Cyprus-Forum.com

[Alexandros Lordos]

This thread is to be specifically used for the preparation of the first part of the documentary, concerning the EOKA years, 1955-59.

[insan]

The reasons behind the desire of Enosis. The relevance between "megali idea" and Enosis. Was EOKA a facist organization? Why did Enosist GCs choose a fascist leader for themselves? Could a fascist leader be a freedom fighter? How GC "freedom fighters" embraced such a monarcho-fascist like Grivas as their leader? What was the stance of GC left about EOKA's armed Enosis struggle? Had EOKA targeted TC left too?


These are my questions I'd like find the answers in the first part of the documentary?

[magikthrill]

Assuming Enosis had been achieved what would have been the future of TCs?

Would they have been mass murdered (as people such as Viewpoint like to think), deported like the Turks in Crete, or allowed to stay like the Turks in Rhodes?

[Piratis]

Maybe we should also see how we got to 1955 and EOKA. Greek Cypriots which are the 82% of the population had asked for union with Greece from the 1920's.

The question to our TCs friends: If a democratic referendum was held between the 1920's and 1955 to decide the future of Cyprus, would they accept it if the result was union of Cyprus with Greece?

Were the Greek Cypriots given any other, non violent alternatives, for achieving what was their right? Or the conflict was inevitable?

Do the Turkish Cypriots believe that it was their right to stop enosis, or they fought against enosis because they believed that enosis would mean that they would suffer in some way (e.g. expelled from Cyprus)?

[Alexandros Lordos]

Assuming Enosis had been achieved what would have been the future of TCs?

Would they have been mass murdered (as people such as Viewpoint like to think), deported like the Turks in Crete, or allowed to stay like the Turks in Rhodes?

I think this particular point was being intensely debated by Greek Cypriots in the 50s and 60s. The most "moderate" were in favour of allowing the TCs to stay in Cyprus as a protected minority, the more "nationalistic" favored their deportation, while a gang of criminals was preferring to go the "direct way"

It would be interesting to try and work out how each particular GC leader of the time stood on this issue.

[Alexandros Lordos]

What always made me think about the EOKA struggle, is the differing interpretations that the two communities have given to it. The GCs do not see it as an anti-TC struggle, TCs are just not a part of the EOKA struggle equation ...

For most GCs, the EOKA struggle was simply a struggle for self-determination for Cypriots, inspired by other similar anti-colonial struggles, while Enosis was just one expression of what this self-determination could lead to ...

For most GCs, EOKA is about some brave young people who valiantly fought against an imperialistic colonial power.

TCs, however, TCs interpret the EOKA struggle in a totally negative fashion, as if the struggle was against them rather than against the british. How come TCs came to see EOKA in such a negative light?

I've heard it mentioned at some point that the British used TCs as to man the police during the EOKA years. Is this true? If it is, it is another example of divide-and-rule in the classic british fashion ...

How did the EOKA struggle affect the relationship of the two communities, overall?

If anybody could copy-paste here relevant articles or documents (or post the link, if we wish to stay loyal to the forum rules) it would be most helpful.

[Andrik]

The Turks residing on the island were always a step closer to the collonial power that inherited the island from their homeland rather than the Greeks residing on the island who represented a more traditional image of an "oppressed people".

As far as the Brits using Turks as policemen is concerned it is a matter of fact. For example the other day Xristofias managed to digg so deep that he found some Greeks who were killed by Turkish policemen working for the Brits in 1948 and celebrated their deaths.

[insan]

What always made me think about the EOKA struggle, is the differing interpretations that the two communities have given to it. The GCs do not see it as an anti-TC struggle, TCs are just not a part of the EOKA struggle equation ...

Alexandros, it is a well known fact that not only TC's interpretation differs about EOKA's armed struggle but the intrepretation of GC left differs as well. It is a well known fact that the aim of EOKA's armed struggle was Enosis. How can a TC could interprete it as a liberation struggle for self-determination right and give support to EOKA? It was obviously an armed struggle for Enosis. The leader of EOKA was a well known anti-leftist, monarcho-fascist. How could such a leader be a liberation fighter? Even the EOKA fighters who embraced such an anti-leftist, monarcho fascist weren't liberation fighters.

For most GCs, the EOKA struggle was simply a struggle for self-determination for Cypriots, inspired by other similar anti-colonial struggles, while Enosis was just one expression of what this self-determination could lead to ...

Self-determination right was their tool to create impressions in order to achieve their goal without causing the reactions of international community and passivize TCs and Turkey's reaction.

For most GCs, EOKA is about some brave young people who valiantly fought against an imperialistic colonial power.

True, they fought against British colonists but not for an independent Cyprus.

TCs, however, TCs interpret the EOKA struggle in a totally negative fashion, as if the struggle was against them rather than against the british. How come TCs came to see EOKA in such a negative light?

