Cyprus 1974-2007 (33 Years of Turkish Occupation)
by Pyrpolizer » Tue Jun 19, 2007 2:42 pm
To sell it to foreigners and buy a BMW and live like a king for the rest of his life. The question is will he leave any land to his children to continue doing the same in their own lives?
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by DT. » Tue Jun 19, 2007 4:43 pm
Pyrpolizer wrote:To sell it to foreigners and buy a BMW and live like a king for the rest of his life. The question is will he leave any land to his children to continue doing the same in their own lives?
they'll get the lawsuits
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DT. - Leading Contributor
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by halil » Wed Jun 20, 2007 10:28 am
Pyrpolizer wrote:Woops I actually wanted to reply to halil in this topic and got carried away.
Halil, many many thanks for your time and effort to write those interviews down. I lived through those days, but never really knew what was going on. I am glad your interviews made me understand the extend of the average TC suffering in the 60s. We Gcs tend to say many more of us were made refugeees and killed in 1974, but we tend to totally disregard that the fact that the suffering of the average TC was too prolonged. And as such it rubbered stamped their lives, and it created a fear that we GCs are unable to measure.
Is it possible to give us some interviews from TCs who were invloved in the Taksim cause? Or you think they will never talk? I mean Ok we learned how the events of 1963 affected so many innocent TCs, but the armed reaction of the Tcs during those days and the immediate cappturing of strategic posts in many areas (kionelli Ay Hilarion mountains and the other heights around Nicosia) showed beyond any doubt that they themselves were also working and preparing for their own aims.
Thanks for the comments. offcourse TC were working and preparing for their aims.things weren't one side.i will try to find more information about taksim and TMT .lots of books are publising now.
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by halil » Wed Jun 20, 2007 10:36 am
From the 1974 War
• Rose. "I thought that this was a bad dream and I would wake up, but it wasn't."
• Erkan. "We struggled very much and finally we managed to save our lives and our nationality from Greek Cypriots."
• Ayse. "Now when I hear a weapon shoot, I think the war is beginning again."
• Deniz. "When we lost all our hope the miraculous event occurred and the Turkish Army came to help us."
• Lale. "I was afraid because I had 5 children...how could I tell them that their father died?"
• Zehra. "Although it was a war, I was happy...because I was sure that Turkey would save our lives."
• Hasan. "I was afraid to leave my family, they might be taken prisoner by the Greeks, or killed by the Greeks."
• Pembe. "`They are waiting for an order, and they are going to kill us,' he said."
Rose's Story
Q. Please, can you explain how Greek and Turks began to fight in 1974?
On 15 July 1974, the Greek army wanted to destroy Makarios and they wanted to bind Cyprus to the Greek side, because they believed that Cyprus was Greek. But Makarios learned about this situation. For this reason, he went to Paffos and from there he escaped to the United Nations and from there he escaped to England and he saved his life. The Greek army made Nikos Sampson the Prime Minister. He was a ferocious EOKA member. He killed so many people -- even babies and old people. Because of this, Turkiye used its authority on 20 July 1974, which was allowed by Cyprus legislation. It landed troops on the island of Cyprus.
Then the Greek army made Clerides the Prime Minister. Mr. Denktas and Mr. Clerides had many meetings in order to find a good solution to the Cyprus problem but they never came to an agreement. For this reason, Turkiye started the Second Peace Operation in 14 August 1974 and now Turkiye dominates all the places from east (Famagusta) to west (Guzelyurt). Later, Mr. Denktas and Mr. Clerides made an agreement about the people who were living on the Greek side and the Turkish side. According to this, the Turkish people who lived in the South part went to the North part, and the Greek people who lived in the North part went to the South part.
Greek people say that they have land in the Northern part of Cyprus. Because of this, today they still try to break our borders.
Q. What was your function in this war?
I was a United Nations' Liaison Officer. I would get the messages from the Standard Bearer and I was to convey them to the United Nations. I would get the important information from them and convey it to the Standard Bearer again, but my basic duty was Finance Officer. Where the Standard Bearer was I was there, but I never had an active duty. If I had an active duty I would sacrifice myself for my country.
Q. Do you have any bad memories of this time?
Yes. I had to go away from my village and I went to Gonendere. Gonendere is the village near Serdarli. I walked all night and when I arrived to Gonendere I didn't believe that I had gone away from my village. In the past, I was a teacher in Amelioration School in Lapta. I was always with the Greeks and for this reason, I thought I had a dream like this bad event. So I thought that it was a dream and I would wake up, but it wasn't. In order to understand if I was in a dream or in real life, I picked up a stone and hit my head, and then I understood that it wasn't a dream and I believed that I would never come to my village again.
Q. Did you have any memory that you have feel yourself very bad until today?
Yes. As you know, during Second Peace Operation the area of Serdarli around the school was under military occupation. When we went to Gonendere, two days later, the Standard Bearer wanted us to go to Serdarli to learn the Greek situation and also enemy locations. In this situation, I called the United Nations officer and I said to him we want to move all the foods from Serdarli to Gonendere and to collect our dead. I also said to him to convey my messages to a Greek officer that we want them to give necessary permission for us to come to Serdarli again. We got the permission and we came to Serdarli and we got the foods.
In the meantime, near the telephone central, I had to get my relative. His name was Mehmet Ahmet Kucuk, and he was dead. When I saw him, I did not recognize him and I called to my other friend -- his name was Mustafa Haciarif -- and I asked who he was, because the shape of his body was very different and his face was jet-black. He said to me, he was your cousin Mehmet. He recognized him because my cousin always carried a white knife.
I did not forget this event for a long time and still remember it today. It was the worst event that I have experienced throughout my life. Even today from time to time I wake up screaming, because I had a dream where I was an officer, and later I saw my death.
Q. Did you have any thoughts about war at that time?
Yes. I understood that war is a very bad and terrible thing. It damages families; it makes so many people homeless and orphaned. Furthermore, I thought that Mehmet did not deserve to die and also I thought that God punished the wrong person. He was so brave, he stole from the rich and he gave to the poor. He always wanted to be with poor people. He sacrificed himself for his village. As time passed, I noticed that if you want to achieve happiness you must know that you may lose many good things, but you must understand that many good and happy days will await you.
Q. Is there anything in your experience during this time that you would say was a "lesson for life?"
Yes. If there is any conflict, we can not solve it by fighting with each other. We must do it by making agreements with both sides. The best solution is to talk about the problem and I believe that after time passes, they will find a common point. Life is so short and nobody knows what will happen a minute later. Everybody must get on well with other people, they must not make them disappointed, or worry. They must try to make their life happy.
[When I talked to Rose sometimes I looked at his face and I saw that he was crying and his eyes were wide. When he explained this war he was excited. I think the basic reason of this was that he felt that he was not in his home, but that he was in the war again. I think I am very lucky because I did not live during this war. Before the interview I didn't know all of these terrible events but now I know and I think we are a very lucky younger generation.]
DEMOGRAPHICS
Occupation: Retired Teacher
Age: 67
Sex: Male
Nationality: TRNC
Where now lives (country and city/town/village): Serdarli village, near Nicosia.
Where lived during the events described during the interview: Serdarli village.
Occupation or life's work of main income earner when growing up: Teacher.
Erkan's Story
Q. Think back to an experience you had that is an example of your life in Cyprus during the 1974 war. What is that experience, what happened?
My experience starts just before the war and ends after the war. On the 10th of July I began to take my annual vacation. We were in Limasol and we had a vineyard. Since it was time to harvest the grapes, I went to our vineyard in order to do this process. The date was the 15th of July. By the way, I was a commander in the army. While I was harvesting the grapes, one of my soldiers came to me and he was very excited. I asked the reason for his being there. He told me that there was a military coup by Greek Cypriots. He also added that Makarios was killed (we learned later that he was not killed) and Nikos Sampson had taken the dictatorship.
Q. What were you feeling at this time? Were you in comfort or did you have any fears about your lives or futures?
Of course, we had serious fears about our futures. Because, Greek Cypriots started to kill many Turkish Cypriot people in 1963. Many people were killed and even some of my relatives and soldiers were killed. So, we were afraid. 11 years had passed, but the same situation was continuing. In each day, at least 2 or 3 people were killed by Greek Cypriots. Then, we began to wait for someone that could save our lives.
Q. Let's continue with your story.
When I heard that story from my soldier, I gave up my vacation and returned to the squadron. I gave a command and I put my army on the alert. We called everybody who could use guns to the army. The atmosphere was very tense. And this situation continued until the 20th of July.
Q. Was there any time that you lost your hope that someone would save your lives?
The Turkish Cypriot people were really brave. They weren't afraid of being killed for their nation. But it was not enough. Greek Cypriots were continuing to kill people, because they had power. We didn't lose our hopes totally, but our morale was actually low. Meanwhile, we had heard that Turkey was preparing to make some kind of an operation. So, we were looking forward to Turkish soldiers coming to Cyprus.
Q. So, what happened on the 20th of July?
On that date, the time was 05:30 am. It was the period of changing the soldiers who were standing guard. While soldiers were changing their turns, another soldier came to me and said that Turkish troops were coming to Cyprus in order to help us.
Q. Would you please describe your feelings at that time, when you heard the Turkish troops were coming?
Yes. When I heard this event, I became very happy. I can't find words to describe my feelings. I felt that my luck had returned to me. It was a great feeling. I suddenly began to see me and my nation's future very good. Anyway, after hearing this news, I told it to my army as well. I wish you had seen their happiness. All the soldiers began to shout. They threw their hats into the air. They embraced each other. Everyone was kissing each other. Of course, our morale automatically became very high.
Q. Did this great happiness help you in the 1974 War?
The war was continuing outside of our village. But, as our morale became very high, we went to neighbor villages and tried to help them. We struggled very much and finally we managed to save our lives and our nationality from Greek Cypriots. The only reason was that we were aware that the Turkish army was helping us. I will never forget this experience for the rest of my life, because there was a big change in my experience. At first, the condition was very bad, but then it became unbelievably good.
Thank you for sharing your story.
DEMOGRAPHICS
Occupation: Retired from military-businessman.
Age: 48.
Sex: Male.
Nationality: TRNC.
