united cypru !!! not with youth in this fram of mind

Littlenige



Joined: 24/12/2006
Posts: 3594

Message Posted:
15/11/2008 11:30

Violence erupts at demonstrations

By Jean Christou



FACES contorted with rage, a group of school students trampled a police barrier at the Ledra Palace crossing yesterday in the most serious clash in a day of anti-occupation demonstrations around the island.



Later, many of the same group blocked the crossing at the end of Ledra Street as startled tourists looked on at students shouting abuse at a line of Turkish Cypriot police who had gathered defensively at the other end of the crossing point.



In Limassol two students were injured when groups clashed with each other, and in Larnaca tensions rose when one group heckled the speaker from another at a joint event.



Other reports said students harassed Turkish Cypriot vehicles crossing at Ayios Dhometios, and a Turkish Cypriot taxi driver said students had ripped the number plate from his car on Makarios Avenue in Nicosia as he sat in traffic.



By the end of the day left-wing student organisations were blaming their right-wi

Littlenige



Joined: 24/12/2006
Posts: 3594

Message Posted:
15/11/2008 11:32

By the end of the day left-wing student organisations were blaming their right-wing counterparts for the blatant shows of nationalism that marked what used to be a day of Greek Cypriot unity – the condemnation of the establishment of the breakaway state in the north.



In Nicosia by far the vast majority of secondary school pupils and university students attended events at a closed stadium with a music programme and speeches favouring reunification and reconciliation.



There were reports of tensions, as there were from Larnaca – where three different ‘factions’ attended - but potential clashes were defused before any harm was done at both events.



Police said only around 600 in all were demonstrating on the streets of the capital, and not all of those were militant.



Indeed at the Ledra Palace where students used to throng en masse, yesterday they arrived in separate groups – those with Cypriot flags and those with Greek flags – the former keeping good 100-metre distance from

Littlenige



Joined: 24/12/2006
Posts: 3594

Message Posted:
15/11/2008 11:34

distance from the more vociferous bunch close to the barricade who threw several firecrackers towards the buffer zone.



They wore the symbol of a group named EMAK or National Pupils Movement whose slogan is: “Cyprus Free and Greek”.





Both groups eventually dispersed peacefully but within minutes, a third group of around 100 arrived carrying nationalist flags. Without stopping, they rampaged straight through a light police line and ran into the buffer zone.



They were only stopped by riot police who appeared out of nowhere and dragged them back. Students and police then pushed, shoved and slapped each other as the youngsters shouted abuse at police telling them they “were no better than Turks”.

The fracas lasted around 15 minutes before the students resumed their original aim of shouting anti-occupation slogans such as “Cyprus is Greek” and “Cyprus is not for sale”. The majority wore black T-shirts with the name of the group EFEN.

Littlenige



Joined: 24/12/2006
Posts: 3594

Message Posted:
15/11/2008 11:35

Nicosia Divisional Commander Kypros Michaelides played down the incident, saying it was not serious. There had been no real conflict and no injuries, he said, and police had handled the situation well. This was true.

He said both EFEN and EMAK pupils had been part of the skirmish.

EFEN later denied it had sanctioned any such actions, and its aim, it said was the symbolic closing of Ledra Street, which happened just before 1pm. Many of the same faces were apparent in the crowd. One even carried the flag of the Cyprus Church.

Said one onlooker: “He’s carrying the flag of the Church and the amount of foul language coming out of his mouth…”

This time however ‘organisers’ held the students back themselves as they shouted “Free Orthodoxy”, “Turks Die” and “Cyprus-Greece Enosis (union)”. There was not a Cyprus flag in sight. The demonstrators dispersed after ten minutes.

Littlenige



Joined: 24/12/2006
Posts: 3594

Message Posted:
15/11/2008 11:36

Earlier on Makarios Avenue forty-eight year-old Turkish Cypriot taxi driver Cevdet Ozguler said his car was attacked by a group of between 50 and 60 school students in uniform.



“They saw the Turkish Cypriot number plate and started kicking the car. They seemed to be after the number plate itself and when it fell to the ground they paraded it like a trophy. My passengers and I were terrified. The youngsters only stopped attacking the car when a police car suddenly appeared from behind. God only knows what would have happened had the police not arrived at that moment”.



Ozguler says he made a statement to the police about the damage to his car but has no hope of receiving compensation.



“There’s no way I could identify the kids who did it. There were so many of them and it happened so fast”.

Littlenige



Joined: 24/12/2006
Posts: 3594

Message Posted:
15/11/2008 11:37

In Limassol violence erupted at Grigori Afxendiou Square in Limassol where numerous fistfights took place in the middle of the street, resulting in two students going to hospital where they were treated for bruises to the head and neck.



“I saw three-four different fights breaking out, where one student was on the floor surrounded by about 20 students who were kicking and punching him. When they finished with one victim, they moved on to another, with the same scenario taking place before our shocked eyes,” one onlooker said.