As I said EOKA's struggle was for ENOSIS and led by a well known anti-leftist, monarcho fascist Grivas. TCs had always object to ENOSIS. Enosis was not something in favour of TCs. It is a well known fact that Greeks and Turks have always had a hostile retrospection about each other. EOKA and GC leadership were well aware of that TCs would object to Enosis. However the strongest enemy was Brits in front of Enosis and that's why EOKA first targeted Brits. TCs were well aware of that they would be the second target of EOKA.

I've heard it mentioned at some point that the British used TCs as to man the police during the EOKA years. Is this true? If it is, it is another example of divide-and-rule in the classic british fashion ...

TCs voluntarily take side with Brits because it was the only way to stop the Enosists.

How did the EOKA struggle affect the relationship of the two communities, overall?

Enosis idea negatively affected the relationships of two communities from 1920s untill the present time. Enosis idea caused mistrust and seperation of two communities. EOKA's armed struggle deepened and clinched the existing divisive elements between two communities. TCs witnessed the bloodshed the EOKA caused. They couldn't trust the GC ruling elite anymore because they have witnessed, experienced the merciless, fascist fighting tactics of EOKA.


Actually there are no differneces between EOKA and EOKA-B. Both aimed to achieve Enosis. Both had the same political front and the same leader. Both used the same fascist, terrorist tactics. Both first targetted the strongest "enemy".

If anybody could copy-pste here relevant articles or documents (or post the link, if we wish to stay loyal to the forum rules) it would be most helpful.

http://www.imm.gr/Bulletin/Trimikliniotis.html
http://www-tech.mit.edu/V114/N48/cyprus.48c.html
http://www.meib.org/articles/0112_me1.htm
http://www.explore-government.com/gover ... eople.html
http://www.conflict-prevention.net/page ... urveyid=21

In the municipal elections of 1943, the first since the British crackdown of 1931, AKEL gained control of the important cities of Famagusta and Limassol. After its success at the polls, AKEL supported strikes, protested the absence of a popularly elected legislature, and continually stressed Cypriot grievances incurred under the rigid regime of the post-1931 period. Both communists and conservative groups advocated enosis, but for AKEL such advocacy was an expediency aimed at broadening its appeal.

http://workmall.com/wfb2001/cyprus/cypr ... alism.html


On 23 1944, Dr. Fazýl Küçük founded the Cyprus Turkish People's Party(1).

While the Cypriot Turks chose to struggle in a more organized way against ENOSIS, the Greek cypriots intensified ENOSIS activities toward the end of World War II.

The Communist AKEL Party which was founded in 1941, Cyprus Nationalist party founded in 1942 by Nicosia Mayor Dr. Dervis, rightist Cyprus Labor Confederation (SEK) founded in 1945 and supervised by Cyprus Nationalist Party, the Cyprus Labor Federation (PEO) which was founded previously, the church and other Greek cypriot organizations carried on a thorough ENOSIS campaign. Indeed, AKEL which entered the municipal elections with the "ENOSIS" slogan won 3 major municipalities.

Another annexation attempt of ENOSIS activists took place when British Minister of Colonies Sir Cosmos Parkinson visited the island in August 1944. All left and right-wing Greek cypriot establishments and especially PEO prepared memorandums to submit to Sir Parkinson. In these memorandums, they requested ENOSIS and fitted Greek flags on local buildings and squares.(2)

As a reaction, Turkish workers resigned from PEO and other Greek cypriot trade unions and sought organization in separate Turkish unions. Turkish workers led by Hasan Þaþmaz established the Güneþ (Sun) Turkish Labor Union on 22 August 1942 and united with the Turkish Labor Union established by Niyazi Daðlý on 27 December 1942 to found the Nicosia Turkish Workers Union on 15 October 1944.

The objectives of the union were to struggle against "ENOSIS", gather all establishments in Cyprus under the roof of a single institutions and "struggle efficiently against ENOSIS and work together in municipal elections".

CITMI, the National Party, Farmers' Union and Labor Unions Federation which came together with the summons of Cyprus Turkish Labor Unions founded the Cyprus Turkish Institutions Union on 23 December 1945. The objective of this institution was declared to "fight in unity against ENOSIS".(3)

http://www.kibris.gen.tr/english/beginp ... n11_1.html

[Main_Source]

Insan, what you have failed to mention is the activities of the TMT and how they even attacked Turkish Cypriot celebrities that were known to lean to the left. Infact, you haven't mentioned any of the activites of the TMT and how they added to the tension in the air.

What you dont seem to understand is that groups like EOKA are often born through foreign rule. Look at Jamaica's Marcus Garvey (the founder of Rastafarianism), he was Black nationalist that came out of the supressive British Rule and put planted the seed of independance into the minds of Jamaicans. The reason I am using Jamaica as an example is that its people have a similar history to the GC of Cyprus. Infact, Jamaica also had its freedom fighters who attacked the colonials over the years. What im trying to show you is that GC were sick of being ruled by foreign powers and yes, EOKA primarily wanted liberation from the British but also wanted enosis with Greece because that is what we had been promised by the British rulers since before WW2 and most of the 82% of Greek Cypriots wanted it. We should we be ruled by foreign powers anymore?

