Protests in north Cyprus

The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil,
but because of those who look on and do nothing - Albert Einstein

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Summary of ongoing Protests in north Cyprus and Abroad for Cyprus

A demonstration of about 10 000 took place in Inonu square in Nicosia on the 14th of October. It was organised by "This country is ours" platform to protest the employment and citizenship policies of the government. More info on an article from Yeniduzen and another article from Toplum Postasi. A photo of the event.

Two greek cypriots, a turkish cypriot and a cypriot donkey were arrested on the 22nd of september by turkish cypriot police for offending the regime. While crossing the checkpoint they had presented a passport for the donkey, thus protesting for the current process of showing passports at the checkpoint. Photos from the event here .

The Bi-Communal Initiative against nationalism and war organized a peace camp at Limnitis/Yesilirmak during the weekend 6-7 September. Greek cypriot participants were warned by turkish cypriot police and military that if they didn't leave the camping by 10:30 p.m there would be a police operation against them.More info in turkish and english

The Bi-Communal Initiative against nationalism and war commemorated the innocent cypriots of both communities killed in the wars. Greek cypriot participants were prevented from entering the village of Murataga/Maratha in the north, where turkish cypriots had been massacred in 1974.
Press release before the event |After the event 1| 2 | photos .

Soon after the opening of the green line in April, CAN together with other organisations endorsed this
call for deepening of the reconciliation process .

CAN held a demonstration in New York in support of the unification of Cyprus
Press Release post rally | Media Advisory, photos | Demonstration Flyer | FAQ

SEE THE PROTESTS CALENDAR

CAN members had meetings with six members of the European Parliament and Comission presenting CAN's views on important issues regarding developments in Cyprus. The meeting took place in Brusseles on February 19th.

A cultural event for Peace in Cyprus is being organised in London on the 16th Feb. The event will include art installations by various Cypriot artists and speakers that are yet to be confirmed. Outside of Cyprus the largest Cypriot community in the world resides in London. This will be the first major bi-communal peace event in the history of the London Cypriot community and it comes at a critical time with regard to the future of the island. Further information about the event can be found here and the flyer is available here .

"This Homeland is Ours" said the masses; Turkish Cypriot uprising of 2002-3: An article by Turgut Durduran summarizing the recent events in Cyprus in the light of the opporistion movement in the past one and a half decades.

The grand rally organized by the BMBP platform on January 14, 2003 was a great success. The rally was the biggest ever in the recent history of Cyprus drawing 50,000-70,000 people.

For pictures from the event, click here

Some articles that appeared in the international press about the event: BBC , The Guardian, CNN

Terror Campaign in North Cyprus - Beginning Again? - Cyprus Alternative News

As reported in newspapers (e.g Kibris, Yeniduzen) a new terror campaign seems to have been launched against opposition figures. On January 10th, three incidents were reported:

1) Tyres of a car belonging to KTOEOS union chairman Ahmet Barcin were destroyed with a knife. Ahmet Barcin is one of the leading figures of the "This Homeland is Ours" platform. His union has been very active in the recent events.

2) There was a bomb threat on CTP Famagusta headquarters during an open gathering to discuss the matters of the Famagusta branch of the party. The building was evacuated and 200 people attending the meeting had to hold the meeting in a separate location. Police did a detailed investigation of the scene and announced that it was an unfounded threat.

3) A small bomb with a fuse was placed under the car of Yiltan Hansa in Turkmenkoy. A neighbour noticed the bomb which did not explode beause the fuse was extinguished due to humidity.

This is the last in a series of psychological and physical attacks aimed at silencing the progressives living in the Turkish-occupied northern part of the island. Since 1974, when Turkey intervened with the pretext of ensuring the safety of the Turkish Cypriots, there have been at least 31 bombings, 10 arsons, 4 gun firings and 1 murder with political motivations aimed at the progressives.

The timing of these latest incidents coincides with mass demonstrations in north Cyprus. Last week government related organizations such as the "National People's Movement" (UHH) began taking a confrontational stance against the demonstrators. They have been intimidating the demonstrations at various locations through the media and direct contacts.

Another mass demonstration was announced to take place on January 14th with expected numbers larger than the previous one held on December 26th which gathered more than 30,000 people.

More than 30,000 Cypriots joined the peace-rally on December 26th, Photos are available at http://www.yenicag-net.com/haber/d/261202/index.htm . They announced the whole world that they want a united Cyprus and that they do not recognize Denktash as their representative. Operation Saving Our Future joined the rally with 6000 supporters who marched through the streets to the rally.

A symbolic referandum was held and the crowd accepted the folowing declaration:

As the great majority of the Turkish Cypriot community, we announce whole world the following:

1. We will continue our struggle Until a long-lasting, secure and continous peace is reached in Cyprus.

2. The plan presented by UN General Secretary Mr Kofi Annan is for the interests of Turkish Cypriots as well as its contents are acceptable by all political parties to Cyprus problem. Annan plan should be accepted immediately.

3. During Copenhagen summit, Denktash damaged the rights of Republic of Turkey aswell as Turkish Cypriots and an important opportunity was missed. He should resign immediately.

4. We announce whole world that Denktash does not represent Turkish Cypriots and that we do not accept his representation.