In another incident a group of students threw another student off his motorcycle and started beating him with metal bars. Thessaloniki Street at the five-way crossing was closed off for approximately 20 minutes at midday, while people working at nearby offices rushed to move their cars from the area.



The students involved in the fights wore EFEN T-shirts. The same group of students was seen lighting torches during the demonstration.



Reportedly, the cau

Littlenige



Joined: 24/12/2006
Posts: 3594

Message Posted:
15/11/2008 11:38

Reportedly, the cause of the brawls was that students from two Limassol areas, Ayios Ioannis and Ayios Antonios, had past differences which they decided to resolve at the demonstration.



(Additional reporting by Simon Bahceli in the north and Anna Hassapi in Limassol)



http://www.cyprus-mail.com/news/main.php?id=42510&cat_id=1

brian24001


Joined: 23/03/2008
Posts: 606

Message Posted:
15/11/2008 11:50

So correct me if I am wrong, these people are opposed to the division of the island, which it seems based on these actions is the better option to maintain a safe area for some of us and our children, often refered to as 'the north', and they are so incensed about this that they fight each other and attack their own??

Hmmm, ................. bright people, best they stay where they are in that other area often refered to as 'the south'.

And please don't let them attack Ikea! after all, it's not Greek either, nor is McD's, M&S etc, in fact if this escalates the only safe place might be Stavros' kebab shop.

karakum5c



Joined: 18/03/2008
Posts: 1021

Message Posted:
15/11/2008 11:57

Im glad we have got the border to keep all the loonies in the south

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
15/11/2008 11:59

Why am I not surprised?



This is why the history books need to be replaced with more considered, circumspect ones that tell the whole truth... not the "one truth" but all the known truths about what transpired leading up to 1974 so that those whose minds have been deliberately poisoned since can see their "teachers" for what they are... an instrument of propaganda...



It is this propaganda that both communities are ill-served byl...



It was not long ago that we were in the south when free-ranging gangs of youths were running about attacking smaller groups of youths in Ledra street... They were punching and kicking them to the ground having wrestled them into the side-streets.



Our children were quite alarmed as that was their first experience of such mob violence... At the time we thought it to be football hooliganism but on reflection we realised those involved were not wearing football colours.

ilovecyprus


Joined: 08/05/2007
Posts: 2880

Message Posted:
15/11/2008 12:09

It seems that there were anti occupation events yesterday around Cyprus. Most of the events seem to be peaceful with most people favouring reconciliation and peace. Clearly a small number of egocentric nationalists decided that the event was a call to arms, however, it seems that it evolved mostly in to gang warfare. The CEPS survey shows that only 2% of GC's see themselves as only Greek not Cypriot.



It seems to me that the last meeting between the Leaders went well and they made some progress.



Just for the record, the survey conducted by Ceps shows that:



*just over 50% of Cypriots believe Greece to be their mother country - 23% strongly believe that to be true, and close to 80% of TC's believe Turkey to be their mother country - 40% strongly believe that to be true.



Saying that 55% of GC's believe themselves to be Greek and Cypriot to the same degree and 56% of TC's see themselves as a Turk and Cypriot to the same degree.

ilovecyprus


Joined: 08/05/2007
Posts: 2880

Message Posted:
15/11/2008 12:38

ps



only 3% of GC's and 0.5% of TC's think the Cyprus problem should be solved through an armed struggle.

Mindy



Joined: 27/10/2008
Posts: 1210

Message Posted:
15/11/2008 19:20

Hubby and I was in south nicosia on wednesday near Hilton hotel area looking for a particular shop, we turned off main one way system on to side road where there happened to be a greek army barracks,as we past the 2 sentries they started waving thier fists at us, i thought I must be mistaken but as we needed to turn back the way we came we passed them again and they waved thier rifles this time, we smiled and waved at them, they only looked 18 or 19 yrs. We didn't hear what they were shouting but it would definately not have been "welcome friends'. That is all because we had turkish cypriot number plates.

daveb


Joined: 06/11/2008
Posts: 52

Message Posted:
15/11/2008 21:37

maybe thats why the armies are still there.









daveb

daveb


Joined: 06/11/2008
Posts: 52

Message Posted:
15/11/2008 23:08

forgive me but gcs doing their national service makes them greek soilders.





daveb

aweverard


Joined: 13/07/2008
Posts: 54

Message Posted:
16/11/2008 01:01

Sue, Msg 15.



The fact they are Greek Cypriot not Greek makes their behaviour more worrying not less.

Geoff1131


Joined: 12/07/2007
Posts: 276

Message Posted:
16/11/2008 08:49

makes you feel that choosing to live in the more tolerent, less hostile, peaceloving north, was the right decision after all.



And before you say anything Pikey, yes there are problems, but i would rather live here with these problems, than live in the south, which obviusly still harbours thoughts from the sixties.