Where now lives (country and city/town/village): Lefkosa.
Where lived during the events described during the interview: Evdim, a village in Limassol.
Occupation (or life's work) of the main income earner in household when growing up: Father grew grapes.
Education: Graduated from secondary school.
Ayse's Story
Q. What were the thoughts or ideas or conclusions you had during the 1974 war?
For a long time, we were neighbors with a Greek family, but during this war they wanted to kill their Turkish neighbors. When the 1974 war started all Greek soldiers wanted to kill all the Turks on the island. And they wanted to kill their best friends during this war.
Q. Did these thoughts or ideas or conclusions help you in any way?
Yes. I understood that it wasn't secure to live together on the same island. But now we are living separately on the same island and I am afraid because at any time the new war will start again. However, for a long time we didn't feel secure with people, especially greek people.
Q. Were these thoughts or ideas or feelings or conclusions a problem for you in any way?
Yes. I didn't go to a foreign country for a long time and now I don't want to go because I'm afraid, and I don't want see or meet Greek people.
Q. What feelings or emotions did you have at that time?
I was badly affected because I didn't forget all these terrible events. Every time I remember these events I am unhappy.
Q. Did these feelings or emotions help you in any way?
Today, when the two governments (Turkish Republic of Cyprus and Greek Republic of Cyprus) want to make peace, I don't agree because it's impossible.
Q. Were these feelings or emotions a problem for you in any way?
Yes. Now, when I hear a weapon shoot I think that the war is beginning again.
Q. Did you have any questions or confusions at this time?
Yes. I didn't know when the war would be finished. How many days would this war continue? And what was the result?
Q. Did these questions or confusions help you in any way? How did they help you?
Yes. I learned lots of things. During the war, lots of people died and I learned to protected myself. We learned to hide under the ground, we learned to store a lot of food and all these things we learned to be provident.
Q. Were these questions or confusions a problem for you in any way?
Yes. When I hear there is a war anywhere in the world I remember our war. I become unhappy.
Q. Was there anything that happened during this time that was helpful for you?
Yes. One night, 3 or 4 soldiers they came to my home and they said; "Leave your home immediately." All the neighbors got together and about 20 persons went to a little house and stayed there. However there wasn't food because there wasn't a market open.
Q. How did this help you?
These soldiers took us to the safe places and I always trust all Turkish soldiers.
Q. Was there anything that happened during this time that hurt you or got in your way or was a problem for you somehow?
Yes. My neighbor was shot near me by the Greek soldiers and died, and another neighbor was wounded. My best friend's fiance was a soldier and we heard that a bomb exploded in his area. And my best friend became depressed, and then he learned that he was O.K.
Q. How did this hurt you or was a problem for you?
I didn't get news from my fiance because he was a soldier and I was anxious, but some time later I got some news and I learned that he was all right.
Q. Is there anything in your experience during this time that you would say was a "lesson for life?"
Yes. We learned first aid, we learned to protect ourselves, to make food for the soldiers and most importantly we learned to share all pains and joys. Q. Is there anything you else you would like to say about your experience during this time?
Yes. War isn't a beautiful thing. The best think is not to fight each other. The most important thing is peace.
Q. Is there anything you would like to say about the questions I have asked or the style of the interview itself?
When you ask these questions all my memories are refreshed.
DEMOGRAPHICS
Occupation: Retired
Age: 42
Sex: Female
Nationality: TRNC
Where now lives (country and city/town/village): Gonyeli, Nicosia
Where lived during the events described during the interview: Nicosia.
Occupation (or life's work) of the main income earner in household when growing up: Father's occupation was shoe-maker.
Deniz's Story
Until 1974 we lived through very bad days. We submitted to all the injustices and torture of the Greeks. We lived in very bad conditions. We couldn't eat, we couldn't sleep, we couldn't talk, we couldn't live like normal and free people. This continued for a long time. We started to lose our hope. We started to think that nobody could help us with our fight for freedom. Because we applied many times to qualified organizations but we never got any answer from them. Meanwhile we started to heard news about the "Peace Operation" and in 20th July 1974 Turkish soldiers started their operation and started to fight with Greeks to save us and to save our country. This was an experience which I had that was an example of my life.
Q. Did you have any thoughts or ideas or conclusions at that time?
During the war, we saw many bad days and we lived through many bad events. These affected me very much. I don`t have any physical sore or effect but these events affected my psychology very badly. I can say that war is something very bad.
Q. Were these thoughts or ideas or feelings or conclusions a problem for you in any way?
Yes, to live these days and these events caused a problem in my mind. To see those days made me a very sad and suspicious person. And in the future, my suspicious character affected my friendship relations. I can`t trust people easily for a long time.
Q. What were your feelings or emotions at that time?
At that time I felt very bad because I didn`t know the conclusion of the operation but I trusted to my God and to the Turkish and (Turkish) Cypriot Army.
Q. Did these feelings or emotions help you in any way?
These feelings helped me to learn the power of God and also the power of the Turkish people.
Q. Were these feelings or emotions a problem for you in any way?
They never caused a very big problem for me; the only problem is I lost my hope.
Q. Did you have any questions or confusions at this time?
During the [peace] operation time only one question confused me. This was "what will be the conclusion of the operation?"
Q. Did these questions or confusions help you in any way?
Because of that confusion I prayed to my God all the time and wanted help from him.
Q. Was there anything that happened during this time that was helpful for you?
During this time we lived by the help of Turkey. This was the most helpful event for us. Because if they didn't help us we couldn't live.
Q. How did this help you?
This event helped us to live. And if we would continue to live we must defend our country and save it from our enemies. We took courage and started to feel we are more powerful than Greeks. With these ideas and feelings we won the war.
Q. Was there anything that happened during this time that hurt you or got in your way or was a problem for you somehow?
During this time I lost some of my relatives and this made me very sad and also this increased my grudge and disgust of Greeks.
Q. Was there anything during this time that MIGHT HAVE helped you or COULD HAVE helped you?
There must be a miraculous event to save us. When we lost all our hope the miraculous event occurred and the Turkish Army came to help us. This helped us to become hopeful people. With this hope, we again started to fight. And the result of this was that we saved our country.
Q. Is there anything in your experience during this time that you would say was a "lesson for life?"
Everything relating to that time was all a "lesson for life" for me.
Q. Is there anything you else you would like to say about your experience during this time? These questions make me live those days again and also this makes me become sad.
DEMOGRAPHICS
Occupation (or life's work): Housewife.
Age: 62.
Sex: Female.
Nationality: Turkish Cypriot.
Where now lives (country and city/town/village): Girne.
Where lived during the events described during the interview: The village of Ozankoy (near Kyrenia).
What was the occupation (or life's work) of the main income earner in the household when growing up: Farmer.
Lale's Story
Q. Please can you explain, what happened in 1974 in your village?
When the Greek army attacked the Turkish village, all other villages took shelter in our village. After that the Turkish commander who was called Mehmet Osman said that "You must leave your village, because the Greeks are coming to your village." So we left our village, and we went to Gonendere. Gonendere is the village which is near Serdarli. In order to get to Gonendere we walked all night and sometimes we stayed in valleys and shelters. When we arrived at this village, we felt very sad, because we thought that "We would never return to our village again."
We stayed 13 days in these shelters. After these days we went back to our village, but Greek soldiers had begun to stay in our houses, and they always said to us "tomorrow morning we will cut your head." For this reason, we were on duty without sleep until the morning.
Q. Did you have any bad memories?
Yes of course. When we went to Gonendere two days later, I learned that my husband, Mehmet Ahmet Kucuk, had died while serving the Turkish State. He was a brave, strong and healthy man. He was not afraid of anything, so when we left our village he stayed alone in his village and so he died. When I learned this I felt very bad, and I was afraid of loneliness and I also could not live without him, because of this I begged my God "You must kill me" because I could not live without him.
Q. What were your thoughts at that time?
I thought so many things. For example, I was alone and I didn't know what I was going to do. I was afraid because I have 5 children and I really don't know how I would feed them, how I would raise them, and the most important thing is how could I tell them that their father died. I really felt very sad and I didn't want to believe that he was dead. And in this war I lost not only my husband but also I lost my cousin and my son-in-law.
Q. Did this thought help you in any way?
Yes. I understood that to forget the bad memories and bad days to me is the best therapy. And I learned that if you want to arrive at the good and happy days you would not be afraid of the loneliness and you would be strong and also you will fight with bad people.
Q. What do you think of when I say the word "war"?
War is a very bad thing. It causes damage to families, it makes so many people homeless and orphaned. I hope it does not happen again. Everybody must live in peace and nobody should make the others worry or be disappointed -- instead of this everybody must love each other.
Q. What was the function of Turkey in that war?
Turkey is our hero. If Turkey had not been there we would not be here now. There would not be the TRNC. The friends of Turks are again Turks, other countries are a friend in good days.
Q. Did you learn something during this war?
Yes. I believed that Turks and Greeks can never be friends. They can live in the same territories but this must be under the control of the military. Greeks are very bad people, they have bad characters, because they killed our husbands, cousins, and children and also they attacked our women. So we can not forget these events so they can never be a friend. I believe that if there is any conflict we can not solve it by fighting with each other. We must do it by making agreements with both side. The best solution is to talk about the problem and I think that when time passes, they will find a common point.
[When I spoke with Lale, she was always crying and she said that God was protecting us.]
DEMOGRAPHICS:
Occupation: Housewife
Age: 68
Sex: Female
She now lives in Serdarli near Nicosia and during the war she lived in the same village.
What was the occupation (or life's work) of the main income earner in the household when growing up: Farmer.
Hasan's Story
Q. What were your thoughts or ideas or conclusions during your experience during the war?
I didn't know what would happen in the future. Because the war continued and my life was in danger. So, I didn't think other countries would help us. I wanted the war finished, because I was studying at the liece (secondary school) and I didn't know if I would finish the liece. However, I didn't think of any plans for the future. The most important thing was, we didn't know if we would live tomorrow. Q.
Were these thoughts or ideas or feelings or conclusions a problem for you in any way?
Yes. Now I am always afraid. Because I didn't forget this war. I always feel unhappy when I think about this war. Q.
What were your feelings or emotions at that time?
