Cyprus-Forum.com

[perdike]

Should have written "verifiable facts". Sorry. Vague histories, broadly based on past crimes inflame rather than help. Lets see whether the recommendations are put into practice (or not ,more likely).

[Tim Drayton]

When did the properties get confiscated Tim?

You can find a list of the human rights violations that have allegedly been commited against the Greek minority living on these two islands here:

http://www.ellopos.com/blog/?p=98

Tim,
I wish the blog gave a few sources for the events related. Whilst I have no doubt that the broad picture is true, it is a very slanted blog, and when searching for solutions to these problems, I want true facts used.

I take the point and that is why I added the word "allegedly" when recommending this page. Unless you are actually an eye witness to an event, you have no choice but to rely on other people's accounts of it, and you can have no way of knowing how biased these accounts are.

Professor Niyazi Kızılyürek in his balanced book entitled Milliyetçilik Kıskacında Kıbrıs (Cyprus in the Claws of Nationalism) discusses both the human rights violations suffered by the Greeks of these two islands, and the notorious work brigades in which it appears thousands of Greeks and Armenians died of cold and hunger. If a respected academic like Kızılyürek, who as a Turkish Cypriot is obviously not defending some entrenched Hellenic position, speaks of these things then I am more inclined to take them seriously.

The outrageous events in Istanbul on 6/7 September 1955 are well documented. The fate suffered by the Greeks living on these two Aegean islands seems to have been brushed under the carpet by comparison.

[perdike]

Thank you, Tim. Its not that I in any way disbelieve that atrocities occured in these Islands, (and not just allegedly), but the provable incidents are enough. Vague stories, however much arising from real happenings arouse fear and retribution in a chain reaction. The demographic make-up of these Island proves that injustice and horrors have been committed. I look forward to your postings, and I would like to have your knowledge and command of Greek and Turkish.

[Tim Drayton]

I have come across the following interesting academic article with copious references about another under-reported atrocity: the ethnic cleansing of parts of the Aegean Region that took place under the Committee of Union and Progress in the final years of the Ottoman Empire.

http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/sectio ... =713240928

These events are closely related to the fate suffered by the inhabitants of Imroz and Tenedos.

Since the modern Turkish state is supposed to represent a total break with the Ottoman past, I have a lot of trouble comprehending why modern Turkey has so much difficulty in condemning the atrocities committed in the final years of Committe of Union and Progress rule. By this time, the actions of the Committe of Union and Progress leadership totally contradicted the principles on which this organisation had been founded.

[repulsewarrior]

interesting thread, thanks Tim