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[Agios Amvrosios]

Kenan Akin: "I wish I was there during the incident. I could kill"

UNITED NATIONS REPORT. THE DEMONSTRATIONS OF 11 AUGUST 1996
The United Nations Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) has completed its review of the events surrounding the demonstrations of Sunday, 11 August. The facts that have emerged are as follows:

On Sunday, 11 August, some 3,500 persons gathered at various locations in anticipation of proceeding to Dherinia, the originally intended starting point for the demonstration route. The demonstrators included some 120 motorcyclists from 12 countries who had arrived in Cyprus on 10 August, following a journey which began in Berlin on 2 August. During the weeks leading up to the demonstration, UNFICYP liaised closely with all relevant authorities to ensure that all necessary measures be taken to prevent any violations of the United Nations buffer zone.

On 10 August, the Secretary-General issued a statement in which he expressed his concern at reports that a Greek Cypriot motorcycle association was planning to violate the cease-fire lines as well as the United Nations buffer zone in Cyprus. He expressed his hope that the organisers of this event would avoid a course of action that could only harm efforts to resolve the long standing Cyprus problem. The Secretary-General also called on the Government of Cyprus to take effective measures, in exercise of its responsibilities, to prevent any unauthorised entry into the United Nations buffer zone.

In response to an appeal from President Clerides early on Sunday morning, the President of the Cyprus Motorcycle Federation agreed to cancel the planned demonstration route and instead called on all participants to assemble in Makarios Stadium in Nicosia. Some 1,500 motorcyclists and associated motorists proceeded to Makarios Stadium late on Sunday morning to hear the message from their leader who also conveyed a message from President Clerides.

Meanwhile, a major counter-demonstration had been organised in north Nicosia of some 2,500 persons, including a significant number of members of the Grey Wolves who had come from Turkey. This demonstration remained peaceful.

Shortly before noon, the demonstrators left the Makarios Stadium, split up into many groups, and began to move around the city and beyond to various destinations that were difficult to anticipate. Groups of motorcyclists and persons in cars assembled in various locations in Nicosia, notably the Ledra Palace checkpoint, the United Nations Protected Area Foxtrot Gate and the Presidential Palace. These demonstrations remained peaceful.
The main incidents

A group of some 150 Greek Cypriot demonstrators, who were subsequently joined by another 200, arrived at the United Nations buffer zone at the Old Famagusta Road at about 12:40 hours. The Cyprus Police (Cypol) lifted the National Guard (NG) cease-fire barrier where the demonstrators quickly proceeded into the United Nations buffer zone eventually right up to the Turkish Forces (TF) cease-fire line, starting fires as they went along. UNFICYP troops in the area, subsequently reinforced by elements of UNFICYP's Force Reserve, interposed themselves between the demonstrators and the TF who were soon joined by the Turkish Cypriot Police Element (TCPE) in riot gear. Although the situation became very tense, UNFICYP managed to keep it under control, not least because the TF and TCPE acted in a very disciplined and restrained manner despite considerable verbal provocation from the demonstrators. Cypol was not effective in controlling the demonstrators who had arrived at that location. By 14:00 hours the crowd began to disperse and by 17:30 hours all demonstrators had left the United Nations buffer zone. There were no casualties.

At about 12:00 hours, some 150 Turkish Cypriot demonstrators appeared along the Sovereign Base Area (SBA) at the link road near the junction with the Old Nicosia Road. At 13:30 hours, some 200 Greek Cypriot motorcyclists arrived along with several TV crews. The 12 SBA police deployed there were unable to keep the situation under control and the two sides began to throw stones at each other. Some Greek Cypriots crossed a few metres beyond the Turkish Forces Cease-fire line and planted a Greek flag. The Turkish Cypriot demonstrators responded by firing shotguns at the Greek Cypriots who retreated and proceeded to set fires. By 15:00 hours, the Greek Cypriot motorcyclists left the area and proceeded in the direction of Dhekelia. According to reports, 10 Greek Cypriot demonstrators were wounded, some by shotgun pellets, as were 2 SBA policemen.