Yes. I was afraid to leave my family, they might be taken prisoner by the Greeks, or killed by the Greeks. Greeks wanted to kill all Turkish people on the island. Q.
Were these feelings or emotions a problem for you in any way?
Yes. Now I hope one day I will not killed by the Greeks. Q.
Did you have any questions or confusions at this time?
Yes. I didn't know what will happen in the future? When will I see my parents? Will everything be the same as before the war? What will happen with the arms of the Greeks? Would the Greek people connect the island to Greece? And what was the situation the island would be in in the future? Q.
Did these questions or confusions help you in any way?
I learned to be patient with the events, I learned to overcome difficult events and learned to struggle through events. In addition, I learned to struggle any of the way. Q.
Was there anything that happened during this time that hurt you or got in your way or was a problem for you somehow?
Yes. For example, I learned my neighbour was killed when we escaped from our home and district. Another example, some people said that my brother was killed by the Greek soldiers and my life became terrible and difficult for a long time. Q.
How did this hurt you or was a problem for you?
These events affected me because he was killed by the Greek soldiers. Q.
Was there anything during this time that might have helped you or could have helped you?
Yes. Because my brother died, I would be powerful and finished the Liece. I learned to help unhappy people. Q.
How would this have helped you?
I helped helpless people and I learned to work to better overcome the difficulty. However these events help me to understand that even, difficult things one day are finished. Q.
Is there anything in your experience during this time that you would say was a "lesson for life?"
Yes there is. Because my Greek neighbours wanted to kill me and my family. For this reason, I learned not to trust Greek people. I thought one day difficult days will be finished and lovely days will come. In the end, I learned to work hard and to be successful and happy in my life. Q.
Is there anything you else you would like to say about your experience during this time?
Yes there is. With all these events at this time I learned to overcome all difficulties. Q.
Is there anything you would like to say about the questions I have asked or the style of the interview itself?
Yes there is. I remember this time and I didn't want to go back to this time period. Because war is a bad event, and I hope there will never be war again in my country and in the world.
DEMOGRAPHICS
Occupation (or life's work): Agricultural Engineering.
Age: 51.
Sex: Male.
Nationality: Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Where now lives (country and city/town/village): Gonyeli, Nicosia.
Where lived during the events described during the interview: Nicosia.
What was the occupation (or life's work) of the main income earner in the household when growing up: His father's occupation was a farmer.
________________________________________
Pembe's Story
Q. Think back to an experience you had that is an example of your life in Cyprus during the 1974 war. What is that experience you had -- what happened?
In the first days of the 1974 war we lived in a house between Turkish and Greek sides in Limassol. My husband was the commander of his village and he was waiting at his village. When the war started Turkish Mujaheeds [freedom fighters] took up positions in our house. I began to live with my family in another house in Limasol near the Turkish hospital, on Turkish side. But in the first day one mortar bomb hit the roof of the house and we escaped from windows, because we couldn`t find a door in the smoke and dust. One Mujahit took us to the Turkish hospital and he turned back to take his family. I knew these people because they were our neighbors. When he was walking across the street a mortar bomb hit his head and he was dead. In the Turkish hospital Greeks captured us after a two hour fight with the Mujahits. Some of them talked to us in Turkish because they were the Greeks who had escaped from Turkey. They cursed at us in Turkish.
Q. What were your feelings or emotions at that time?
We felt bad, but not because of our position. During those days we couldn`t get information about our husbands and brothers, we only cried for them. We thought that Greeks would kill us. But they couldn`t do it. Turkey sent a message to Greeks that if they killed us, jets would bomb them. And they gave us freedom to go to our houses because we were also prisoners at our house.
In one morning Greek soldiers with a Land Rover parked near our house and they started waiting. My father knew some Greek and he translated to us what they said when he watched them through window. "They were waiting for an order and they are going to kill us" he said. After this event, our Greek neighbor blocked off the street with barrels and he said to the soldiers that if they did anything to us he would kill them.
After three days my husband and his brother came back to our house. My husband took me to his village Mutluyaka. We lived 15 days in his village of Mutluyaka. Then we heard that others took shelter in the British base. And we went there too. During the 1974 war we lived there 6 months. After the agreement, Turkish planes took us from the base to Adana in Turkey. We were transferred to Iskenderun by bus. After 17 days we returned to the North side of the island on a ship. We were given a house in the same village with my husband's family, and we are here now.
Q. Is there anything in your experience during this time that you would say was a "lesson for life?"
Yes, we were living with Greeks for a long time, but they wanted to kill us because of the land. After those days it is impossible to live with them again.
Q. Is there anything you else you would like to say about your experience during this time?
I remember the past again.
DEMOGRAPHICS:
Occupation (or life's work): Tailor.
Age: 45.
Sex: Female.
Nationality: Turkish Cypriot.
Where now lives (country and city/town/village): Mutluyaka village, near Magosa.
Where lived during the events described during the interview: Limassol.
• Rose. "I thought that this was a bad dream and I would wake up, but it wasn't."
• Erkan. "We struggled very much and finally we managed to save our lives and our nationality from Greek Cypriots."
• Ayse. "Now when I hear a weapon shoot, I think the war is beginning again."
• Deniz. "When we lost all our hope the miraculous event occurred and the Turkish Army came to help us."
• Lale. "I was afraid because I had 5 children...how could I tell them that their father died?"
• Zehra. "Although it was a war, I was happy...because I was sure that Turkey would save our lives."
• Hasan. "I was afraid to leave my family, they might be taken prisoner by the Greeks, or killed by the Greeks."
• Pembe. "`They are waiting for an order, and they are going to kill us,' he said."
Rose's Story
Q. Please, can you explain how Greek and Turks began to fight in 1974?
On 15 July 1974, the Greek army wanted to destroy Makarios and they wanted to bind Cyprus to the Greek side, because they believed that Cyprus was Greek. But Makarios learned about this situation. For this reason, he went to Paffos and from there he escaped to the United Nations and from there he escaped to England and he saved his life. The Greek army made Nikos Sampson the Prime Minister. He was a ferocious EOKA member. He killed so many people -- even babies and old people. Because of this, Turkiye used its authority on 20 July 1974, which was allowed by Cyprus legislation. It landed troops on the island of Cyprus.
Then the Greek army made Clerides the Prime Minister. Mr. Denktas and Mr. Clerides had many meetings in order to find a good solution to the Cyprus problem but they never came to an agreement. For this reason, Turkiye started the Second Peace Operation in 14 August 1974 and now Turkiye dominates all the places from east (Famagusta) to west (Guzelyurt). Later, Mr. Denktas and Mr. Clerides made an agreement about the people who were living on the Greek side and the Turkish side. According to this, the Turkish people who lived in the South part went to the North part, and the Greek people who lived in the North part went to the South part.
Greek people say that they have land in the Northern part of Cyprus. Because of this, today they still try to break our borders.
Q. What was your function in this war?
I was a United Nations' Liaison Officer. I would get the messages from the Standard Bearer and I was to convey them to the United Nations. I would get the important information from them and convey it to the Standard Bearer again, but my basic duty was Finance Officer. Where the Standard Bearer was I was there, but I never had an active duty. If I had an active duty I would sacrifice myself for my country.
Q. Do you have any bad memories of this time?
Yes. I had to go away from my village and I went to Gonendere. Gonendere is the village near Serdarli. I walked all night and when I arrived to Gonendere I didn't believe that I had gone away from my village. In the past, I was a teacher in Amelioration School in Lapta. I was always with the Greeks and for this reason, I thought I had a dream like this bad event. So I thought that it was a dream and I would wake up, but it wasn't. In order to understand if I was in a dream or in real life, I picked up a stone and hit my head, and then I understood that it wasn't a dream and I believed that I would never come to my village again.
Q. Did you have any memory that you have feel yourself very bad until today?
Yes. As you know, during Second Peace Operation the area of Serdarli around the school was under military occupation. When we went to Gonendere, two days later, the Standard Bearer wanted us to go to Serdarli to learn the Greek situation and also enemy locations. In this situation, I called the United Nations officer and I said to him we want to move all the foods from Serdarli to Gonendere and to collect our dead. I also said to him to convey my messages to a Greek officer that we want them to give necessary permission for us to come to Serdarli again. We got the permission and we came to Serdarli and we got the foods.
In the meantime, near the telephone central, I had to get my relative. His name was Mehmet Ahmet Kucuk, and he was dead. When I saw him, I did not recognize him and I called to my other friend -- his name was Mustafa Haciarif -- and I asked who he was, because the shape of his body was very different and his face was jet-black. He said to me, he was your cousin Mehmet. He recognized him because my cousin always carried a white knife.
I did not forget this event for a long time and still remember it today. It was the worst event that I have experienced throughout my life. Even today from time to time I wake up screaming, because I had a dream where I was an officer, and later I saw my death.
Q. Did you have any thoughts about war at that time?
Yes. I understood that war is a very bad and terrible thing. It damages families; it makes so many people homeless and orphaned. Furthermore, I thought that Mehmet did not deserve to die and also I thought that God punished the wrong person. He was so brave, he stole from the rich and he gave to the poor. He always wanted to be with poor people. He sacrificed himself for his village. As time passed, I noticed that if you want to achieve happiness you must know that you may lose many good things, but you must understand that many good and happy days will await you.
Q. Is there anything in your experience during this time that you would say was a "lesson for life?"
Yes. If there is any conflict, we can not solve it by fighting with each other. We must do it by making agreements with both sides. The best solution is to talk about the problem and I believe that after time passes, they will find a common point. Life is so short and nobody knows what will happen a minute later. Everybody must get on well with other people, they must not make them disappointed, or worry. They must try to make their life happy.
[When I talked to Rose sometimes I looked at his face and I saw that he was crying and his eyes were wide. When he explained this war he was excited. I think the basic reason of this was that he felt that he was not in his home, but that he was in the war again. I think I am very lucky because I did not live during this war. Before the interview I didn't know all of these terrible events but now I know and I think we are a very lucky younger generation.]
DEMOGRAPHICS
Occupation: Retired Teacher
Age: 67
Sex: Male
Nationality: TRNC
Where now lives (country and city/town/village): Serdarli village, near Nicosia.
Where lived during the events described during the interview: Serdarli village.
