is a heavy debt we owe to Unger Sarkis and his family. It’s our duty and our responsibility to uncover the truth.
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Source: Armenian Weekly
Link: An ARF Mystery: What happened to Unger Sarkis Zeitlian?