The most serious incident took place in Dherinia. On Sunday morning, a peaceful demonstration by some 250 Greek Cypriots took place. They entered the United Nations buffer zone and requested to deliver a petition to the Turkish Cypriot checkpoint. When the latter refused to receive the petition, the demonstrators left the United Nations buffer zone, but remained in the area. At 14:30 hours, some 300 motorcyclists together with some 700 persons in vehicles escorted by Cypol arrived at the NG cease-fire line checkpoint in Dherinia. Cypol deployed along the NG cease-fire but left the checkpoint unattended, thus enabling the demonstrators to enter the United Nations buffer zone unimpeded.

In the meantime, the Turkish Forces had allowed some 1,000 persons in buses to pass through their 3 km deep military zone and to assemble along the TF cease-fire line, including persons carrying the flag of the Grey Wolves who had come from Turkey.

The situation soon became violent, after Greek Cypriot demonstrators entered the buffer zone and approached the TF cease-fire line to provoke the TF, the TCPE and demonstrators assembled there with verbal abuse and throwing stones. Cypol was not effective in controlling the Greek Cypriot demonstrators.

At about 16:00 hours, the Turkish Forces allowed the Turkish Cypriot demonstrators to enter the United Nations buffer zone armed with bats and iron bars. The Turkish Cyprot demonstrators, joined by the Turkish Cypriot Police, then proceeded to pursue the Greek Cypriots and mercilessly beat all those who they were able to catch. At the same time, there was shooting, including by Turkish Cypriot police, from behind the Turkish Forces cease-fire line towards the Greek Cypriot demonstrators.

During this period, a Greek Cypriot demonstrator, Anastasios Isaak, was beaten to death by a number of Turkish Cypriot demonstrators, including three Turkish Cypriot policemen. By 18:00 hours the situation began to calm down. In addition to the one dead, it was reported that some 54 Greek Cypriots and 17 Turkish Cypriots were injured. 12 UNFICYP personnel suffered injuries.

The UNFICYP investigation revealed conclusively that the killing of Anastasios Isaak had occurred some 50 metres from the scene shown on television in which three Greek Cypriots were being severely beaten by Turkish Cypriot demonstrators while helplessly entangled in barbed wire. Two UNFICYP Irish Civilian Police had done their best in trying to rescue Anastasios Isaak at considerable personal risk.

The two United Nations Civilian Police had observed two Greek Cypriot demonstrators being set upon by two groups of Turkish Cypriot demonstrators who proceeded to beat them with brutal force. The two United Nations Police went to the assistance of one of the Greek Cypriots (Isaak), and were finally able to push aside the Turkish Cypriots, including three Turkish Cypriot policemen, who were still beating him, it was too late. The location of the killing inside the United Nations buffer zone was about 95 metres from the National Guard cease-fire line and about 32 metres from the Turkish Forces cease-fire line.

A video broadcast on "Euronews" inter alia clearly shows the killing of Anastasios Isaak and the intervention of the two United Nations police. The autopsy, attended by UNFICYP, which was performed late afternoon of 13 August, revealed that Anastasios Isaak died of "multiple blunt trauma to the head". UNFICYP has completed the collection of the evidence at the scene of the crime and is in the process of completing its investigation in cooperation with Cypol.

The role of UNFICYP Following the cancellation of the original demonstration route, the Greek Cypriot demonstrators broke up into numerous small groups with unknown destinations. As a result, there moves could not be anticipated, making it difficult for UNFICYP to reinforce in advance the likely flashpoints. At the same time, UNFICYP had to place effective coverage at all critical locations along the buffer zone while maintaining minimum coverage in other areas. UNFICYP's force reserve had to be moved over considerable distances at short notice in order to respond to fast developing situations. Given the prevailing situation on the ground as described above, UNFICYP's resources were stretched to the extreme.



Weekly AKTUEL (31.10.96 - 6.11.96) publishes the text of an exclusive interview with Kenan Akin, so-called Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Under the title, "I wish I was there during the incident. I could kill", the interview goes as follows:
"Question: Were you there on the day of the incident?

Akin: In the morning I was there, at around 9:30 I left.

Question: Did you return after the incident?

Akin: No.

Question: Did you see your picture published in the Greek Cypriot press which was taken from television and enlarged?

Akin: Could have. I was not there when the incident took place. But I felt sorry for not being there. I wish I was there. I could have pulled the trigger at least once. I wish I was there, definitely I was going to shoot.

Question: Don't you think that this is an issue to be tackled by the security forces? Apart from this, it is reportedly said that in your election region you were saying that you have killed and you took the responsibility.