Occupation or life's work of main income earner when growing up: Teacher.
Erkan's Story
Q. Think back to an experience you had that is an example of your life in Cyprus during the 1974 war. What is that experience, what happened?
My experience starts just before the war and ends after the war. On the 10th of July I began to take my annual vacation. We were in Limasol and we had a vineyard. Since it was time to harvest the grapes, I went to our vineyard in order to do this process. The date was the 15th of July. By the way, I was a commander in the army. While I was harvesting the grapes, one of my soldiers came to me and he was very excited. I asked the reason for his being there. He told me that there was a military coup by Greek Cypriots. He also added that Makarios was killed (we learned later that he was not killed) and Nikos Sampson had taken the dictatorship.
Q. What were you feeling at this time? Were you in comfort or did you have any fears about your lives or futures?
Of course, we had serious fears about our futures. Because, Greek Cypriots started to kill many Turkish Cypriot people in 1963. Many people were killed and even some of my relatives and soldiers were killed. So, we were afraid. 11 years had passed, but the same situation was continuing. In each day, at least 2 or 3 people were killed by Greek Cypriots. Then, we began to wait for someone that could save our lives.
Q. Let's continue with your story.
When I heard that story from my soldier, I gave up my vacation and returned to the squadron. I gave a command and I put my army on the alert. We called everybody who could use guns to the army. The atmosphere was very tense. And this situation continued until the 20th of July.
Q. Was there any time that you lost your hope that someone would save your lives?
The Turkish Cypriot people were really brave. They weren't afraid of being killed for their nation. But it was not enough. Greek Cypriots were continuing to kill people, because they had power. We didn't lose our hopes totally, but our morale was actually low. Meanwhile, we had heard that Turkey was preparing to make some kind of an operation. So, we were looking forward to Turkish soldiers coming to Cyprus.
Q. So, what happened on the 20th of July?
On that date, the time was 05:30 am. It was the period of changing the soldiers who were standing guard. While soldiers were changing their turns, another soldier came to me and said that Turkish troops were coming to Cyprus in order to help us.
Q. Would you please describe your feelings at that time, when you heard the Turkish troops were coming?
Yes. When I heard this event, I became very happy. I can't find words to describe my feelings. I felt that my luck had returned to me. It was a great feeling. I suddenly began to see me and my nation's future very good. Anyway, after hearing this news, I told it to my army as well. I wish you had seen their happiness. All the soldiers began to shout. They threw their hats into the air. They embraced each other. Everyone was kissing each other. Of course, our morale automatically became very high.
Q. Did this great happiness help you in the 1974 War?
The war was continuing outside of our village. But, as our morale became very high, we went to neighbor villages and tried to help them. We struggled very much and finally we managed to save our lives and our nationality from Greek Cypriots. The only reason was that we were aware that the Turkish army was helping us. I will never forget this experience for the rest of my life, because there was a big change in my experience. At first, the condition was very bad, but then it became unbelievably good.
Thank you for sharing your story.
DEMOGRAPHICS
Occupation: Retired from military-businessman.
Age: 48.
Sex: Male.
Nationality: TRNC.
Where now lives (country and city/town/village): Lefkosa.
Where lived during the events described during the interview: Evdim, a village in Limassol.
Occupation (or life's work) of the main income earner in household when growing up: Father grew grapes.
Education: Graduated from secondary school.
Ayse's Story
Q. What were the thoughts or ideas or conclusions you had during the 1974 war?
For a long time, we were neighbors with a Greek family, but during this war they wanted to kill their Turkish neighbors. When the 1974 war started all Greek soldiers wanted to kill all the Turks on the island. And they wanted to kill their best friends during this war.
Q. Did these thoughts or ideas or conclusions help you in any way?
Yes. I understood that it wasn't secure to live together on the same island. But now we are living separately on the same island and I am afraid because at any time the new war will start again. However, for a long time we didn't feel secure with people, especially greek people.
Q. Were these thoughts or ideas or feelings or conclusions a problem for you in any way?
Yes. I didn't go to a foreign country for a long time and now I don't want to go because I'm afraid, and I don't want see or meet Greek people.
Q. What feelings or emotions did you have at that time?
I was badly affected because I didn't forget all these terrible events. Every time I remember these events I am unhappy.
Q. Did these feelings or emotions help you in any way?
Today, when the two governments (Turkish Republic of Cyprus and Greek Republic of Cyprus) want to make peace, I don't agree because it's impossible.
Q. Were these feelings or emotions a problem for you in any way?
Yes. Now, when I hear a weapon shoot I think that the war is beginning again.
Q. Did you have any questions or confusions at this time?
Yes. I didn't know when the war would be finished. How many days would this war continue? And what was the result?
Q. Did these questions or confusions help you in any way? How did they help you?
Yes. I learned lots of things. During the war, lots of people died and I learned to protected myself. We learned to hide under the ground, we learned to store a lot of food and all these things we learned to be provident.
Q. Were these questions or confusions a problem for you in any way?
Yes. When I hear there is a war anywhere in the world I remember our war. I become unhappy.
Q. Was there anything that happened during this time that was helpful for you?
Yes. One night, 3 or 4 soldiers they came to my home and they said; "Leave your home immediately." All the neighbors got together and about 20 persons went to a little house and stayed there. However there wasn't food because there wasn't a market open.
Q. How did this help you?
These soldiers took us to the safe places and I always trust all Turkish soldiers.
Q. Was there anything that happened during this time that hurt you or got in your way or was a problem for you somehow?
Yes. My neighbor was shot near me by the Greek soldiers and died, and another neighbor was wounded. My best friend's fiance was a soldier and we heard that a bomb exploded in his area. And my best friend became depressed, and then he learned that he was O.K.
Q. How did this hurt you or was a problem for you?
I didn't get news from my fiance because he was a soldier and I was anxious, but some time later I got some news and I learned that he was all right.
Q. Is there anything in your experience during this time that you would say was a "lesson for life?"
Yes. We learned first aid, we learned to protect ourselves, to make food for the soldiers and most importantly we learned to share all pains and joys. Q. Is there anything you else you would like to say about your experience during this time?
Yes. War isn't a beautiful thing. The best think is not to fight each other. The most important thing is peace.
Q. Is there anything you would like to say about the questions I have asked or the style of the interview itself?
When you ask these questions all my memories are refreshed.
DEMOGRAPHICS
Occupation: Retired
Age: 42
Sex: Female
Nationality: TRNC
Where now lives (country and city/town/village): Gonyeli, Nicosia
Where lived during the events described during the interview: Nicosia.
Occupation (or life's work) of the main income earner in household when growing up: Father's occupation was shoe-maker.
Deniz's Story
Until 1974 we lived through very bad days. We submitted to all the injustices and torture of the Greeks. We lived in very bad conditions. We couldn't eat, we couldn't sleep, we couldn't talk, we couldn't live like normal and free people. This continued for a long time. We started to lose our hope. We started to think that nobody could help us with our fight for freedom. Because we applied many times to qualified organizations but we never got any answer from them. Meanwhile we started to heard news about the "Peace Operation" and in 20th July 1974 Turkish soldiers started their operation and started to fight with Greeks to save us and to save our country. This was an experience which I had that was an example of my life.
Q. Did you have any thoughts or ideas or conclusions at that time?
During the war, we saw many bad days and we lived through many bad events. These affected me very much. I don`t have any physical sore or effect but these events affected my psychology very badly. I can say that war is something very bad.
Q. Were these thoughts or ideas or feelings or conclusions a problem for you in any way?
Yes, to live these days and these events caused a problem in my mind. To see those days made me a very sad and suspicious person. And in the future, my suspicious character affected my friendship relations. I can`t trust people easily for a long time.
Q. What were your feelings or emotions at that time?
At that time I felt very bad because I didn`t know the conclusion of the operation but I trusted to my God and to the Turkish and (Turkish) Cypriot Army.
Q. Did these feelings or emotions help you in any way?
These feelings helped me to learn the power of God and also the power of the Turkish people.
Q. Were these feelings or emotions a problem for you in any way?
They never caused a very big problem for me; the only problem is I lost my hope.
Q. Did you have any questions or confusions at this time?
During the [peace] operation time only one question confused me. This was "what will be the conclusion of the operation?"
Q. Did these questions or confusions help you in any way?
Because of that confusion I prayed to my God all the time and wanted help from him.
Q. Was there anything that happened during this time that was helpful for you?
During this time we lived by the help of Turkey. This was the most helpful event for us. Because if they didn't help us we couldn't live.
Q. How did this help you?
This event helped us to live. And if we would continue to live we must defend our country and save it from our enemies. We took courage and started to feel we are more powerful than Greeks. With these ideas and feelings we won the war.
Q. Was there anything that happened during this time that hurt you or got in your way or was a problem for you somehow?
During this time I lost some of my relatives and this made me very sad and also this increased my grudge and disgust of Greeks.
Q. Was there anything during this time that MIGHT HAVE helped you or COULD HAVE helped you?
There must be a miraculous event to save us. When we lost all our hope the miraculous event occurred and the Turkish Army came to help us. This helped us to become hopeful people. With this hope, we again started to fight. And the result of this was that we saved our country.
Q. Is there anything in your experience during this time that you would say was a "lesson for life?"
Everything relating to that time was all a "lesson for life" for me.
Q. Is there anything you else you would like to say about your experience during this time? These questions make me live those days again and also this makes me become sad.
DEMOGRAPHICS
Occupation (or life's work): Housewife.
Age: 62.
Sex: Female.
Nationality: Turkish Cypriot.
Where now lives (country and city/town/village): Girne.
Where lived during the events described during the interview: The village of Ozankoy (near Kyrenia).
What was the occupation (or life's work) of the main income earner in the household when growing up: Farmer.
Lale's Story
Q. Please can you explain, what happened in 1974 in your village?
When the Greek army attacked the Turkish village, all other villages took shelter in our village. After that the Turkish commander who was called Mehmet Osman said that "You must leave your village, because the Greeks are coming to your village." So we left our village, and we went to Gonendere. Gonendere is the village which is near Serdarli. In order to get to Gonendere we walked all night and sometimes we stayed in valleys and shelters. When we arrived at this village, we felt very sad, because we thought that "We would never return to our village again."
