Cyprus-Forum.com

[Alexandros Lordos]

Hence, I think if you used the label 'Extreme Nationalist' (or 'Volkan readers') , it would perhaps more ably reflect the sentiments expressed by the Group D section of the population. Judging by your description, this is a group that see themselves as guardians of Turkish civilisation (including its Islamic components) and willing to resort to armed struggle in that cause.

Insan, do you concur?

And, by the way, what do you both think I should label Group C, if not "Nationalist Turks"?

[Alexandros Lordos]

Some more data ...

Attitudes towards the prospect of improving the Annan Plan: (Groups analysis)


Group A: Improvements for a stronger and more integrated Federation, 23% of the population

This group desires improvements that will bring the two communities in Cyprus closer together, under the umbrella of a stronger Federal state. In last April's referendum, 90% of this group voted "Yes" and 10% voted "No"


Group B: Improvements that will raise the standard of living of Turkish Cypriots, 44% of the population

This group desires such improvements as will bring more cash handouts into the pockets of Turkish Cypriots, while at the same time improving their employment prospects and giving them the opportunity to take advantage of EU membership.In last April's referendum, 70% of this group voted "Yes" and 30% voted "No".


Group C: Insular / rejectionist mentality , 34% of the population

This group does not desire any renegotiation of the Annan Plan, except in the case where it would take away rights from the Greek Cypriots and give it to the Turkish Cypriots. They have a hostile attitude towards the European Union, towards the Greek Cypriots, and towards the outside world in general. In last April's referendum, 40% of this group voted "Yes" and 60% voted "No".

[insan]

Insan,

I have thought again about the name I gave to Group D, perhaps a more appropriate expression would be "Islamist Turks", people who are guided by the values of Islam while being also influenced by Turkish secularism ( something equivalent to Christian protestants) ... that is why they would not "show up" at the mosques, but would still hold the opinion that "a holy war" would be acceptable if it is necessary, to "liberate Cyprus". Please tell me if you think this revised description comes closer to the truth as you know it ...

In my opinion, Group D mainly comprise from the plunderers of North who looted the huge part of the GC properties and made a huge "illegal"(Both according to the laws of so-called TRNC and international laws) wealth by looting and exploiting the properties belongs to GCs for personal and political purposes in order to financially become strong and create an influential group of people that will always be dependant to themselves and keep them in power. The ethnic origin of this group is mainly right winger, high and middle ranked ex-TMT members(TCs). The sub group of this main group comprise of the partisan flatterers. Their duty is to make up to influential people and get their share from the political exploitation. These flatterers works with the influential persons of the smallest regions. They visit the small regions that its people can easily be deluded/convinced with bribery, horror, threats and beneficial promises such as jobs, good positions in government offices, free or cheap land at the valuable regions etc. This group of people has nothing to do with the religion at all. Their god is money and material and their fear is to lose it. Their nationalism is palaver.


In group D, there are also the ones who had bitter experiences in the past and couldn't forget its pain and shock. These are mainly the TC villagers who witnessed the ferocity of GC extremists and have civilian losses in their family. And this sub group also has nothing to do with fundamentalist Islam.

(remember Serdar Denktash saying a month ago that "a liberation struggle like in Palestine might be needed"? Well, perhaps this is the group of voters he was trying to win over from Eroglu ...)

He said if Turkey has deserted TCs to their own destiny... In this case, if Turkey has been obliged to withdraw all her troops immediately and the guarantorship nullified; some group of GCs probably may take courage of this and try to impose "majority rule" upon TCs. Some other provocative actions from some groups of GCs also may appear. In such a case, not only Denktashes and their supporters, majority of TCs would prepare themselves for an armed struggle against those groups of GCs. As it is clearly seen, this is also has nothing to do with fundamentalist Islamism.

By the way, many of Group D also voted Yes to the Annan Plan - probably because Raouf Denktash managed to ensure that the Annan Plan Solution would be strictly bizonal and would involve minimal mixing with Greek Cypriots.

Reasonable. That's what it seems like.


It won't be a academic definition but you can label the Group D as Looters.

[Alexandros Lordos]

Insan, I hear you, but how do you explain the fact that Group D responded that "My life is guided by Islam"?. This is an unmistakeable statistical fact, so we need to find a way to explain it ...

Perhaps I should adopt Cannedmoose's explanation, that these people consider themselves to be the guardians of Turkish tradition, extreme right-wingers, who use Islam as a secondary banner of their hatred and fanaticism ("We Muslim Turks" Vs "Them Christian Greeks") ...

[-mikkie2-]

Group B: Improvements that will raise the standard of living of Turkish Cypriots, 44% of the population

Alexandre,

To me it does look that the main priority for unification is an economic one. It does not surprise me that the biggest group falls into this category. I however fear that their reasons will encounter the harsh reality that jobs will not be easy to come by.

What are your thought on this?

Regarding the increased Islamisist sentiments, don't these go hand in hand with the rise of Islamisist discontent in Turkey in the aftermath of the Iraq war?

Also, I am not sure how importatnt or accurate this may be, but there is a large student population in northern Cyprus that comes from Islamic countries that have a much stronger anti-west sentiment and this could be breeding the rise of Islamisist feelings in the general TC population.

These are obvioulsy just thoughts and nothing more. I guess our TC friends may be able to shed a bit more light on this.

