Cypriot refugees

File:Cyprus map showing Turkish occupied territory in 1974.jpg

Cyprus map showing Turkish occupied territory in 1974

Cypriot refugees are those Cypriot nationals or Cyprus residents, that had been forced out of their homes and properties during - and in the aftermath of the - Turkish military intervention in 1974. The total number of displaced persons is around 200,000. The human rights of the refugees wishing to return to their former homes and properties are currently being violated as their return is denied by the government of Nothern Cyprus, on the grounds that former Turkish Cypriot properties in the south had been taken over by Greek Cypriots since 1963.

Greek Cypriot refugees made a number of collective attempts to return to their homes but were denied entry into Northen Cyprus, while reciprocal hostility meant that Turkish Cypriots could not recover their lost properties. Turkey in 1974 in response to a Greek sponsored Coup d'etat aimed at uniting Cyprus with Greece, advanced to occupy 37% of the island in the north. Greek Cypriots in the north - terrified of possible harrasment by the Turkish forces - fled south. In the aftermath, Turkish Cypriots remaining in the South and Greek Cypriots remaining in the north (with the exception of a fre enclaves) were 'encouraged' to move to their respective areas of control. It is estimated that 40% of the Greek population of Cyprus were displaced, as well as over half of the Turkish Cypriot population . Since 1974, Greek Cypriot refugees have been demanding recovery of their right to their properties.

Turkish Cypriot man at the opening of the mass grave containing the bodies of the former Turkish inhabitants of the village of Sandallar in Northern Cyprus (TRNC today). Source: "The Voice of Blood", book and film by Antonis Angastiniotis.

Turkey's response is that the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, was justified as Operation Attila fought after a coup d'état, in 1974 by Greek Army officers stationed on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus tried to overthrow the President of Cyprus at the time, Makarios, and unite Cyprus with Greece.

Makarios soon returned to power, nonetheless the Turkish military invasion ensued, who claimed that this action was given under the provisions of the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee) [1].

Greek Cypriots taken to Adana some will return to talk about their experience

Multiple cases have been filled to the European Court of Human Rights; filling against Turkey. Since the Turkish Invasion thousands of Turks have been brought to the north of the Republic of Cyprus from Anatolia in violation of Article 49 of the Geneva Convention, to occupy the homes of the Greek Cypriot refugees. In 1983 Turkey declared the 37% territory of the Republic of Cyprus as Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus ignoring multiple UN Security Council resolutions although a UN member herself. While Turkey and TRNC do not deny this policy of encouraging Turkish immigration, it is justified on the grounds that (a) the demographic 'tilt' towards the Greek Cypriots needed to be redressed, and (b) Turkish Cypriots have been emigrating to Europe in order to find better opportunities since the international embargo on Northern Cyprus has made the economic situation there difficult.

During the Intervention, it was alleged that Turkish troops arrested thousands of Greek Cypriots that would later be either refugees or Missing. Many of them were seen in captivity alive and well by others who were released later. Rauf Denktaş, admitted publicly that many Greek Cypriots prisoners were killed by Turkish militants. However, this intercommunal killing was not all one-sided as several hundred Turkish Cypriots in the southern part of the island were killed by Greek Cypriot paramilitaries.

Turkish Reply to a Demonstation

File:Turkish propaganda brochure of the military invasion code name attila 1.jpg

Turkish propaganda brochure of the military invasion of Cyprus 1974

Through the years multiple demonstrations and rallies have been made by the Greek Cypriots demanding to return to their properties, some ended with tragic results.

In August 1996, Greek Cypriot refugees demonstrated with a symbolic march towards their properties against the continuing Turkish military presence in Northern Cyprus. The refugees demand was the complete withdrawal of Turkish troops, and their return to their former properties.

The toll of the anti-occupation rally was one person dead and 41 injured, 36 Greek Cypriot civilians, three police officers and two police officers serving with one of the two British bases on the island.

A Greek Cypriot demonstrator, Anastasios (Tasos) Isaak - despite repeated warnings not to do so - managed to cross into the buffer zone and came face to face with Turkish counter-demonstrators and was beaten to death with iron bars and clubs. Armed members of the Turkish Cypriot Police allegedly participated in the murder [2]. Police said in a statement that “the dead, Anastasios (Tasos) Isaac, a newly married 24-year old man whose wife is pregnant, from Paralimni, was trapped in barbed wire in the buffer zone and was beaten by the Turkish occupation troops with stones and batons”.

