Cyprus-Forum.com

[zan]

Missing Persons

No human tragedy has been the subject of such blatant political exploitation as the case of missing persons in Cyprus. For more than twenty years Greek Cypriot governments have deceived their people into thinking that their loved ones might still be alive, but in October 1995 they had to admit that not only were many of them known to be dead, but that the whereabouts of their remains were also known, and had been withheld from their families. Some were not even missing. Andreas Mayas (Missing Person no. 572), was receiving a state pension.

On 3rd March 1996 the Greek Cypriot Cyprus Mail wrote: "(Greek) Cypriot governments have found it convenient to conceal the scale of atrocities during the 15th July coup in an attempt to downplay its contribution to the tragedy of the summer of 1974 and instead blame the Turkish invasion for all casualties. There can be no justification for any government that failed to investigate this sensitive humanitarian issue. The shocking admission by the Clerides government that there are people buried in Nicosia cemetery who are still included in the list of the "missing" is the last episode of a human drama which has been turned into a propaganda tool."

On 19th October 1996 Mr. Georgios Lanitis wrote: "I was serving with the Foreign Information Service of the Republic of Cyprus in London...I deeply apologise to all those I told that there are 1,619 missing persons. I misled them. I was made a liar, deliberately, by the Government of Cyprus....today it seems that the credibility of Cyprus is nil."

On 17th April 1991 Ambassador Nelson Ledsky testified before the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee that "Most of the missing persons disappeared in the first days of July 1974, before the Turkish intervention on the 20th. Many killed on the Greek side were killed by Greek Cypriots in fighting between supporters of Makarios and Sampson."

On 19th July 1974, before the Turkish army landed, Archbishop Makarios told the UN Security Council "I do not yet know the details of the Cyprus crisis caused by the Greek military regime. I am afraid that the number of losses is great...I considered the danger from Turkey lesser than the danger from Greek army officers."

The Greek newspaper TA NEA published an interview on 28th February 1976 with Father Papatsestos, the Greek Orthodox priest in charge of the Nicosia cemetery. He recounted the events of 17th July 1974 when Greek officers required him to bury truckloads of Greek Cypriots in mass graves, together with one young Greek Cypriot whom they buried alive, and ten dead Turkish Cypriots. This one priest counted at least 127 bodies brought to him, and there must have been many similar incidents throughout the island.

On 22nd July 1974 The Times reported that "a production Director from Dublin said he had seen bodies being buried in a mass grave near Paphos after last Monday's coup. People were told by Makarios to lay down their guns and were shot out of hand by the National Guard, he said."

On 6th November 1974 TA NEA reported the erasure of dates from the graves of Greek Cypriots killed in the five days 15th - 20th July, in order to blame their deaths on the subsequent Turkish military action.

On 5th March 1996, US Ambassador Ledsky confirmed that there is no evidence that any of the missing persons is still alive.

[DT.]

another reiable source for Tim to view.

http://www.ataturk.com/content/view/30/65/

ataturk.com Zan?

[zan]

another reiable source for Tim to view.

http://www.ataturk.com/content/view/30/65/

ataturk.com Zan?

Atatturk did not make the quotes DT.........Nice try dear leader.....Let the boys have a go now ey!!!!

[Tim Drayton]

another reiable source for Tim to view.

http://www.ataturk.com/content/view/30/65/

ataturk.com Zan?

You have saved me the trouble, thanks.

[zan]

another reiable source for Tim to view.

http://www.ataturk.com/content/view/30/65/

ataturk.com Zan?

You have saved me the trouble, thanks.

Two fools patting themselves on the back for scoring an own goal...

Look at the content dear Tim and forget trying to be clever.......

[Get Real!]

another reiable source for Tim to view.

http://www.ataturk.com/content/view/30/65/

ataturk.com Zan?

You have saved me the trouble, thanks.

Two fools patting themselves on the back for scoring an own goal...

Look at the content dear Tim and forget trying to be clever.......

We did and it's crap... now what you gonna do?

