Cyprus-Forum.com

[Kikapu]

Bir,

So far I really enjoyed reading the events of your childhood.

Here are some questions for you. If some of the answers to my questions are to be written later on, then don't bother to answer them, because I can wait for it.

1. It was funny how you described that you father wanted you to be able to go to Turkey to attend University with your older sister, so that you can be a "chaperon" to her. Did you have to be a "chaperon" to her also in Australia at later date, or was your father not so concerned in Australia.??

2. I had my circumcision at age 9 and my brother at age 12 along with dozens of other boys out in the open, on a Heliport, soon after we were released from captivity for a week by the GC's. Had to walk around wearing a gown by holding the front area away from my "clipped" little willy, so that it would not touch it for almost a week. No white horse for us I'm afraid. Not even a Donkey.

3. What ever became of the "assassin to be" who was to whack your father at the restaurant with Mr. Fatso...I mean Mr. Big.?? He did after all disobeyed orders from the TMT to do your father in, so was he ever punished and was allowed to live. Did he make any confessions to your father, if he assassinated other TC's or even GC's.??

4. When you were abducted by the two Boys and spent the night away from home and held as a "hostage" to get your father to agree on whatever. That was a year after the TMT wanted to assassinate your father, but was told, that as long as he kept his mouth shut, everything will be OK, so what happened a year later, that he had to make a choice between not ever seeing you again, or make promises to the TMT to get you back. I thought the whole deal was arranged a year earlier.

5. If you were going to be killed that night, do you think it would have been by the 17 year old with the shot gun, or perhaps another person would have come. I'm glad that the 2 boys never gave you any indication that you were in danger, while you were with them, and yet, it was a damn shame, that evil adults would use kids to poison their minds to abduct you so that you would not suspect anything. No doubt they were well coached in what they were suppose to do.

6. As far as you know, did your fathers day to day routine changed after you were returned back to your family.

7. You deserved the 10 of the Best from your father onto your hands. That was his way of telling you how much he loved you and how happy he was to see you again. I hope you live those special moments in your mind when ever you get a chance, because Turkish fathers of the last generation were not the most warm and cuddly type by showing their emotions and love to their families.

These will do for now.

[denizaksulu]

This man whom I shall call Mr Big was an ignorant thug and a standover man.

Was this Mr Big's initial "S" or "R"?

No Iceman...It wasnt..

I want to thank everyone for their responses...I am glad you are all enjoying it...

Zan...thanks for the compliment...As Piratis said all the options are still open. At this stage I am very happy that finally I have overcome my emotional blocks to be able to write about these episodes of my life...


Btw,I am away from my computer at the moment,spending some quality time in Sydney with my mother and my son...So you might have to wait for the next exciting episode( ) for a few days...I will try to get it in by Sunday night...Cheers to you all.

So we are looking at a boring weekend till the next episode! You better make up for it BK.

Deniz and Birkibrisli ,
Last night on BRT1 Tv was FOTOĞRAFIN GÖZ YAŞLARI . They showed
Aleminyo and Aytotro (Ayios Theodoros) . It was very sad views , I will try to get those pictures and add the images than i will ask to Birkibrisli comments on them .
Repeat of the this program is tonight . You will get chance to watch it from net. Time is local time 20.00 FOTOĞRAFIN GÖZYAŞLARI (GÜNEYDEKİ KÜLTÜREL ESERLERİMİZ)
http://www.brtk.cc/index.php/cat/63/lang/en
clik on above link and select ON LİNE BROADCAST
from on line broadcast BRT-1 TV
here is the today program.