Whistler


Joined: 28/07/2008
Posts: 1332

Message Posted:
16/11/2008 10:21

A friend of mine (turkish cypriot) was in Limassol on Friday and a bunch of youths were throwing stones at him and shouting abuse. I pray they will never take the Turkish Army from here.

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
16/11/2008 10:53

Suzanne how much do you want to bet?



I'm not advocating continuing division but neither am I advocating turning back the clocks and making stupid mistakes... Re-unification needs to be done very, very carefully to make sure there are no casualties...



Will Turkish troop withdrawal help? I'm not so sure... you seem to be... I get the impression that lots of TCs remain to be convinced... If they are we shall see.



I don't expect you to accept the bet.....

Mindy



Joined: 27/10/2008
Posts: 1210

Message Posted:
16/11/2008 11:35

forgive me suzanne if I used incorrect description of gun toteing greek cypriot soldiers. i somehow don't think a turkish soldier would behave in that manner towards a greek registered vehicle, they are far more disciplined and they too are doing thier national service. As an EU citizen I felt very intimidated in another EU country.

brian24001


Joined: 23/03/2008
Posts: 606

Message Posted:
16/11/2008 12:06

Well I have never had a gun pointed near me in the north, only ever seen them pointing up to the sky (which is actually quite dangerous, should point to the ground). Did once get a soldier ponting his finger for me to move the car once when i parked right outside their gates, but I don't think it was loaded.

I think to be fair to the soldiers in the south, one has to expect they (or rather their command) are more likely to have an slightly more aggresive stance as they lost, and need to regain a little more of the aggresive image, but I am sure of you were in difficulties they would come to your assistance.

However, given that they seem in the south to be unable to control rioting students, what chance have they got against a group of ladies in a shopping expedition to Alpha Mega.

MUSIN M


Joined: 26/06/2008
Posts: 1352

Message Posted:
16/11/2008 20:46

they are just greek cypriot fanatics .

the prime minister ferdi sabit soyer called on greek officials to contain the greek cypriot fanatics ,and has asked the turkish cypriots to stay strong as we know we are in the right.

we are stong and we are right ,the greeks are upset because they know this,and they will not spoil our 25 th anniversary.





musin

MUSIN M


Joined: 26/06/2008
Posts: 1352

Message Posted:
16/11/2008 20:52

suzanne

no cypriot blood in their bodies :



i,m not sure about you ,but you will find everyone bleeds red not just greeks





musin

long live the kktc

newlad



Joined: 02/03/2008
Posts: 7819

Message Posted:
16/11/2008 21:24

Just a load of louts trying to cause trouble it happens all over the world.Lets hope its just an isolated incident,

Paul.

MUSIN M


Joined: 26/06/2008
Posts: 1352

Message Posted:
16/11/2008 23:42

no paul

organised ,more to come







musin

deecyprus4


Joined: 27/07/2008
Posts: 3452

Message Posted:
17/11/2008 08:27

Keep the army here...long live peace in the TRNC.

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
17/11/2008 09:42

I also know at least one currently serving Turkish Cypriot and lots of ex-servicemen who have done their stint who are also Turkish Cypriot...



Wrong information will let you down every time....

jay76


Joined: 17/07/2008
Posts: 532

Message Posted:
17/11/2008 13:07

itervention

jay76


Joined: 17/07/2008
Posts: 532

Message Posted:
17/11/2008 13:18

The world sat back and watched the (invasion) must be a reason.

breezyboy


Joined: 14/05/2007
Posts: 1179

Message Posted:
17/11/2008 13:40

As said above so long as the schools teach recent history the way they do this will continue with adolescents who beleive what the state tells the must be true.About 3 years ago a young girl student approached me at Larnaca airport doing a survey for tourism. When she came to the question as to where I had been staying she looked visibly shocked and backed away 2 feet as if I had announced I was an anthrax carrier. " In the occupied territory?" she said and cut the questionaire short. A very sad attitude, not of her own making.

jay76


Joined: 17/07/2008
Posts: 532

Message Posted:
17/11/2008 14:51

yes lets hope its not to long. roll on the out come.

cyprustom


Joined: 23/09/2008
Posts: 60

Message Posted:
17/11/2008 15:58

poor suzanne, another missinformed soul

Kitty1


Joined: 15/03/2007
Posts: 683

Message Posted:
17/11/2008 16:20

Sadly I was in Nicosia on Thursday, and witnessed an incident in Ledra Street just outside Starbucks where a sizeable gang of kinds, probably no more than 12 or 13 years of age were seriously laying into another group of kids. It was very nasty and very frightening. Later that day we were horrified to see a local shop owner quite literally seeing off a couple of potential customers who were looking in his window. The couple concerned were clearly non-Cypriot, and I can only assume the shopkeeper didn't want to do business with foreigners.



So very sad.