Its a fact that Turkey always wanted Cyprus, they tried to invade back in the 1950's (fact) and even Ataturk, before he died, said that Cyprus should be in the hands of Turkey. The GC knew all this and this was Enosis was the safest way to receive independance from Britain, before being an independant state was ever really an option.

Anyway, the TMT caused, on say a per capita scale of such, as much air of tension as you perceive EOKA to have done. Insan, you still havent talked about the TC who were police for the British Empire and killed young GC.

From www.cyprus-forum.com " But as Grivas went ahead with his campaign, accompanying EOKA acts of violence against the British and their Greek Cypriot collaborators with civil disobedience by sections of the community (especially schoolchildren), economic boycott of British goods and services, and acts of ruthless coercion against those Greek Cypriots--especially the communists in AKEL and the trade unions--who did not wish to cooperate, the British fell back more and more for support on the Turkish community. They used the Turkish Cypriots to build up the police and the special constabulary and to form a mobile reserve. This created hostility between the two communities; when a Turkish policeman was killed by EOKA the Greeks saw a policeman fall, the Turks saw a Turk. In January 1957, for instance, a Turkish Cypriot auxiliary was killed and three wounded by a bomb when guarding a power station; a Turkish Cypriot crowd smashed a number of Greek shops. Ten days later there was similar trouble in Famagusta. On 27 and 28 January 1958, there were two days of serious rioting by thousands of Turkish Cypriots in Nicosia leading to pitched battles with British forces at the end of which seven Turks were dead. This was a clear sign of the rise of a Turkish para-military organization, the TMT (Turk Mudafa Teskilat-- Turkish Defence Organization) and the loss of confidence by the Turkish Cypriots in the durability of Britain's stand against the Greeks.

The cell structure of EOKA was copied by Rauf Denktash, one of the TMT's founders, who went to Turkey to obtain the assistance of the Turkish Government and Army with training and weapons. Also, like EOKA, the TMT was strongly anti-communist and brought intense pressure to bear on Turkish Cypriot members of left-wing unions and clubs. Premises were burnt down, some left- wing Turkish personalities were killed, hundreds of Turkish Cypriot members of the communist-led PEO (Pan-Cyprian Federation of Labour) felt it necessary to leave and were in fact advised to do so for their own safety by their Greek Cypriot comrades. C Demands began to be heard for the establishment of a Turkish army base on Cyprus.

On 7 June 1958, following a bomb explosion outside the Turkish press office in Nicosia, there was an immediate invasion by Turkish rioters of the Greek sector, and Greek Cypriot residents were expelled from a mixed district. Communal clashes followed in the rural areas between neighbouring Greek and Turkish villagers armed with knives, sticks and stones, in the worst of which a group of Greeks just released from arrest by the British were murdered at Geunyeli. "

Its a well known fact that the bomb outside the Turkish Press Office was planted by the TMT.

Anyway, what im trying to show here Insan is that both communities acted in the same way and the TC point of view that Turkey only invaded to help the innocent TC's is not totally true. Turkey always wanted Cyprus and the TC were not totally innocnent. Therefore, no point looking back and trying to show pieces of history to back up the argument for TC separatism, because we have both done the same amount of good and bad.

[insan]

Anyway, what im trying to show here Insan is that both communities acted in the same way and the TC point of view that Turkey only invaded to help the innocent TC's is not totally true. Turkey always wanted Cyprus and the TC were not totally innocnent. Therefore, no point looking back and trying to show pieces of history to back up the argument for TC separatism, because we have both done the same amount of good and bad.

Main_Source, hi and welcome to the forum.

My aim is not calculating what amount good and bad did each sides. My aim is to examine the events(in a dialectic manner) which led us into conflict throughout the last 100 years.

To put in a nutshell, both sides struggled and fight for what they believe is right. Fascists used fascist methods, rightists used rightist methods and leftists used leftist methods throughout this struggle and fight.

All of these ideological groups had/have their groups of Cypriots that backed/back them. Nothing has changed. Both sides still insisting on and struggling for what they believe is right. The only difference is the Green line and balanced military presence on both sides of the Island that stops any bloodshed to be happened. We still discussing about the same issues that we have been discussing for 40 years.

As for the TMT, the only difference of TMT from EOKA is that TMT was formed to resist against Enosists. Can you say that EOKA was formed to resist against Taksimists? It is true that they retaliated with same methods. They retaliated to Enosis with Taksim.

TMT was composed of all adult TCs of different political beliefs. Yes, it is true there was a group of fascists in TMT. Even most of them had the high ranked positions in TMT. It is also true that nationalist right wingers were majority in TMT.

It is true that Turkey has interests in East Mediterennean region but never intended to capture whole Cyprus to annex it herself. A politically equal TC community and a friendly Greece/GC community is enough for Turkey to feel herself safe and happy in the region.

These are the facts. I'm not trying to hide anything. What I'm trying to find out is how we can reunite Cyprus on the basis of these facts.