7 ARALIK 2007 CUMA
07.00 GÜNE GÜNAYDIN (canlı)
08.00 SABAH ANALİZİ (canlı)
09.00 HABERLER (tur)
09.07 DÜNYADA NE VAR?
09.30 KOMŞUDAN HABERLER (canlı)
10.00 HABERLER (canlı)
10.04 SİZE ÖZEL (tekrar)
10.43 YEMEK TARİFİ
11.00 HABERLER (canlı)
11.08 SAĞLIK HATTI (canlı)
12.00 HABERLER (canlı)
12.12 TUNCER BAĞIŞKAN İLE GEÇMİŞ ZAMANLARA YOLCULUK
12.25 AKDENİZ ŞARKILARI
13.00 HABER 13.00 (canlı)
13.25 TEK KONU (tekrar)
13.40 TÜRK POP MÜZİĞİ
14.00 CUMA SOHBETİ (canlı)
15.00 HABERLER (canlı)
15.12 FOTEK
16.00 HABERLER (canlı)
16.20 FARKINDAMIYIZ
17.00 HABERLER (canlı)
17.10 MAÇA DOĞRU (canlı)
18.00 HABER TURU
18.04 MAÇA DOĞRU (canlı) (devam)
18.30 KIBRIS’ta YAŞAM
19.00 ANA HABER BÜLTENİ ve HAVA DURUMU (canlı)
19.40 TEK KONU (canlı)
20.00 FOTOĞRAFIN GÖZYAŞLARI (GÜNEYDEKİ KÜLTÜREL ESERLERİMİZ) 20.20 AKTÜEL (canlı)
21.42 SİNEMA-SİNEMA
22.00 HABERLER (canlı)
22.08 NOSTALJİK YOLCULUK
22.25 YEŞİL POLİTİKA (tekrar)
23.00 GÜNÜN PANORAMASI (canlı)
23.45 FARKINDAMIYIZ (tekrar)

Halil.

I managed to view the TV link. It was very interesting. I hoped BK maged to watch as well as it did show Kivisili (Civisil) where we shared an aunt.

I hope you have made a copy of this clip for further reference. When we face charges of 'cultural vandalism' we can show that it is not a one sided affair.

Thanks again and I am looking for the next episode.

[humanist]

Deniz

Hi Humanist. Thanks for not being as offensive as GR.

Sometimes I think I stir up for both sides.

These are just personal memories I have.

Did you have anything in particular which caught your attention? Point it out and I could elaborate, if it would help.

Regards ...have a good day

Hi Deniz,

There was something that you said and the responses to it that made me chucckle as I saw myself saying the same thing. It was great.

One needs to stir the pot for both sides, because both sides are responsible equally for the state, that our beloved country is currently in.

I hate fanatism on either side. I just wish the bloody politicians would go back to the 1960's constitution as an immediate step and give all Cypriots their home back.

Keep up the good work and let me know when I can add my two bob worth and stir the pot with you ;):):):)

[humanist]

mowman, you have captured it well for me also

cheers

[BirKibrisli]

I know when I am procrastinating. And I am procrastinating right now.
The next two traumatic events I will describe probably had more effect on my life than anything else.So lets stop silly-buggering around and get to the point.

Soon after the assassination attempt on Father,an older boy on the school bus started befriending me. He was a seniour student,16 or 17 years old.
We soon discovered we had something in common. We both liked our sling-shots,and we had both graduated to air-rifles during the past couple of years. We loved going hunting. I don't think I would've told him I liked the hunt much more than the kill. He kept telling me stories about his hunting exploits with his elder brother.

Then one day towards the end of March,1963 he asked if I'd like to go hunting with him and his brother the Sunday following. We would leave after lunch and be back before dinner. I hesitated...Father had given me strict instructions never to go anywhere with anyone without his knowledge and permission. I knew he would never allow me to go with people much older than myself. It was worth the risk doing it secretly.I could always say I was out playing with one of my friends nearby.

That Sunday after lunch I met A...at the corner shop across the road as arranged. We went upto his place and picked up his elder brother who must've been in his early 20s. I couldn't take my air-rifle with me,but I had my sling-shot. A...had his air-rifle and the Brother carried an impressive looking shot-gun and a large backpack. We headed for the hills North of the village. A...and I were having a great time taking turns to use the catapult and the air-rifle. I shot mainly at stationary targets like stones and cans. He shot at anything that moved. He was as lousy a shot as I was...