5. We call all supporters of peace to take urgent steps to will in the gap to ensure that Turkish Cypriots are represented internationally and in the negotiations.

6. We call all political parties and organizations that support peace to continue common protests, act in unity, increase their solidarity and struggle together with determination until peace is achieved.

We announce that we accept a solution, peace and European Union.

A rally was held in Istanbul on January 4th, 2003 by Turkish Cypriot students. Kibrisli Genclik Platformu (Cypriot Youth Platform) which is part of Operation Saving our Future was one of the organizers. Photos and press release available at http://www.yenicag-net.com/gko/040103/index.htm .

A small march was held by Greek Cypriot youth with torches in streets of Nicosia. Photos from this event of January4th, 2003: I || 2 ||

Operation Saving Our Future

http://www.cyprusaction.org/GKO/

Denktas Resign NOW!
Cypriot Youth Can Take Over!

Turkish Cypriot youth organized under committe of "Operation Saving Our Future" inagurated a new campaign on December, 23rd 2002. Everyday a new person will announce his/her candidacy for presidency. They will share the same last name "Barishemensimdi" which means "PeaceNOW" but retain their firstname. Their birthdate is announced as number of years after 1974 which is when the division of the island occured.

Dogus Barishemensimdi (her real name is Dogus Derya), a student in Bosphorus University, Istanbul announced her candidacy this Monday, December 23rd. Her birthdate is four years after 1974 and her area of speciality is that she knows those who ruined this country very well. She promises the youth that she will return them their future. Her campaign flyer is available at http://www.cyprusaction.org/GKO/dogus.jpg .

"Operation Saving Our Future" has a series of events planned. They call all Cypriots, specially the youth to join their march on December 26th, accompanied with a youth festival to Inonu Square to attend the Grand Rally organized by "This Homeland is Ours Platform". They also have more opennings for new candidates.

28th February Initiative Hunger Strike and Mountain of Peace

http://www.cyprusaction.org/protests/hungerstrike

Dear Friends,

A group of people calling themselves the "28th February Initiative" announce that they are starting an uninterrupted, countionus series of protests from Monday, 23rd December until 28th February. They call everyone and all organizations for participation and solidarity.

At 13:00 next to Kyrenia Municipality, music, folklore, theater shows will inagurate the series of protests with these two calls:

1. Write a sentence for peace, put in a plastic bottle and bring it to us. We will collect them and create "Mountain of Peace" in Kugulu Park which would reach the Presidential Palace.

2. Hunger Strike for Peace for a Day: Until 28th February, we will take turns (with increasing numbers) to hunger strike one day each.

We are open for all new forms of protests and suggestions. Bring your pots, pans, whistles, guitars, drums, costumes, your voice, your word and join us on Monday 13:00 and Tuesday morning in Kyrenia. Let's join together in the chorus for peace until 28th February.

28th February Initiative.

For Information Contact:
Cumhur Deliceirmak - 90-392-8222810, suirmak@hotmail.com

Cenk Mutluyakali, , cenkvirus@superonline.com

Online Calendar of Protests in Cyprus

Activists can post upcoming events and find out about ongoing events at http://www.stwing.upenn.edu/~durduran/hamambocu/webcal/

19 Dec 2002 (Thu) BMB Platform protest in front of parliament
BMBP Platform Regional Protest in Kyrenia

20 Dec 2002 (Fri) BMB Platform All regions flyer distribution

23 Dec 2002 (Mon) 28th February Initiative Hunger Strike and Mountain of Peace
BMB Platform All regions flyer distribution

24 Dec 2002 (Tue) BMB Platform Regional protest in Guzelyurt (Omorfo)
BMB Platform Protest in front of BRTK (Government TV) station

26 Dec 2002 (Thu) Operation Saving Our Future March
BMB Platform Grand Rally in Nicosia

This Homeland is Our Platform -- Bu Memleket Bizim Platform (BMBP)

http://protests.hamamboculeri.org

November 27th, 2002, "Solution and EU for Cyprus" Nicosia, Inonu Square
92 NGOs, Tens of Thousands of People
Got together for Supporting Peace and EU Membership for Cyprus

October 17th, 2000, General Strike
Nearly 100% success in the strike.
About 38,000 people striked.
Almost 15,000 were at the rally!

September 1st, Peace-Day Rally!
More than six-thousand Were In Inonu Square

"This Homeland is Ours" Signature Campaign
17,980 Signatures!

north Cyprus Human Rights, Democracy, Corruption and Environment Reports

http://www.cyprusaction.org/humanrights/

Extensive reports from north Cyprus.

Alternative News

http://haber.hamamboculeri.org

Turkish/English alternative news from north Cyprus.

Soner Arifler's Homepage about "Democratic Uprising in North Cyprus"

http://arifler.mycyprus.net/english/mydiary/Annan/annanplan.htm

Some Links to Organizations and Alternative Media: www.yenicag-net.com || www.cyprus-conflict.net || www.peace-cyprus.org || http://194.27.79.34/tkp || haber.hamamboculeri.org || www.cypriotyouth.org || www.ctpkibris.org || www.ktos.org || www.akel.org.cy || cyprus.indymedia.org || www.yeniduzengazetesi.com || protests.hamamboculeri.org || www.politis.com.cy || www.genckibris.com || http://www.cyprusaction.org