We stayed 13 days in these shelters. After these days we went back to our village, but Greek soldiers had begun to stay in our houses, and they always said to us "tomorrow morning we will cut your head." For this reason, we were on duty without sleep until the morning.
Q. Did you have any bad memories?
Yes of course. When we went to Gonendere two days later, I learned that my husband, Mehmet Ahmet Kucuk, had died while serving the Turkish State. He was a brave, strong and healthy man. He was not afraid of anything, so when we left our village he stayed alone in his village and so he died. When I learned this I felt very bad, and I was afraid of loneliness and I also could not live without him, because of this I begged my God "You must kill me" because I could not live without him.
Q. What were your thoughts at that time?
I thought so many things. For example, I was alone and I didn't know what I was going to do. I was afraid because I have 5 children and I really don't know how I would feed them, how I would raise them, and the most important thing is how could I tell them that their father died. I really felt very sad and I didn't want to believe that he was dead. And in this war I lost not only my husband but also I lost my cousin and my son-in-law.
Q. Did this thought help you in any way?
Yes. I understood that to forget the bad memories and bad days to me is the best therapy. And I learned that if you want to arrive at the good and happy days you would not be afraid of the loneliness and you would be strong and also you will fight with bad people.
Q. What do you think of when I say the word "war"?
War is a very bad thing. It causes damage to families, it makes so many people homeless and orphaned. I hope it does not happen again. Everybody must live in peace and nobody should make the others worry or be disappointed -- instead of this everybody must love each other.
Q. What was the function of Turkey in that war?
Turkey is our hero. If Turkey had not been there we would not be here now. There would not be the TRNC. The friends of Turks are again Turks, other countries are a friend in good days.
Q. Did you learn something during this war?
Yes. I believed that Turks and Greeks can never be friends. They can live in the same territories but this must be under the control of the military. Greeks are very bad people, they have bad characters, because they killed our husbands, cousins, and children and also they attacked our women. So we can not forget these events so they can never be a friend. I believe that if there is any conflict we can not solve it by fighting with each other. We must do it by making agreements with both side. The best solution is to talk about the problem and I think that when time passes, they will find a common point.
[When I spoke with Lale, she was always crying and she said that God was protecting us.]
DEMOGRAPHICS:
Occupation: Housewife
Age: 68
Sex: Female
She now lives in Serdarli near Nicosia and during the war she lived in the same village.
What was the occupation (or life's work) of the main income earner in the household when growing up: Farmer.
Hasan's Story
Q. What were your thoughts or ideas or conclusions during your experience during the war?
I didn't know what would happen in the future. Because the war continued and my life was in danger. So, I didn't think other countries would help us. I wanted the war finished, because I was studying at the liece (secondary school) and I didn't know if I would finish the liece. However, I didn't think of any plans for the future. The most important thing was, we didn't know if we would live tomorrow. Q.
Were these thoughts or ideas or feelings or conclusions a problem for you in any way?
Yes. Now I am always afraid. Because I didn't forget this war. I always feel unhappy when I think about this war. Q.
What were your feelings or emotions at that time?
Yes. I was afraid to leave my family, they might be taken prisoner by the Greeks, or killed by the Greeks. Greeks wanted to kill all Turkish people on the island. Q.
Were these feelings or emotions a problem for you in any way?
Yes. Now I hope one day I will not killed by the Greeks. Q.
Did you have any questions or confusions at this time?
Yes. I didn't know what will happen in the future? When will I see my parents? Will everything be the same as before the war? What will happen with the arms of the Greeks? Would the Greek people connect the island to Greece? And what was the situation the island would be in in the future? Q.
Did these questions or confusions help you in any way?
I learned to be patient with the events, I learned to overcome difficult events and learned to struggle through events. In addition, I learned to struggle any of the way. Q.
Was there anything that happened during this time that hurt you or got in your way or was a problem for you somehow?
Yes. For example, I learned my neighbour was killed when we escaped from our home and district. Another example, some people said that my brother was killed by the Greek soldiers and my life became terrible and difficult for a long time. Q.
How did this hurt you or was a problem for you?
These events affected me because he was killed by the Greek soldiers. Q.
Was there anything during this time that might have helped you or could have helped you?
Yes. Because my brother died, I would be powerful and finished the Liece. I learned to help unhappy people. Q.
How would this have helped you?
I helped helpless people and I learned to work to better overcome the difficulty. However these events help me to understand that even, difficult things one day are finished. Q.
Is there anything in your experience during this time that you would say was a "lesson for life?"
Yes there is. Because my Greek neighbours wanted to kill me and my family. For this reason, I learned not to trust Greek people. I thought one day difficult days will be finished and lovely days will come. In the end, I learned to work hard and to be successful and happy in my life. Q.
Is there anything you else you would like to say about your experience during this time?
Yes there is. With all these events at this time I learned to overcome all difficulties. Q.
Is there anything you would like to say about the questions I have asked or the style of the interview itself?
Yes there is. I remember this time and I didn't want to go back to this time period. Because war is a bad event, and I hope there will never be war again in my country and in the world.
DEMOGRAPHICS
Occupation (or life's work): Agricultural Engineering.
Age: 51.
Sex: Male.
Nationality: Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Where now lives (country and city/town/village): Gonyeli, Nicosia.
Where lived during the events described during the interview: Nicosia.
What was the occupation (or life's work) of the main income earner in the household when growing up: His father's occupation was a farmer.
________________________________________
Pembe's Story
Q. Think back to an experience you had that is an example of your life in Cyprus during the 1974 war. What is that experience you had -- what happened?
In the first days of the 1974 war we lived in a house between Turkish and Greek sides in Limassol. My husband was the commander of his village and he was waiting at his village. When the war started Turkish Mujaheeds [freedom fighters] took up positions in our house. I began to live with my family in another house in Limasol near the Turkish hospital, on Turkish side. But in the first day one mortar bomb hit the roof of the house and we escaped from windows, because we couldn`t find a door in the smoke and dust. One Mujahit took us to the Turkish hospital and he turned back to take his family. I knew these people because they were our neighbors. When he was walking across the street a mortar bomb hit his head and he was dead. In the Turkish hospital Greeks captured us after a two hour fight with the Mujahits. Some of them talked to us in Turkish because they were the Greeks who had escaped from Turkey. They cursed at us in Turkish.
Q. What were your feelings or emotions at that time?
We felt bad, but not because of our position. During those days we couldn`t get information about our husbands and brothers, we only cried for them. We thought that Greeks would kill us. But they couldn`t do it. Turkey sent a message to Greeks that if they killed us, jets would bomb them. And they gave us freedom to go to our houses because we were also prisoners at our house.
In one morning Greek soldiers with a Land Rover parked near our house and they started waiting. My father knew some Greek and he translated to us what they said when he watched them through window. "They were waiting for an order and they are going to kill us" he said. After this event, our Greek neighbor blocked off the street with barrels and he said to the soldiers that if they did anything to us he would kill them.
After three days my husband and his brother came back to our house. My husband took me to his village Mutluyaka. We lived 15 days in his village of Mutluyaka. Then we heard that others took shelter in the British base. And we went there too. During the 1974 war we lived there 6 months. After the agreement, Turkish planes took us from the base to Adana in Turkey. We were transferred to Iskenderun by bus. After 17 days we returned to the North side of the island on a ship. We were given a house in the same village with my husband's family, and we are here now.
Q. Is there anything in your experience during this time that you would say was a "lesson for life?"
Yes, we were living with Greeks for a long time, but they wanted to kill us because of the land. After those days it is impossible to live with them again.
Q. Is there anything you else you would like to say about your experience during this time?
I remember the past again.
DEMOGRAPHICS:
Occupation (or life's work): Tailor.
Age: 45.
Sex: Female.
Nationality: Turkish Cypriot.
Where now lives (country and city/town/village): Mutluyaka village, near Magosa.
Where lived during the events described during the interview: Limassol.
- halil
- Main Contributor
- Posts: 8804
- Joined: Fri Mar 09, 2007 2:21 pm
- Location: nicosia
by halil » Wed Jun 20, 2007 10:38 am
Personal Stories from the 1974/1975 Population Exchange
• Huseyin. "All these events I lived in 1974 showed me that freedom is one of the most important things in the world."
• Pembe. "`They are waiting for an order and they are going to kill us,' he said."
• Gul. "I left my beautiful house full of furniture and I came here and started to live in an empty house."
Huseyin's Story
Q. Can you tell me your story about moving in 1974? Where do you come from and what happened?
I came from Southern Cyprus to the Northern Cyprus in 1974. I came here from Paphos and as a captive, because I was a policeman and Greeks took captive some policemen in 1974. Then the first [Turkish] peace operation happened and Greeks brought all captives from Southern Cyprus to Northern Cyprus. In other words they bartered captives. Turks gave Greeks captives to the Greeks and Greeks gave Turkish captives to the Turks. So I became free because of this event. Then the government sent me to Karpaz and I continued my work, but my wife and other members of my family could not pass through to northern Cyprus so I was alone.
After the second peace event in 1975, my family came here. Then everything started to change. I felt that I had been born again. The government gave us a home but it had no furniture in it. We slept on the floor and we became very poor because we had lost all of our money, home and fields. But I got a chance because I was a policeman and I started to bring some goods and built my house. Shortly they were very difficult days that we did not want to remember.
Q. Did you have any feelings or emotions at that time (when you came to Northern Cyprus)?
Yes. I felt very sad and angry. I was sad because I did not receive any news from my family. I did not know if they were alive or dead. Then I learned that Greeks killed my mother and that was the event which made me lose my temper. Greeks killed my mother and they cut her fingers and took her rings. So this hurt me, and made me very angry.
Q. Did these feelings or emotions help you in a way?
No. They could not help me. I just cried and expected that other members of my family would return to me.
Q. Were these feelings or emotions a problem for you in any way?
Yes. For example, I could not think right. I did not want to live. In other words I did not feel that I was alive, I just thought of myself as an animal that lives in a prison and could not do anything.
Q. Did you have any questions or confusions at that time?
Yes. I had many questions. For example, what will happen to us? How can we get together? What kinds of events were waiting for us? Was my family alive or dead?