The Brother was very serious and seemed preoccupied. He never fired his shotgun even though we came across lots of rabbits and patridges.
A...did his best with his air-rifle,and I did my worst with the catapult. We kept climbing the hills getting more and more away from the village. The Brother seemed to know exactly where he was heading. Soon it started getting dark and I started getting alarmed. There was no way my absence would not be missed. When I suggested we turn back the Brother said he knew a little shepherd's hut nearby,we would go there for a bit of rest and then head back. By the time we got to the hut darkness had well and truly settled in. I knew I was in big trouble with Father,but I didnt want my companions to think I was a sissy. So I said nothing.

The Brother proceeded to light a fire. He said since it was dark we'd better stay the night here. This area was full of EOKA men,it wouldnt be safe to be wandering around. My fear of the EOKA was much greater than my fear of Father. EOKA men were blood thirsty animals,were they not???
They killed women and children,and even babies in arms. They'd skin us alive and drink our blood. TMT told us so,so it must be true. I tried not to show it but I was shit scared. I cursed myself for not listening to Father.

After lighting the fire,the Brother took some bread,olives,and hellim (halloumi) out of his backpack. I think there were some oranges and apples as well. Food was a most welcome diversion. We filled our stomachs and sat back to pass the night.There was an old bed in one corner,and some old mattresses on the ground. The Brother gave me an old blanket and told me to pull one of the mattresses near the fire. I remember lying down and listening to the sounds of the night outside for anything unusual.I remember the racing of my heart,the sweat of my palms,the coldness of my hands. I remember biting my lips hard to stop from crying. It took a long time to go to sleep,but the warmth and the crackling of the fire worked their magic eventually,and I fell into a deep sleep...

When I woke up in the morning A. was still sleeping,but there was no sign of Brother. The sun was up and the fire was out. My bladder was full,so cautiously I walked outside to take a wee. Under a nearby tree sat Brother with another man who I knew to be A.'s cousin. Brother smiled at me and said good morning.He seemed more relaxed. He said the cousin had come looking for us because A.'s Mum was worried. He said Father knew I was with them,so there was no reason to worry.

By the time we got back it was mid-morning. I was hoping Father had already gone to school. But I had no such luck. He was waiting for me at the front door. But the man who stood there with red eyes and an ashen face was not the same man I had breakfast with the day before. He had visibly aged overnight. He walked slowly towards me and put his arms around me holding me very tight on his chest. I was speechless. This was most unusual. Father was not the hugging and kissing kind. He hugged me for what seem like eternity,his body shaking with sobs he was trying to supress. Then he held my hand and led me into his study. He took a wooden ruler and, in a voice almost inaudible, asked me to extend my left hand. Then he gave me 10 of his best lashes with the flat side of the ruler. I never made a sound. I just closed my eyes and waited for the blows to stop. When they did, I opened my eyes and saw Father disappearing into his bedroom. Mother came in next looking like death warmed up. She didnt come near me. "You must be hungry," she said. "Come and have some breakfast."

It took me a long time to realise I played the role of a "hostage" that night. In a deadly game I had no knowledge about. It is obvious now only Father knew how close I had come to becoming a corpse. And what concessions he had to make to my abductors to secure my life. 38 years later,when I stood in his grave while they passed his lightweight body down to me to place in the little brick alcove,it was not the lashes but the hug that he gave me that day that flashed through my mind. I don't remember it but people tell me these were my last words to him as I climbed out of his grave: "Thanks for everything,Baba..."

(to be continued...)

The primary school in this Fateful village had 2 teachers. My father was the headmaster. The other teacher was a newly graduated young female originally from a village near Nicosia. She had arrived at the school same time as we had,and Mother soon took her under her wing.