Akin: No... During the incident I was on a picnic near the beach with my wife and my child.

Question: Do you have a gun?

Akin: Yes, but I do not carry it.

Question: Following the claims against you, is there any investigation against you by your party, by the government or by the legal organs?

Akin: The esteemed President asked me at one of our meetings. I told him I was on a picnic by the beach with my wife and my child. There was no investigation within the party. Only our general chairman put a question at the party's general assembly. He should have been convinced of what I had said, so that he would not have considered it necessary to establish a commission to open an enquiry.

Question: Do you envisage making any attempt to clear your name of these claims against you by opening an inquiry?

Akin: These are Greek Cypriot lies. The other side are educating their children with Turkish animosity. You are never writing this. Why are you making the killing of a dog sound so important?"

[MicAtCyp]

Akin: Why are you making the killing of a dog sound so important?"

Hey you TC friends in this forum. Such people like Akin appeared in your community just recently or they existed during the 60s you think?
Can I blame you for doing nothing against this murderer, like you never miss a chance to blame us?

By the way do you know this guy Akin was practically looking for a hole to hide from his fear after our police issued a warrant against him? That's very typical of cowards. They pretend they are men only when they hold a pistol.

[Saint Jimmy]

Akin: Why are you making the killing of a dog sound so important?"

Hey you TC friends in this forum. Such people like Akin appeared in your community just recently or they existed during the 60s you think?
Can I blame you for doing nothing against this murderer, like you never miss a chance to blame us?

By the way do you know this guy Akin was practically looking for a hole to hide from his fear after our police issued a warrant against him? That's very typical of cowards. They pretend they are men only when they hold a pistol.

Come on, Mic... Are we being a little biased here? Our own share of politicians were involved in the coup. By association, I would say that these same people have been directly involved in actual TC killings/murders (let alone GC killings). Of course, I have no proof, but there's not a shred of doubt in my mind about it. What have we done against these people? They were pardoned. Of course he is a criminal, but that's not the TCs' fault!
And even if a TC accepts that theirs is a corrupt, mobster-led 'state', what will we have gained?

What do you think they should have done against this guy?
If a TC tried to get the RoC flag off its mast and one of our ministers shot the man, would he not be treated as a hero?
Do you think he would be prosecuted?

What we need is not vengeance. What we need is to stop trying to convince the other side that we are better than them - we are not.

[erolz]

Hey you TC friends in this forum. Such people like Akin appeared in your community just recently or they existed during the 60s you think?

Such people, as you lable them have always existed in every community and at every time.

Can I blame you for doing nothing against this murderer, like you never miss a chance to blame us?

Too many murders have literaly got away with murder in Cyprus and that is true. It is true of GC murderers as well as TC ones. The continued 'you do not prosecute your murders so do not comment on how we do not prosecute ours' approach is good only for murderers but hard to resist in the face of one sided accusations (which again are almost impossible to avoid in many instances). The political situation in Cyprus dominates everything else and we should all be ashamed by this. Even 'justice' is to be persued only within the limits and bickerings of the 'political situation' and as a 'tool' to political aims and not as a guiding principal for a humane and just society. Both sides are guilty of this and we all suffer as a consequence. How we as indivduals or as societies break out of the vicious and destructive circle I am not sure (though I am reasonably sure just shouting 'I am right, I am right' whilst not listening to anyone lese is not a way to do it).

To me anyone who advocates the use of violence should be denounced and if it makes you happy I will denouced Mr Akin (on assumption that what he is quoted as saying is what he said). Anyone who actualy uses such violence should be punished and if there is evidence against anyone for having done so, on either side of the border, then I support their speedy trial and conviction. I do not care who judges them or where they serve their sentace as long as the court is a fair one and they have the right to counsel and to defend themselves. I am embrassed that 'my side' would put 'political manouvering' ahead of such justice in any case, just as I condem such action on 'your side'.

[MicAtCyp]

Jimmy I am afraid you did not understand the message I wanted to relay. It's not your fault really, I mean it contained "secrret messages" from old discussions we had with Erolz and other TC friends.

That's why Erol got it exactly and presented an answer with which I am completely satisfied. My post was actually meant to be thought provoking and a sort of a reminder-nothing more than that. Thanks Erol for your reply, I have nothing to add, just wanted to see a reply from you..