Q. Did these questions or confusions help you in any way?
No. Because I could not find answers to my questions.
Q. Were these questions or confusions a problem for you in any way?
Of course they were problems for me, because they were the questions of my own life, and the answers would show my future. The answers could cause my happiness and sadness. They retired me from my environment.
Q. Was there anything that happened during this time that was helpful for you?
Yes. I remembered that one of my friend said to me that "We must be powerful, we must not lose our expectation, otherwise we can not succeed to live and protect our family and our country."
Q. How did this help you?
These words gave me a power, they helped me to think better and became more powerful. These words made me believe that if I had my power my family would became powerful as well.
Q. Was there anything that hurt you or got in you way or was a problem for you somehow?
Yes. I said that after I came Northern Cyprus one person said to me that Greeks killed my mother and they also cut off her fingers to take her rings. At that moment I felt that I had heard a story, but this was not a story. It was real. I became very sad. These words hurt me. I became very angry. I wanted to kill all Greeks at that moment.
Q. How did this hurt you or was a problem for you?
After this event whenever someone tried to give me information about someone, I did not let him or her, because I was afraid of hearing bad information.
Q. Was there anything that might have helped you or could have helped you?
Yes. Only my family; in other words, only my wife could have helped me.
Q. How would this have helped you?
I believe that family is one part of the human life. If you lose your family, you feel alone and when you are alone you just think bad things. But my wife and my family gave me power. They made me happy. For example I learned that I had lost my mother, but I also knew that my wife would help me. In other words, you lost one of your important parts but you also knew that there was another important person who was waiting for you.
Q. Is there anything in your experience during this time that you would say was a "lesson for life?"
I wanted to answer this question like this: a lesson for life for me is an idea or feeling that makes you understand something. And I want to say this: All these events that I lived in 1974 showed me that freedom is one of the important things in the world. If you are free everything is perfect.
Q. Is there anything you else you would like to say about your experience during this time?
No, that's enough I think.
Q. Is there anything you would like to say about the questions I have asked or the style of the interview itself?
This was a very difficult interview. When you said to me that you wanted to do an interview with me I thought that I would just tell you some events, but you led me to think and also feel lots of things.
DEMOGRAPHICS
Occupation: Retired policeman
Age: 47
Sex: Male
Nationality: Turkish Cypriot
Where now lives (country and city/town/village): Ziyomet village, near Erenkoy in the Karpaz.
Where lived during the events described during the interview: Paphos.
Occupation (or life's work) of the main income earner in household when growing up: Policeman.
Gul's Story
Q. Can you tell me your story about moving from the South to the North in 1974? Where do you come from? And what happened?
I came here (to Incirli) from Gormeli. Gormeli is a village near Paphos in Southern Cyprus. I came here by forbidden ways, because the war was not yet over at that time. We left southern Cyprus and we came to Northern Cyprus, because at that time Turkey came to help us and it occupied some of the areas from Northern Cyprus, and Incirli was one of these areas. When we came to Northern Cyprus the military brought us (immigrant people) to Incirli. They gave us houses, they helped us, because we had nothing. We only could bring our money, nothing else and our money was Greek money so we turned it into Turkish lira and our money lost value and we became very poor people. Then the government gave us new fields instead of our old fields, so we started to work and earn our living but we spent very difficult days because of the war.
Q. Did you have any ideas or thoughts at that time (when you came to Northern Cyprus)?
Yes. I had many ideas and thoughts, because we did not know what would happen. How we could earn our living and I also thought about my son who was taken captive by Greeks and who remained in Southern Cyprus. I could not receive information from him and I did not know if he was alive or dead.
Q. Did these ideas or thoughts help you?
No. They did not help me. They made me very sad and they also made me pessimistic. I did not thought well.
Q. Were these ideas or thoughts a problem for you?
Of course these thoughts were a problem for me. For example I could not sleep at night, because when I slept I saw a nightmare that Greeks killed my son and I awoke suddenly and I started to cry.
Q. What were your feelings at that time?
I felt very sad and confused because my new environment was very different to me. I left my beautiful house full of furniture and I came here and started to live in an empty house. We had no work. But the real thing that caused my sadness was my captive son. For a mother the important things in the world are children and it is very difficult to not receive information from your children.
Q. Did these feelings help you in any way?
Yes they helped me to understand the value of my son and these feelings showed me that life is full of many surprises and you can never guess what will happen.
Q. Were these feelings a problem for you in a way?
Yes. These feelings saddened me and they removed me from my environment.
Q. Did you have any questions at that time?
Yes. I had many questions, for example what will happen? Where was my son? Was my son alive or dead? What kinds of events were waiting for us? Would I see my son again?
Q. Did these questions help you in a way?
No, because I could not find answers to my questions.
Q. Were these questions a problem for you in a way?
Yes. They were a problem for me, because they were very important questions. The answers to these questions could cause my happiness and sadness. I could not do anything. I just prayed to my God.
Q. Was there anything at that time that hurt you or was a problem for you?
Yes. One day the Turkish army came to our house and they wanted to search our home because some villagers accused us of being spies. In other words they accused us of helping the Greeks. This event hurt me because I saw these people as my friends, but they saw us as enemies.
Q. What did you learn from this event?
This event taught me to not rely on all people, and this event also showed me that it is very difficult to recognize other people.
Q. Was there anything during that time that was helpful for you?
Yes. Greeks let my son free and he came to Northern Cyprus. This was my happiest time. I felt that I had been born again.
Q. How did this help you?
This event was helpful for me because I escaped from my fears and I started my new life. After my son came I started to built our new lives and homes. In other words one of the important thing at this world is family; if your family members are together you succeed to fight with life or badness.
Q. Is there anything in your experience during this time that you would say was a "lesson for life?"
A "lesson for life " is something that people learn after anxieties and fears. For example, all these events that I lived in 1974 showed me that war is one of the worst events in the world. War caused the death of many people. These events also showed me the importance of freedom. If you are free and your family members are together every thing becomes good.
Q. Is there anything you would like to say about the questions I have asked or the style of the interview itself?
Yes, it was a very difficult interview because these were bad memories for me and I do not want to remember them again. But I want to give this information and my experience for the younger generation.
DEMOGRAPHICS
Occupation: Housewife
Age: 76
Sex: Female
Nationality: Turkish Cypriot
Where now lives (country and city/town/village): Incirli village, near Famagusta.
Where lived during the events described during the interview: Gormeli village, near Paphos.
Occupation (or life's work) of the main income earner in household when growing up: Farmer.
Personal Stories from After 1974:
In the TRNC
Ismet's Story
Q. Please, can you tell me your story about moving from Southern Cyprus to Northern Cyprus?
I came from Southern Cyprus to Northern Cyprus in 1975. I came here from Gormeli, and after I came here with my family the military brought us to Incirli. When I went to my new village Incirli I felt that I had been born again, it come me very different. Then the goverment gave us a house instead of our old house, and we started to build our life. For example, first we lived in empty homes but then we started to bring some furniture. The military also helped us. For example, the military came to our village twice a week and they brought us canned foods.
Then the goverment also gave us fields instead of our old fields and we started to work with my husband in that field. And we started to earn money from that field so everything became good, we worked and we continued our lifes. We learned the importance of Freedom or the value of Freedom. After we came here we became more modern because we were not controlled by Greeks. Greeks were not threatening our lifes, so after we came to Northern Cyprus we started to live like people. In other words, I felt really that I was alive. I learned that life is very nice. There was no war and we felt confortable.
Shortly, if you are free and there is no war everything becomes perfect and good. You know that you are alive and you start to make plans for the future.
DEMOGRAPHICS
Occupation (or life's work): Housewife.
Age: 76.
Sex: Female.
Nationality: Turkish Cypriot.
Where now lives (country and city/town/village): Incirli village, near Famagusta.
Where lived during the events described during the interview: During 1975 she lived in Incirli.
What was the occupation (or life's work) of the main income earner in the household when growing up: Farmer.
Ali's Story
Q. Please can you tell me something about your pleasant days before or after 1974?
Yes, I can say something about after 1974. Greeks have bad character, they did many bad things. For example, they killed many Turkish Cypriot people, even babies, and also they attacked our women.
Before 1974, I lived in Gormeli village but after 1974 I moved with my parents from South to North and I began to live in the Northern part. Our new village name is Incirli. When I began to live in Incirli, first of all the government gave a house to me and my parents.
In Gormeli village, Turks and Greeks lived together, but all the time we were afraid of them. For this reason we were on guard all night until morning, but in this village which is called Incirli, all the people are Turks so we are now sleeping until morning. I can say that Gormeli is more beautiful than Incirli, but in Incirli everything is good. We are not afraid of anything, our wives and children can go everywhere and also our children can play games with their friends, because we know that there is not any danger for them.
In this village, we are very peaceful and comfortable. My children are married.
If I compare these two villages, I can say that Gormeli is more beautiful than Incirli, but we had no peace there. In Incirli, we have good and bad days but the sources of bad days are not the Greeks. The reason is, that we are missing Gormeli. In conclusion, I can say that when we came to this village, our pleasant days started.
DEMOGRAPHICS
Occupation (or life's work): Retired official.
Age: 60.
Sex: Male.
Nationality: Turkish Cypriot.
Where now lives (country and city/town/village): Incirli village near Magosa.
Where lived during the events described during the interview: Gormeli, near Paphos.
What was the occupation (or life's work) of the main income earner in the household when growing up: An Official.
Zehra's Story
Q. Would you please tell us about any good experiences that you lived after 1974?
My husband was a commander in the army and he was with his soldiers. There was nobody in the home except my little kid who was 2 years old. It was 1976. The time was nine or ten o'clock.
Our home was close to the border and suddenly, I heard some gun shots. Of course, I got scared. Then, I phoned my husband and asked the reason for these gun shots. He said that they were just practicing with the guns. This answer made me relaxed. I also felt myself happy, because whenever we had heard some gun shots, its meaning had been killing someone. But, now, its a symbol of our presence and safety. Because, I knew that our soldiers became more powerful and they can resist any aggressive behaviors.