She lived opposite us next to the corner shop,in a house owned by Mr Big.
But she spent most of her spare time at our place. She was a most welcome addition to our household. She was tall,slim and attractive. And musically very talented. After dinner at our place she would usually play classical Turkish songs on her accordion (of all intruments!),accompanied by us all. I remember having a crash on her.
I often accompanied her back to her house after dinner,as she was afraid of the dark. And we shared a secret. She liked to smoke. As it most most unacceptable those days for women to smoke,let alone a teacher,she smoked only at home. On the nights I accompanied her she'd ask me to come inside while she went around the house switching on the lights and checking for any sign of intruders. She'd then make herself a cup of coffee, give me a bottle of Coke, and sit back on her big comfortable armchair enjoying her cigarette. She'd sometimes offer me a drag and I never refused. Not that I liked the taste of cigarettes much. I really enjoyed the intimacy of it all. I still remember the red lipstick she wore,and the mark it made on the cigarette butt...

It was towards the end of the school year in 1963. A few months after 'the hostage' incident. Our secondary school in Limassol had finished the year earlier. The primary school in the village had another week or so to go. That day I went to school with Father. I liked to go and help him with certain students who needed extra help with reading or writing or whatever. Miss N. was late. So Father asked me to look after her classes till she arrived.When by the end of the second period she failed to turn up,Father asked me to go and see what was holding her up...

I remember it was a hot summer's day,and the sun was already burning. I walked down the hill and knocked on her front door. There was no answer. I knocked again a bit more loudly. And louder still. When I got no response I did what every curious 12-year old would do. Put my eye to the keyhole and looked inside. And there she was...Hanging by her neck from the frame of the back door,just opposite... It took me a little while to take in what I was looking at...Then I screamed, and screamed and screamed...
All the way to our house opposite. My mother who opened the door must've thought I was being chased by the devil...

I remember little of the days and weeks that followed. There was an official inquest,but mercifully I was not required to give evidence. Both Father and Mr Big were...The official verdict was 'Suicide for reasons unknown'...Case closed... During the writing of this Diary I had the opportunity to reconsider everything,and requestion my mother and other members of my family regarding the dramatic events which took place in that fateful year of 1963. I now believe that the assassination attempt on my father,and my kidnapping had much more to do with Mr Big then the TMT itself...Mr Big was simply abusing his position as a regional TMT commander to settle his private grievances with Father. And the key to eveyrthing was lost in the suicide of Miss N...

I consider myself lucky to be alive. At that time,in that little village of horrors,there was a tradition Father and I did not know about. The sins of the fathers were visited on their sons. In the years which followed our departure from that village,both Mr Big's sons,those little boys who were my circumcision buddies were killed in mysterious circumstances. No one was ever charged or convicted for their deaths...Mr Big lived a long life and died in Nicosia,where he had settled after 1974,only a few short years ago. His daughters are still friends with my sister who lives in Ankara...

After all this Father resigned from teaching and found a job with the Cyprus Telecom Company in Nicosia...By September,1963 we were living within the walls of the old Turkish quarter. This proved to be a lucky break. For Cyprus was about to be engulfed in a ball of ethnic-violence fire. And for a Turkish Cypriot,the safest place on the whole island was where we were...

(to be continued...)

[humanist]

Dear M

I am so sorry that you had to experience all these cruelties of our world at such a young age. Drop me a line if your sill in Sydney for a catch up. It will be my pleasure to sit and chat again face to face. Promise you will not bring the sling shot?

Thanks again

[BirKibrisli]

Bir,

So far I really enjoyed reading the events of your childhood.

Here are some questions for you. If some of the answers to my questions are to be written later on, then don't bother to answer them, because I can wait for it.

1. It was funny how you described that you father wanted you to be able to go to Turkey to attend University with your older sister, so that you can be a "chaperon" to her. Did you have to be a "chaperon" to her also in Australia at later date, or was your father not so concerned in Australia.??