Anyway Jimmy here are my comments to your message:

Our own share of politicians were involved in the coup. By association, I would say that these same people have been directly involved in actual TC killings/murders (let alone GC killings). Of course, I have no proof, but there's not a shred of doubt in my mind about it.

The truth is ALL our old politicians (except those of Akel) were involved in Eoka, very few of them in Eoka B, and all of them were supporters of Enosis in the 50s and upto mid 60s. Even President Papadopoulos was one of the organisers in Eoka. Another truth though is that they were always clever not to get directly involved with the actual struggle and killings. They were letting others do the dirty job. This applies to Politicians who today are over 60 years old i.e to very few.
The rest of our todays politicians are perfectly clean innocent people of the next generation who
committed no crimes and yet suffered all the consequences of the Invasion.

So your generalisation that our Politicians are so and so and there is no doubt they were
involved in murders is wrong.

If a TC tried to get the RoC flag off its mast and one of our ministers shot the man, would he not be treated as a hero? Do you think he would be prosecuted?

You must be joking right? First of all our Ministers do not carry weapons! (You should know that) .They have body guards... Secondly are you serious in claiming he would be treated like a hero? I guarantee you the very next day the President would fire him, deprive him his political indemnity, be arrested, prosecuted and convicted. For your information everything at Dherynia happened in front of the cameras. For your information again just recently Papadopoulos fired the Lady Minister of health just because she dared write a letter to a judge to defend a narcotics addict. The lady was brought to court got punished, became a redicule in the society, ruined her political career for just a letter, and you tell me about a murder in cold blood? Where do you think we live, in the 50s?

[Othellos]

For your information everything at Dherynia happened in front of the cameras.

Yes it did. On the film, Kenan Akin can be clearly identified as the murderer of Sololos solomou. I have always wondered what is the "official" Turkish Cypriot excuse for having a murderer like Akin walking free among them?

O.

[insan]

It does not matter who he was. It was obvious that Solomos was killed someone from Turkish side. Just like the other murderers, he/she should be arrested, judged and punished. However who told you that the mentality of certain cycles has ever changed on both sides of the Island.

Amnesty vs Amnesty

Furthermore, the ongoing economic sanctions for 40 years made some TCs and settlers living in North more psycho.

Realities vs excuses or if you prefer say excuses vs excuses

[Othellos]

It does not matter who he was.

I think it does matter, Insan, as Akin (a common murderer) is someone who at that time was selected by your community's leader (R. Denktash) to participate in the adminstration of the occupied areas as "minister of agriculture". Was it so impossible to find a normal, decent and capable TC for the job?

I would still be interested to know more about how the TC public opinion and politicians regard someone like Akin?

Furthermore, the ongoing economic sanctions for 40 years made some TCs and settlers living in North more psycho.

I disagree. Remember that the settlers were already in a miserable state when they were brought over from turkey to take over GC homes and properties. And in Turkey there were no "sanctions". Are you suggesting that some settlers are psychos (= mental cases)?

O.

[insan]

I think it does matter, Insan, as Akin (a common murderer) is someone who at that time was selected by your community's leader (R. Denktash) to participate in the adminstration of the occupied areas as "minister of agriculture". Was it so impossible to find a normal, decent and capable TC for the job?

Anything better cannot be expected from psycho-dotard Denktash.

I would still be interested to know more about how the TC public opinion and politicians regard someone like Akin?

He was first kicked out by Eroglu than S Denktash and finally his own party.

I disagree. Remember that the settlers were already in a miserable state when they were brought over from turkey to take over GC homes and properties. And in Turkey there were no "sanctions". Are you suggesting that some settlers are psychos (= mental cases)?

Yes. Some settlers besides some TCs have extreme psychosomatic reactions towards some GCs. But it has never been heard any of them attacked some GCs having picnic in North.

[Othellos]

He was first kicked out by Eroglu than S Denktash and finally his own party.

Thank you for your detailed (as always) response, Insan. I am still a bit confused about the part of your reply that I quote above, as I remember watching in the news last week Eroglu and Akin walking around together in occupied Famagusta during the voting process. Is Eroglu cooperating with Akin's party? Btw what is the name and the real strength of Akin's party?

Thanks in advance

O.