Q. If you compare with the period of 1963 to 1974, what can you say about your life? Are you happy in the TRNC now?
Absolutely. I can't express my feeling with words. We were in a big struggle to save our lives. Those 11 years were very bad and we gained our independence. Now, when I close my eyes at nights, I don't think about the future. I mean, I am not afraid of my future. Because I am safe and I am independent. Plus, I don't have any thoughts that someone will kill me. In short, although the TRNC has many serious problems, I am happy to be here.
Q. Thanks for your answers.
DEMOGRAPHICS:
Occupation (or life's work): Housewife.
Age: 43.
Sex: Female.
Nationality: Turkish Cypriot.
Where now lives (country and city/town/village): Lefkosa.
Where lived during the events described during the interview: Evdim village (a village in Limassol).
What was the occupation (or life's work) of the main income earner in the household when growing up: Her father was a commander and grew grapes
Education: Graduated from secondary school.
• Huseyin. "All these events I lived in 1974 showed me that freedom is one of the most important things in the world."
• Pembe. "`They are waiting for an order and they are going to kill us,' he said."
• Gul. "I left my beautiful house full of furniture and I came here and started to live in an empty house."
Huseyin's Story
Q. Can you tell me your story about moving in 1974? Where do you come from and what happened?
I came from Southern Cyprus to the Northern Cyprus in 1974. I came here from Paphos and as a captive, because I was a policeman and Greeks took captive some policemen in 1974. Then the first [Turkish] peace operation happened and Greeks brought all captives from Southern Cyprus to Northern Cyprus. In other words they bartered captives. Turks gave Greeks captives to the Greeks and Greeks gave Turkish captives to the Turks. So I became free because of this event. Then the government sent me to Karpaz and I continued my work, but my wife and other members of my family could not pass through to northern Cyprus so I was alone.
After the second peace event in 1975, my family came here. Then everything started to change. I felt that I had been born again. The government gave us a home but it had no furniture in it. We slept on the floor and we became very poor because we had lost all of our money, home and fields. But I got a chance because I was a policeman and I started to bring some goods and built my house. Shortly they were very difficult days that we did not want to remember.
Q. Did you have any feelings or emotions at that time (when you came to Northern Cyprus)?
Yes. I felt very sad and angry. I was sad because I did not receive any news from my family. I did not know if they were alive or dead. Then I learned that Greeks killed my mother and that was the event which made me lose my temper. Greeks killed my mother and they cut her fingers and took her rings. So this hurt me, and made me very angry.
Q. Did these feelings or emotions help you in a way?
No. They could not help me. I just cried and expected that other members of my family would return to me.
Q. Were these feelings or emotions a problem for you in any way?
Yes. For example, I could not think right. I did not want to live. In other words I did not feel that I was alive, I just thought of myself as an animal that lives in a prison and could not do anything.
Q. Did you have any questions or confusions at that time?
Yes. I had many questions. For example, what will happen to us? How can we get together? What kinds of events were waiting for us? Was my family alive or dead?
Q. Did these questions or confusions help you in any way?
No. Because I could not find answers to my questions.
Q. Were these questions or confusions a problem for you in any way?
Of course they were problems for me, because they were the questions of my own life, and the answers would show my future. The answers could cause my happiness and sadness. They retired me from my environment.
Q. Was there anything that happened during this time that was helpful for you?
Yes. I remembered that one of my friend said to me that "We must be powerful, we must not lose our expectation, otherwise we can not succeed to live and protect our family and our country."
Q. How did this help you?
These words gave me a power, they helped me to think better and became more powerful. These words made me believe that if I had my power my family would became powerful as well.
Q. Was there anything that hurt you or got in you way or was a problem for you somehow?
Yes. I said that after I came Northern Cyprus one person said to me that Greeks killed my mother and they also cut off her fingers to take her rings. At that moment I felt that I had heard a story, but this was not a story. It was real. I became very sad. These words hurt me. I became very angry. I wanted to kill all Greeks at that moment.
Q. How did this hurt you or was a problem for you?
After this event whenever someone tried to give me information about someone, I did not let him or her, because I was afraid of hearing bad information.
Q. Was there anything that might have helped you or could have helped you?
Yes. Only my family; in other words, only my wife could have helped me.
Q. How would this have helped you?
I believe that family is one part of the human life. If you lose your family, you feel alone and when you are alone you just think bad things. But my wife and my family gave me power. They made me happy. For example I learned that I had lost my mother, but I also knew that my wife would help me. In other words, you lost one of your important parts but you also knew that there was another important person who was waiting for you.
Q. Is there anything in your experience during this time that you would say was a "lesson for life?"
I wanted to answer this question like this: a lesson for life for me is an idea or feeling that makes you understand something. And I want to say this: All these events that I lived in 1974 showed me that freedom is one of the important things in the world. If you are free everything is perfect.
Q. Is there anything you else you would like to say about your experience during this time?
No, that's enough I think.
Q. Is there anything you would like to say about the questions I have asked or the style of the interview itself?
This was a very difficult interview. When you said to me that you wanted to do an interview with me I thought that I would just tell you some events, but you led me to think and also feel lots of things.
DEMOGRAPHICS
Occupation: Retired policeman
Age: 47
Sex: Male
Nationality: Turkish Cypriot
Where now lives (country and city/town/village): Ziyomet village, near Erenkoy in the Karpaz.
Where lived during the events described during the interview: Paphos.
Occupation (or life's work) of the main income earner in household when growing up: Policeman.
Gul's Story
Q. Can you tell me your story about moving from the South to the North in 1974? Where do you come from? And what happened?
I came here (to Incirli) from Gormeli. Gormeli is a village near Paphos in Southern Cyprus. I came here by forbidden ways, because the war was not yet over at that time. We left southern Cyprus and we came to Northern Cyprus, because at that time Turkey came to help us and it occupied some of the areas from Northern Cyprus, and Incirli was one of these areas. When we came to Northern Cyprus the military brought us (immigrant people) to Incirli. They gave us houses, they helped us, because we had nothing. We only could bring our money, nothing else and our money was Greek money so we turned it into Turkish lira and our money lost value and we became very poor people. Then the government gave us new fields instead of our old fields, so we started to work and earn our living but we spent very difficult days because of the war.
Q. Did you have any ideas or thoughts at that time (when you came to Northern Cyprus)?
Yes. I had many ideas and thoughts, because we did not know what would happen. How we could earn our living and I also thought about my son who was taken captive by Greeks and who remained in Southern Cyprus. I could not receive information from him and I did not know if he was alive or dead.
Q. Did these ideas or thoughts help you?
No. They did not help me. They made me very sad and they also made me pessimistic. I did not thought well.
Q. Were these ideas or thoughts a problem for you?
Of course these thoughts were a problem for me. For example I could not sleep at night, because when I slept I saw a nightmare that Greeks killed my son and I awoke suddenly and I started to cry.
Q. What were your feelings at that time?
I felt very sad and confused because my new environment was very different to me. I left my beautiful house full of furniture and I came here and started to live in an empty house. We had no work. But the real thing that caused my sadness was my captive son. For a mother the important things in the world are children and it is very difficult to not receive information from your children.
Q. Did these feelings help you in any way?
Yes they helped me to understand the value of my son and these feelings showed me that life is full of many surprises and you can never guess what will happen.
Q. Were these feelings a problem for you in a way?
Yes. These feelings saddened me and they removed me from my environment.
Q. Did you have any questions at that time?
Yes. I had many questions, for example what will happen? Where was my son? Was my son alive or dead? What kinds of events were waiting for us? Would I see my son again?
Q. Did these questions help you in a way?
No, because I could not find answers to my questions.
Q. Were these questions a problem for you in a way?
Yes. They were a problem for me, because they were very important questions. The answers to these questions could cause my happiness and sadness. I could not do anything. I just prayed to my God.
Q. Was there anything at that time that hurt you or was a problem for you?
Yes. One day the Turkish army came to our house and they wanted to search our home because some villagers accused us of being spies. In other words they accused us of helping the Greeks. This event hurt me because I saw these people as my friends, but they saw us as enemies.
Q. What did you learn from this event?
This event taught me to not rely on all people, and this event also showed me that it is very difficult to recognize other people.
Q. Was there anything during that time that was helpful for you?
Yes. Greeks let my son free and he came to Northern Cyprus. This was my happiest time. I felt that I had been born again.
Q. How did this help you?
This event was helpful for me because I escaped from my fears and I started my new life. After my son came I started to built our new lives and homes. In other words one of the important thing at this world is family; if your family members are together you succeed to fight with life or badness.
Q. Is there anything in your experience during this time that you would say was a "lesson for life?"
A "lesson for life " is something that people learn after anxieties and fears. For example, all these events that I lived in 1974 showed me that war is one of the worst events in the world. War caused the death of many people. These events also showed me the importance of freedom. If you are free and your family members are together every thing becomes good.
Q. Is there anything you would like to say about the questions I have asked or the style of the interview itself?
Yes, it was a very difficult interview because these were bad memories for me and I do not want to remember them again. But I want to give this information and my experience for the younger generation.
DEMOGRAPHICS
Occupation: Housewife
Age: 76
Sex: Female
Nationality: Turkish Cypriot
Where now lives (country and city/town/village): Incirli village, near Famagusta.
Where lived during the events described during the interview: Gormeli village, near Paphos.
Occupation (or life's work) of the main income earner in household when growing up: Farmer.
Personal Stories from After 1974:
In the TRNC
Ismet's Story
Q. Please, can you tell me your story about moving from Southern Cyprus to Northern Cyprus?
I came from Southern Cyprus to Northern Cyprus in 1975. I came here from Gormeli, and after I came here with my family the military brought us to Incirli. When I went to my new village Incirli I felt that I had been born again, it come me very different. Then the goverment gave us a house instead of our old house, and we started to build our life. For example, first we lived in empty homes but then we started to bring some furniture. The military also helped us. For example, the military came to our village twice a week and they brought us canned foods.
Then the goverment also gave us fields instead of our old fields and we started to work with my husband in that field. And we started to earn money from that field so everything became good, we worked and we continued our lifes. We learned the importance of Freedom or the value of Freedom. After we came here we became more modern because we were not controlled by Greeks. Greeks were not threatening our lifes, so after we came to Northern Cyprus we started to live like people. In other words, I felt really that I was alive. I learned that life is very nice. There was no war and we felt confortable.