2. I had my circumcision at age 9 and my brother at age 12 along with dozens of other boys out in the open, on a Heliport, soon after we were released from captivity for a week by the GC's. Had to walk around wearing a gown by holding the front area away from my "clipped" little willy, so that it would not touch it for almost a week. No white horse for us I'm afraid. Not even a Donkey.

3. What ever became of the "assassin to be" who was to whack your father at the restaurant with Mr. Fatso...I mean Mr. Big.?? He did after all disobeyed orders from the TMT to do your father in, so was he ever punished and was allowed to live. Did he make any confessions to your father, if he assassinated other TC's or even GC's.??

4. When you were abducted by the two Boys and spent the night away from home and held as a "hostage" to get your father to agree on whatever. That was a year after the TMT wanted to assassinate your father, but was told, that as long as he kept his mouth shut, everything will be OK, so what happened a year later, that he had to make a choice between not ever seeing you again, or make promises to the TMT to get you back. I thought the whole deal was arranged a year earlier.

5. If you were going to be killed that night, do you think it would have been by the 17 year old with the shot gun, or perhaps another person would have come. I'm glad that the 2 boys never gave you any indication that you were in danger, while you were with them, and yet, it was a damn shame, that evil adults would use kids to poison their minds to abduct you so that you would not suspect anything. No doubt they were well coached in what they were suppose to do.

6. As far as you know, did your fathers day to day routine changed after you were returned back to your family.

7. You deserved the 10 of the Best from your father onto your hands. That was his way of telling you how much he loved you and how happy he was to see you again. I hope you live those special moments in your mind when ever you get a chance, because Turkish fathers of the last generation were not the most warm and cuddly type by showing their emotions and love to their families.

These will do for now.

Kikapu...thanks for your response.
Let me try to answer some of your questions:

1. She never came to Australia. Studied and married in Turkey. So the problem never arouse.

2. I wish I had chosen the easy option myself.But I was too self-concious by age 11...

3. I have been thinking that O.(the would be assassin) was part of the deal Father struck in Nicosia with the TMT. As far as I know nothing happened to him...It is partly why I now think Mr Big was acting on his own. The TMT was not the world's most competent organisation,but I'd like to think they wouldn't make the mistake of sending someone's own recruit to whack him! I have no idea if he had done it before or after.

4. I still have no clear idea what it was really about. More and more I believe it was more personal on Mr Big's behalf. Father never told me anything about it. All my info comes from Mother and other family members who were involved at the time.

5. I think it would've been done by the older brother (he was in his early 20s).
The cousin who turned up in the morning was bringing the final instructions I believe.

6.Yes ,very much so. He was a shadow of his former self. Now that I think about it, I believe he fell in a deep depression after the incident.

7. Yep. You are spot on here mate...

[BirKibrisli]

I know when I am procrastinating. And I am procrastinating right now.
The next two traumatic events I will describe probably had more effect on my life than anything else.So lets stop silly-buggering around and get to the point.

Soon after the assassination attempt on Father,an older boy on the school bus started befriending me. He was a seniour student,16 or 17 years old.
We soon discovered we had something in common. We both liked our sling-shots,and we had both graduated to air-rifles during the past couple of years. We loved going hunting. I don't think I would've told him I liked the hunt much more than the kill. He kept telling me stories about his hunting exploits with his elder brother.

Then one day towards the end of March,1963 he asked if I'd like to go hunting with him and his brother the Sunday following. We would leave after lunch and be back before dinner. I hesitated...Father had given me strict instructions never to go anywhere with anyone without his knowledge and permission. I knew he would never allow me to go with people much older than myself. It was worth the risk doing it secretly.I could always say I was out playing with one of my friends nearby.