More than 2,000 people were involved in the demonstration. President Glafkos Clerides condemned the killing of a Greek Cypriot demonstrator by the Turkish forces and called on the international community to “understand that the continuing Turkish occupation of part of Cyprus is a provocation”. In a statement, issued after the killing, the president said “This criminal and abhorrent act is another example of the ruthlessness of the occupation troops and constitutes a blatant contempt of every principle of international law and violation of UN fundamental principles”.

Tasos Isaak beaten to death within the Buffer Zone, have a close look at who gives the final blow.

The President extended his condolences and sympathy to his widow and his family. The government has announced that the funeral of the dead Greek Cypriot will be at the state's expense

Solomos Solomou (26) was among hundreds of mourners who entered the U.N. buffer-zone after Tasos Isaak's funeral, on 14 August 1996, to lay a wreath on the spot where Isaak died. Solomou was shot dead at close range as he was climbing a flag-pole in order to tear down a TRNC flag. He had ignored warnings from the Turkish Cypriot police that he would be shot if he continued.[3]. Following an investigation by the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus the suspected killers were identified and legal proceedings were taken against them, to be applied when they are found outside Turkey or the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus. The two suspects, both officials of the TRNC, are:

1. Kenan Akin, Minister of Agriculture, Forest and Natural Resources at the time.

2. Erdan Emanet, Chief of Special Forces at the time.

Rauf Denktaş, the President of the TRNC, was alleged to be himself present at this incident, watching and photographing the last few moments of Solomou’s life.

Solomos shot by Kenan Akin and Erdan Emanet.

Both killings were witnessed by UNFICYP personnel (two of whom were injured by the Turkish shootings) and by the United Nations Force Commander [4].

None has ever been prosecuted to date.

In a UN Press Briefing right after the Solomou events New York Congressman Eliot Engel said: “For the first time in many years, the Turkish Government was not secular, and since it had come to power, "we've seen one provocation after another". The recent actions in Cyprus might be a symbol that the new Turkish Government was trying to provoke a war, he said. "The solution is the immediate demilitarization of Cyprus." [5]

Greek Cypriot Women Demonstrating against Turkish Occupation [6]

Greek Cypriot women repeatedly made attempts to return to their homes and properties and were stopped, many arrested by the de facto Turkish Cypriot police. The case of Loizidou v. TURKEY [7] for instance, began in 1989, when Turkish military forces, which currently occupy 38% of Cypriot land, disallowed Ms. Loizidou, a Greek Cypriot citizen, from entering land which was legally hers.

In [8] July 24, 1989 Several thousand Greek-Cypriot women attempted to return to their homes and properties. "Stop," a Turkish-Cypriot guard pleaded as the first phalanx of women waving white flags and banners reading "We Come in Peace" swarmed past him near the village of Lymbia southeast of Nicosia.

Six Greek Cypriot women were sexually assaulted and beaten by Turkish-Cypriot prison guards and police after being arrested for taking part in the protest demanding to return to their homes and properties.

File:Demonstration for missing Cypriots at the aftermath of the Turkish Invasion of Cyprus.jpg

Demonstration for missing Cypriots at the aftermath of the Turkish Invasion.

Several hundred Greek-Cypriot women were in the fourth day of a sit-in outside the headquarters of the 2,300-man United Nations peacekeeping force. They were demanding freedom for 108 Greek Cypriot women arrested by Turkish-Cypriot police when they stormed across the U.N.-patrolled buffer zone to protest the Turkish occupation of northern Cyprus.

March 20, 1989 About 3,000 Greek-Cypriot women stormed past troops into North Cyprus to protest the division of the island. Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, said anyone crossing the UN buffer zone would be arrested. Witnesses said women were dragged kicking and screaming into Turkish-Cypriot custody. Some had their hair pulled, received bruises or were cut by barbed wire. The Greek women, organized by a committee called Women Walk Home, ended both protests after about three hours. Many were among 200,000 Greek Cypriots who left their homes in the north after the Turkish invasion of Cyprus.

External links

• U.N., U.S. fault Turkey for Greek Cypriot deaths
• UN Press Briefing in response to the recent killings of two Greek Cypriot demonstrators
• Turkish Brutality
• Associated Press: Greek prime minister warns Turkish troops on Cyprus
• Associated Press: Greek leader to visit Cyprus amid tension over killings
• Police account of anti-occupation
• Demonstrations for missing persons
• The Loizidou case
• Women of Cyprus Demonstrations

Category:Refugees