Shortly, if you are free and there is no war everything becomes perfect and good. You know that you are alive and you start to make plans for the future.
DEMOGRAPHICS
Occupation (or life's work): Housewife.
Age: 76.
Sex: Female.
Nationality: Turkish Cypriot.
Where now lives (country and city/town/village): Incirli village, near Famagusta.
Where lived during the events described during the interview: During 1975 she lived in Incirli.
What was the occupation (or life's work) of the main income earner in the household when growing up: Farmer.
Ali's Story
Q. Please can you tell me something about your pleasant days before or after 1974?
Yes, I can say something about after 1974. Greeks have bad character, they did many bad things. For example, they killed many Turkish Cypriot people, even babies, and also they attacked our women.
Before 1974, I lived in Gormeli village but after 1974 I moved with my parents from South to North and I began to live in the Northern part. Our new village name is Incirli. When I began to live in Incirli, first of all the government gave a house to me and my parents.
In Gormeli village, Turks and Greeks lived together, but all the time we were afraid of them. For this reason we were on guard all night until morning, but in this village which is called Incirli, all the people are Turks so we are now sleeping until morning. I can say that Gormeli is more beautiful than Incirli, but in Incirli everything is good. We are not afraid of anything, our wives and children can go everywhere and also our children can play games with their friends, because we know that there is not any danger for them.
In this village, we are very peaceful and comfortable. My children are married.
If I compare these two villages, I can say that Gormeli is more beautiful than Incirli, but we had no peace there. In Incirli, we have good and bad days but the sources of bad days are not the Greeks. The reason is, that we are missing Gormeli. In conclusion, I can say that when we came to this village, our pleasant days started.
DEMOGRAPHICS
Occupation (or life's work): Retired official.
Age: 60.
Sex: Male.
Nationality: Turkish Cypriot.
Where now lives (country and city/town/village): Incirli village near Magosa.
Where lived during the events described during the interview: Gormeli, near Paphos.
What was the occupation (or life's work) of the main income earner in the household when growing up: An Official.
Zehra's Story
Q. Would you please tell us about any good experiences that you lived after 1974?
My husband was a commander in the army and he was with his soldiers. There was nobody in the home except my little kid who was 2 years old. It was 1976. The time was nine or ten o'clock.
Our home was close to the border and suddenly, I heard some gun shots. Of course, I got scared. Then, I phoned my husband and asked the reason for these gun shots. He said that they were just practicing with the guns. This answer made me relaxed. I also felt myself happy, because whenever we had heard some gun shots, its meaning had been killing someone. But, now, its a symbol of our presence and safety. Because, I knew that our soldiers became more powerful and they can resist any aggressive behaviors.
Q. If you compare with the period of 1963 to 1974, what can you say about your life? Are you happy in the TRNC now?
Absolutely. I can't express my feeling with words. We were in a big struggle to save our lives. Those 11 years were very bad and we gained our independence. Now, when I close my eyes at nights, I don't think about the future. I mean, I am not afraid of my future. Because I am safe and I am independent. Plus, I don't have any thoughts that someone will kill me. In short, although the TRNC has many serious problems, I am happy to be here.
Q. Thanks for your answers.
DEMOGRAPHICS:
Occupation (or life's work): Housewife.
Age: 43.
Sex: Female.
Nationality: Turkish Cypriot.
Where now lives (country and city/town/village): Lefkosa.
Where lived during the events described during the interview: Evdim village (a village in Limassol).
What was the occupation (or life's work) of the main income earner in the household when growing up: Her father was a commander and grew grapes
Education: Graduated from secondary school.
- halil
- Main Contributor
- Posts: 8804
- Joined: Fri Mar 09, 2007 2:21 pm
- Location: nicosia
by observer » Wed Jun 20, 2007 3:35 pm
Kifeas
Kifeas, you are an idiot. Did you not know that we had an election? Denktas lost. Talat won and held out the hand of friendship, which you, Papadopoulos, and politicians like him spat on. How can there be a settlement if your community leader refuses to speak to the TC community leader.
Pyrpolizer
Pyrpolizer, you are little better than Kifeas. Go to Turkey. If you come back thinking that the masses are illiterate I would be surprised. There are a lot of flags, but if you lift up your head (and I assume that you live in RoC) you will see that there are a lot of blue and white flags around you. And as for the ordinary guy, Kibris is just something that he hears about on the news from time to time. I think that you must be confusing it with the situatioin in Greece in 1974.
Does your ordinary Athenian spent his days worrying about Cyprus? I don’t think so and nor does your ordinary Istanbuli.
If it was, is, or it is going to ever be up to Denktash and his average clone circulating in the streets of occupied Cyprus, Cyprus problem will never be solved! However, it wasn't, it is not, and it will never be up to any of the people that "turkish_cypriot" has met in the north during his recent trip! Therefore, no need to worry or pay attention to what these people may claim! They make their own Bayram, with their own minds and in the absence of the “innkeeper” (Turkey!)
Kifeas, you are an idiot. Did you not know that we had an election? Denktas lost. Talat won and held out the hand of friendship, which you, Papadopoulos, and politicians like him spat on. How can there be a settlement if your community leader refuses to speak to the TC community leader.
Pyrpolizer
Don't forget "Kibris" is the only thing they have to feed their illiterate masses with flags,and pseudo-nationalistic pride.... Losing "kibris" will mean the collapse of the Turkish Military state, and I don't think they will ever let it happen.
Pyrpolizer, you are little better than Kifeas. Go to Turkey. If you come back thinking that the masses are illiterate I would be surprised. There are a lot of flags, but if you lift up your head (and I assume that you live in RoC) you will see that there are a lot of blue and white flags around you. And as for the ordinary guy, Kibris is just something that he hears about on the news from time to time. I think that you must be confusing it with the situatioin in Greece in 1974.
Does your ordinary Athenian spent his days worrying about Cyprus? I don’t think so and nor does your ordinary Istanbuli.
- observer
- Regular Contributor
- Posts: 1666
- Joined: Mon Sep 18, 2006 10:21 am
by Pyrpolizer » Wed Jun 20, 2007 5:34 pm
observer wrote:KifeasIf it was, is, or it is going to ever be up to Denktash and his average clone circulating in the streets of occupied Cyprus, Cyprus problem will never be solved! However, it wasn't, it is not, and it will never be up to any of the people that "turkish_cypriot" has met in the north during his recent trip! Therefore, no need to worry or pay attention to what these people may claim! They make their own Bayram, with their own minds and in the absence of the “innkeeper” (Turkey!)
Kifeas, you are an idiot. Did you not know that we had an election? Denktas lost. Talat won and held out the hand of friendship, which you, Papadopoulos, and politicians like him spat on. How can there be a settlement if your community leader refuses to speak to the TC community leader.
PyrpolizerDon't forget "Kibris" is the only thing they have to feed their illiterate masses with flags,and pseudo-nationalistic pride.... Losing "kibris" will mean the collapse of the Turkish Military state, and I don't think they will ever let it happen.
Pyrpolizer, you are little better than Kifeas. Go to Turkey. If you come back thinking that the masses are illiterate I would be surprised. There are a lot of flags, but if you lift up your head (and I assume that you live in RoC) you will see that there are a lot of blue and white flags around you. And as for the ordinary guy, Kibris is just something that he hears about on the news from time to time. I think that you must be confusing it with the situatioin in Greece in 1974.
Does your ordinary Athenian spent his days worrying about Cyprus? I don’t think so and nor does your ordinary Istanbuli.
I went a few times to Turkey my friend and know what I am talking about. Have you ever visited the southeast areas to learn what illiteracy really means?
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Pyrpolizer - Leading Contributor
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by Kifeas » Wed Jun 20, 2007 6:02 pm
observer wrote:KifeasIf it was, is, or it is going to ever be up to Denktash and his average clone circulating in the streets of occupied Cyprus, Cyprus problem will never be solved! However, it wasn't, it is not, and it will never be up to any of the people that "turkish_cypriot" has met in the north during his recent trip! Therefore, no need to worry or pay attention to what these people may claim! They make their own Bayram, with their own minds and in the absence of the “innkeeper” (Turkey!)
Kifeas, you are an idiot. Did you not know that we had an election? Denktas lost. Talat won and held out the hand of friendship, which you, Papadopoulos, and politicians like him spat on. How can there be a settlement if your community leader refuses to speak to the TC community leader.
PyrpolizerDon't forget "Kibris" is the only thing they have to feed their illiterate masses with flags,and pseudo-nationalistic pride.... Losing "kibris" will mean the collapse of the Turkish Military state, and I don't think they will ever let it happen.
Pyrpolizer, you are little better than Kifeas. Go to Turkey. If you come back thinking that the masses are illiterate I would be surprised. There are a lot of flags, but if you lift up your head (and I assume that you live in RoC) you will see that there are a lot of blue and white flags around you. And as for the ordinary guy, Kibris is just something that he hears about on the news from time to time. I think that you must be confusing it with the situatioin in Greece in 1974.
Does your ordinary Athenian spent his days worrying about Cyprus? I don’t think so and nor does your ordinary Istanbuli.
Observer! Idiot is someone like you who seems to believe that a country like Turkey that occupies the north with more than 40,000 troops (almost half the population of your community that now lives in the north,) with all the costs that this entails for them, a country that brought in as many of its people from Turkey to settle in the north as the size of your community, a country like Turkey that pays your salaries an wages and subsidizes you economically to such a large proportion; will ever pay attention and consider your whatever will, if it contradicts with her own interests!
If you believe that anything can possibly happen in the occupied north -including the removal of Denktash and his replacement with Talat, without and outside the will and decision of Turkey, but only because of the “democratic will” and “choice” of your community; you are indeed a very diluted individual!
Observer, Turkey controls and rules even the air you breathe in the north, set aside your will and preferences! You do as much as Turkey allows you to do! When it want your leadership to act otherwise, it will simply instruct them to do so, regardless of whatever else they may think themselves, and if they refuse, Turkey will simply tell them to go home and call someone else to replace them, or it will cut off the oxygen from them until they silently “die!”
Last edited by Kifeas on Wed Jun 20, 2007 6:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Kifeas - Main Contributor
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