That Sunday after lunch I met A...at the corner shop across the road as arranged. We went upto his place and picked up his elder brother who must've been in his early 20s. I couldn't take my air-rifle with me,but I had my sling-shot. A...had his air-rifle and the Brother carried an impressive looking shot-gun and a large backpack. We headed for the hills North of the village. A...and I were having a great time taking turns to use the catapult and the air-rifle. I shot mainly at stationary targets like stones and cans. He shot at anything that moved. He was as lousy a shot as I was...

The Brother was very serious and seemed preoccupied. He never fired his shotgun even though we came across lots of rabbits and patridges.
A...did his best with his air-rifle,and I did my worst with the catapult. We kept climbing the hills getting more and more away from the village. The Brother seemed to know exactly where he was heading. Soon it started getting dark and I started getting alarmed. There was no way my absence would not be missed. When I suggested we turn back the Brother said he knew a little shepherd's hut nearby,we would go there for a bit of rest and then head back. By the time we got to the hut darkness had well and truly settled in. I knew I was in big trouble with Father,but I didnt want my companions to think I was a sissy. So I said nothing.

The Brother proceeded to light a fire. He said since it was dark we'd better stay the night here. This area was full of EOKA men,it wouldnt be safe to be wandering around. My fear of the EOKA was much greater than my fear of Father. EOKA men were blood thirsty animals,were they not???
They killed women and children,and even babies in arms. They'd skin us alive and drink our blood. TMT told us so,so it must be true. I tried not to show it but I was shit scared. I cursed myself for not listening to Father.

After lighting the fire,the Brother took some bread,olives,and hellim (halloumi) out of his backpack. I think there were some oranges and apples as well. Food was a most welcome diversion. We filled our stomachs and sat back to pass the night.There was an old bed in one corner,and some old mattresses on the ground. The Brother gave me an old blanket and told me to pull one of the mattresses near the fire. I remember lying down and listening to the sounds of the night outside for anything unusual.I remember the racing of my heart,the sweat of my palms,the coldness of my hands. I remember biting my lips hard to stop from crying. It took a long time to go to sleep,but the warmth and the crackling of the fire worked their magic eventually,and I fell into a deep sleep...

When I woke up in the morning A. was still sleeping,but there was no sign of Brother. The sun was up and the fire was out. My bladder was full,so cautiously I walked outside to take a wee. Under a nearby tree sat Brother with another man who I knew to be A.'s cousin. Brother smiled at me and said good morning.He seemed more relaxed. He said the cousin had come looking for us because A.'s Mum was worried. He said Father knew I was with them,so there was no reason to worry.

By the time we got back it was mid-morning. I was hoping Father had already gone to school. But I had no such luck. He was waiting for me at the front door. But the man who stood there with red eyes and an ashen face was not the same man I had breakfast with the day before. He had visibly aged overnight. He walked slowly towards me and put his arms around me holding me very tight on his chest. I was speechless. This was most unusual. Father was not the hugging and kissing kind. He hugged me for what seem like eternity,his body shaking with sobs he was trying to supress. Then he held my hand and led me into his study. He took a wooden ruler and, in a voice almost inaudible, asked me to extend my left hand. Then he gave me 10 of his best lashes with the flat side of the ruler. I never made a sound. I just closed my eyes and waited for the blows to stop. When they did, I opened my eyes and saw Father disappearing into his bedroom. Mother came in next looking like death warmed up. She didnt come near me. "You must be hungry," she said. "Come and have some breakfast."

It took me a long time to realise I played the role of a "hostage" that night. In a deadly game I had no knowledge about. It is obvious now only Father knew how close I had come to becoming a corpse. And what concessions he had to make to my abductors to secure my life. 38 years later,when I stood in his grave while they passed his lightweight body down to me to place in the little brick alcove,it was not the lashes but the hug that he gave me that day that flashed through my mind. I don't remember it but people tell me these were my last words to him as I climbed out of his grave: "Thanks for everything,Baba..."

(to be continued...)