[insan]

Perhaps I should adopt Cannedmoose's explanation, that these people consider themselves to be the guardians of Turkish tradition, extreme right-wingers, who use Islam as a secondary banner of their hatred and fanaticism ("We Muslim Turks" Vs "Them Christian Greeks") ...

This sounds reasonable, Alexandros but I need to make a deeper research about it. But I've never witnessed them using the terminology " ("We Muslim Turks" Vs "Them Christian Greeks"".


Their hatred against Hellenic ruling elite should be examined retrospectively, I think. And their antipathetic attitudes against non-Turks/non-Muslims should be examined in frame of so-called racist/nationalist stance of this group because their stance against leftist Turks is completely same with their stance against Hellenic Ruling Elite and non-Turks/non-Muslims. If majority of people in Group D hasn't been looters, even just the above mentioned reasons would be enough for them to not to want reunification with GCs and even EU. But the fact is that beside their reasons that I suggested above, they have a big fear as being the looters of the North. Furthermore, they still exert great effort to come in to power in up coming elections, keep Turkey out of EU by using their influential power and provocations in order, either to achieve Taksim or integarte North to Turkey. I still can't see any religious motive in their actions and plans. The groups in Turkey which dream and secretly work for a Islamic Turkey are only the small fundamentalist factions in AKP. As you know, the leadership of AKP openly supported the Annan Plan. The political groups in Turkey which were against the Annan Plan are the leftist main opposition party, CHP and far right MHP. MHP's main motive is Turkism, Islamism comes second and has no similarity with fundamentalist Islam.

[Alexandros Lordos]

I need to make a deeper research about it.

let me know what you find out ...

By the way, I've done some further analysis, and it seems that group D is middle-of-the-road so far as family income is concerned, neither very rich nor very poor ... I don't know if this helps you to identify the group.

[mehmet]

Alexandre,

with regard to this issue of Islam.....

If I asked Greek Cypriots if they believed in caring for your neighbours, turning the other cheek and showing forgiveness many would say yes at a guess. If instead I asked are you guided by the precepts of Christianity my guess is that there woyuld still be a large majority but maybe not so large as if you'd asked the earlier questions instead.

Many Turkish Cypriots whilst not being devout feel they live a life guided by Islam, for example where looking after those who are weaker than ourselves is concerned, as well as believing in afterlife. I think even some who are agnostic or atheists would not answer this question truthfully as they may not be comfortable disassociating themselves from Islam, even in a private poll.

If perhaps you had asked whether Islamic law (Sharia) should be applied by the government you would get a more accurate response to guage the level of support for Islamic fundamentalism.

[insan]

Group C: Insular / rejectionist mentality , 34% of the population

This group does not desire any renegotiation of the Annan Plan, except in the case where it would take away rights from the Greek Cypriots and give it to the Turkish Cypriots. They have a hostile attitude towards the European Union, towards the Greek Cypriots, and towards the outside world in general. In last April's referendum, 40% of this group voted "Yes" and 60% voted "No".

Group "C" under the category "Attitudes towards the prospect of improving the Annan Plan: (Groups analysis)
" concur with group "D". %60 of group "C" who voted no to the Annan Plan makes up about %20.4 of the %34(Group C).

Thus, group D should be comprised of the ones which concern about:

1- Losing their wealth that has been gained from political corruption.

There are 3 classes of citizens in this sub group:

a) Creators of corrupt political system(High-bracket income)
b) Their flatterers i,e vote hunters and traders(Middle-bracket income)
c) Vote sellers(Low-bracket income)

During the past 30 years the people in this group made a good wealth in varying degrees, respectively as stated above. My assumption this sub group of group "D" comprise of half the settlers(The first comers) and half the TCs.

2- Facing the same pains, miseries and fears of the past. This sub group of Group "D" should comprise of completely TCs.


On the other hand I agree with what mehmet suggested above...


Alexandros, can you please put forth all the details about group "D" for consideration? Though I don't think that further details would prove the existence of a Fundamentalist Islamic group which constitutes %24 of the total population, in North. TCs are known as "relax" muslims. And it is a known fact that most of the settlers which came during the period 1974 until late 80s were all assimilated by TCs and adopted the life style of TCs.

[insan]

Group C: Insular / rejectionist mentality , 34% of the population

This group does not desire any renegotiation of the Annan Plan, except in the case where it would take away rights from the Greek Cypriots and give it to the Turkish Cypriots. They have a hostile attitude towards the European Union, towards the Greek Cypriots, and towards the outside world in general. In last April's referendum, 40% of this group voted "Yes" and 60% voted "No".

And I wonder which factors did influence almost half of this zealots to vote yes to the Annan Plan. Perhaps the influence of settler association leader nuri Cevikel... Or promises of CTP? Perhaps both...

The Left

CTP’s strategy, under the leadership of Mehmet Ali Talat, has been to broaden its appeal at the national level even at the risk of alienating some of its more ideological voters and party cadres. As a result, it has resisted calls for a unified front, aiming to avoid the stigma of association with more fringe groups of the Left who tend to advocate anti-establishment sentiments. CTP wants to appeal to Turkish settlers who represent a large constituency. The Settler’s Association leadership, under one Nuri Çevikel, for instance, have come out in favour of a settlement like Annan that would grant settlers basic rights as citizens of a unified Cyprus.[iv] Although historically there has been great mistrust of the CTP among settlers, who believe the CTP wishes them repatriated to Turkey, CTP seems to think it can make inroads here.

http://www.erpic.org/perihelion/wps/northcyprus.htm