Erdogan closing net on Turkish Cypriots

[Paphos Life]

By Esra AyginTurkish investigations and detentions targeting Turkish Cypriot academics and journalists have alarmed the Turkish Cypriot community and caused fear that Ankara has turned its authoritarian gaze to the northern part of the island....

Read the article and chat about it below...

[Mike.1940]

I think they need to be concerned about the net closing on the TRNC. If ever there was a reason to open the negotiations again, now would seem appropriate. Turkey is definitely coming under the foot of the president. He is flexing his authority more and more each day.

[Jimgward]

He is already sending Imams into the north, to change the forms of Islam to a more hard-line approach. Less religious and political freedom, as well as less freedoms to be a relaxed society.

[ApusApus]

Must admit that I read Erdogan received a frosty reception on his recent visit to North Cyprus following his inauguration!


Shane

[El tel]

To my mind the worst thing religion did was to hold back science for hundreds of years because it did not fit the dogma that the world was completed in seven days.

Terry

[Rita Sherry]

To my mind the worst thing religion did was to hold back science for hundreds of years because it did not fit the dogma that the world was completed in seven days.

Terry

A day is but an age in God's sight.

Rita

[Kili01]

Yes, It is fun - is probably right in what he says. It’s been no secret that TC’s would seek to reunite the island again. They don’t want Turkish interferance in the north, but for an agreement to work it has to happen on reasonable terms which give them equal rights and security. Freedom to live their normal lives with no fear. Given past history and the near genocide of the Turkish Cypriots which at the hands of a certain organization within the GC communnity nearly happened, their desire for proper protection to live their normal lives and run businesses and to have an equal share in Govt is also understandible by most reasonabke persons. But all this seems unlikely to happen and time is running out.

Dee

[Jimgward]

Yes, It is fun - is probably right in what he says. It’s been no secret that TC’s would seek to reunite the island again. They don’t want Turkish interferance in the north, but for an agreement to work it has to happen on reasonable terms which give them equal rights and security. Freedom to live their normal lives with no fear. Given past history and the near genocide of the Turkish Cypriots which at the hands of a certain organization within the GC communnity nearly happened, their desire for proper protection to live their normal lives and run businesses and to have an equal share in Govt is also understandible by most reasonabke persons. But all this seems unlikely to happen and time is running out.

Dee

I think 'genocide' is a strong word for these circumstances, which were clearly sectarian and shameful. The Republican spawned the persecution of TCs who from 1960 were displaced to enclaves and no doubt atrocities occurred.... many died and many other shameful acts. Similarly, post 1974, atrocities occurred on the TC side towards GCs.... neither side has fully attuned and this is part of the problem.

But I think Genocide is more attributable to Turkey and Armenians, Nazis and many sects and many other occurrences, such as in Africa and other place.

[Kili01]

No, must disagree about genocide. Do you inow anything about the ’Akritas Plan’ spawned by elements of EOKA B’? It talks about the plan to destabilse everything the communities, the towns and the whole island in 6 stages with the aim of breakdown of a proper government. The genocide of the TC’s was the final step. Luckily it didn’t get that far before the coup that ousted Makarious which is part of history now.
If anyone wants to check this terrible period in history, just check on the internet. There are vaious accounts by people of different nationalities who were here at the time. of what happened between 1964 and the Turkish invasion,
Also at one stage the Cy Mail, one day published the contents of the Akritas Plan, which was ‘Top Secret’, in English in the Cyprus Mail. Probably around the time before the island was taking its first steps with peace talks between Glafcos Clerides and Rauf Denktash, TC leader at that time, who had known each other since schooldays. After extensive talks they concocted the Annan Plan. When the next election went against Glafcos Clerides who favoured the plan, with the result that Tassos Papadopoulis wass elected, who didn’t, the whole thing failed. Partition between the north and the south followed. How was this Akritas Plan discovered, We were told that although only the top people had copies of it, they were supposed to destroy them after reading it. Most did, but one didn’t, it was found some time later on, so that was the end game.
Dee