The primary school in this Fateful village had 2 teachers. My father was the headmaster. The other teacher was a newly graduated young female originally from a village near Nicosia. She had arrived at the school same time as we had,and Mother soon took her under her wing.

She lived opposite us next to the corner shop,in a house owned by Mr Big.
But she spent most of her spare time at our place. She was a most welcome addition to our household. She was tall,slim and attractive. And musically very talented. After dinner at our place she would usually play classical Turkish songs on her accordion (of all intruments!),accompanied by us all. I remember having a crash on her.
I often accompanied her back to her house after dinner,as she was afraid of the dark. And we shared a secret. She liked to smoke. As it most most unacceptable those days for women to smoke,let alone a teacher,she smoked only at home. On the nights I accompanied her she'd ask me to come inside while she went around the house switching on the lights and checking for any sign of intruders. She'd then make herself a cup of coffee, give me a bottle of Coke, and sit back on her big comfortable armchair enjoying her cigarette. She'd sometimes offer me a drag and I never refused. Not that I liked the taste of cigarettes much. I really enjoyed the intimacy of it all. I still remember the red lipstick she wore,and the mark it made on the cigarette butt...

It was towards the end of the school year in 1963. A few months after 'the hostage' incident. Our secondary school in Limassol had finished the year earlier. The primary school in the village had another week or so to go. That day I went to school with Father. I liked to go and help him with certain students who needed extra help with reading or writing or whatever. Miss N. was late. So Father asked me to look after her classes till she arrived.When by the end of the second period she failed to turn up,Father asked me to go and see what was holding her up...

I remember it was a hot summer's day,and the sun was already burning. I walked down the hill and knocked on her front door. There was no answer. I knocked again a bit more loudly. And louder still. When I got no response I did what every curious 12-year old would do. Put my eye to the keyhole and looked inside. And there she was...Hanging by her neck from the frame of the back door,just opposite... It took me a little while to take in what I was looking at...Then I screamed, and screamed and screamed...
All the way to our house opposite. My mother who opened the door must've thought I was being chased by the devil...

I remember little of the days and weeks that followed. There was an official inquest,but mercifully I was not required to give evidence. Both Father and Mr Big were...The official verdict was 'Suicide for reasons unknown'...Case closed... During the writing of this Diary I had the opportunity to reconsider everything,and requestion my mother and other members of my family regarding the dramatic events which took place in that fateful year of 1963. I now believe that the assassination attempt on my father,and my kidnapping had much more to do with Mr Big then the TMT itself...Mr Big was simply abusing his position as a regional TMT commander to settle his private grievances with Father. And the key to eveyrthing was lost in the suicide of Miss N...

I consider myself lucky to be alive. At that time,in that little village of horrors,there was a tradition Father and I did not know about. The sins of the fathers were visited on their sons. In the years which followed our departure from that village,both Mr Big's sons,those little boys who were my circumcision buddies were killed in mysterious circumstances. No one was ever charged or convicted for their deaths...Mr Big lived a long life and died in Nicosia,where he had settled after 1974,only a few short years ago. His daughters are still friends with my sister who lives in Ankara...

After all this Father resigned from teaching and found a job with the Cyprus Telecom Company in Nicosia...By September,1963 we were living within the walls of the old Turkish quarter. This proved to be a lucky break. For Cyprus was about to be engulfed in a ball of ethnic-violence fire. And for a Turkish Cypriot,the safest place on the whole island was where we were...

(to be continued...)

[Nikitas]

Bir, you tell a chilling tale.

Really curious to see how you eventually decided to leave Cyprus and why you chose Australia.

[Kikapu]

"F*** me Slowly" Bir.!!! You had so much going on with your childhood that I could have ever imagined, while I was just being a kid at age 8 in Kucuk Kaymakli, before I even started to begin to understand what was happening to us in late 1963 during our captivity and eventual hardship that followed soon afterwards.