[zan]

Missing Persons

No human tragedy has been the subject of such blatant political exploitation as the case of missing persons in Cyprus. For more than twenty years Greek Cypriot governments have deceived their people into thinking that their loved ones might still be alive, but in October 1995 they had to admit that not only were many of them known to be dead, but that the whereabouts of their remains were also known, and had been withheld from their families. Some were not even missing. Andreas Mayas (Missing Person no. 572), was receiving a state pension.

On 3rd March 1996 the Greek Cypriot Cyprus Mail wrote: "(Greek) Cypriot governments have found it convenient to conceal the scale of atrocities during the 15th July coup in an attempt to downplay its contribution to the tragedy of the summer of 1974 and instead blame the Turkish invasion for all casualties. There can be no justification for any government that failed to investigate this sensitive humanitarian issue. The shocking admission by the Clerides government that there are people buried in Nicosia cemetery who are still included in the list of the "missing" is the last episode of a human drama which has been turned into a propaganda tool."

On 19th October 1996 Mr. Georgios Lanitis wrote: "I was serving with the Foreign Information Service of the Republic of Cyprus in London...I deeply apologise to all those I told that there are 1,619 missing persons. I misled them. I was made a liar, deliberately, by the Government of Cyprus....today it seems that the credibility of Cyprus is nil."

On 17th April 1991 Ambassador Nelson Ledsky testified before the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee that "Most of the missing persons disappeared in the first days of July 1974, before the Turkish intervention on the 20th. Many killed on the Greek side were killed by Greek Cypriots in fighting between supporters of Makarios and Sampson."

On 19th July 1974, before the Turkish army landed, Archbishop Makarios told the UN Security Council "I do not yet know the details of the Cyprus crisis caused by the Greek military regime. I am afraid that the number of losses is great...I considered the danger from Turkey lesser than the danger from Greek army officers."

The Greek newspaper TA NEA published an interview on 28th February 1976 with Father Papatsestos, the Greek Orthodox priest in charge of the Nicosia cemetery. He recounted the events of 17th July 1974 when Greek officers required him to bury truckloads of Greek Cypriots in mass graves, together with one young Greek Cypriot whom they buried alive, and ten dead Turkish Cypriots. This one priest counted at least 127 bodies brought to him, and there must have been many similar incidents throughout the island.

On 22nd July 1974 The Times reported that "a production Director from Dublin said he had seen bodies being buried in a mass grave near Paphos after last Monday's coup. People were told by Makarios to lay down their guns and were shot out of hand by the National Guard, he said."

On 6th November 1974 TA NEA reported the erasure of dates from the graves of Greek Cypriots killed in the five days 15th - 20th July, in order to blame their deaths on the subsequent Turkish military action.

On 5th March 1996, US Ambassador Ledsky confirmed that there is no evidence that any of the missing persons is still alive.

Show you again.....and again....and again.........

[Nikitas]

Are you contending that the family in Palekythro massacred by Turkish Cypriot teenagers in July 1974 were killed by GCs. They were listed as missing until lasty year.

The people killed during the coup are known and their bodies claimed. It is people killed after July 20 who are missing and unaccounted for. Many of them were seen alive and captured by Turkish troops. This much was admitted by Denktash before he retired and he even went as far as blaming TC irregulars for the murders.

What are you trying to prove Zan?

[zan]

Are you contending that the family in Palekythro massacred by Turkish Cypriot teenagers in July 1974 were killed by GCs. They were listed as missing until lasty year.

The people killed during the coup are known and their bodies claimed. It is people killed after July 20 who are missing and unaccounted for. Many of them were seen alive and captured by Turkish troops. This much was admitted by Denktash before he retired and he even went as far as blaming TC irregulars for the murders.

What are you trying to prove Zan?

The Greek newspaper TA NEA published an interview on 28th February 1976 with Father Papatsestos, the Greek Orthodox priest in charge of the Nicosia cemetery. He recounted the events of 17th July 1974 when Greek officers required him to bury truckloads of Greek Cypriots in mass graves, together with one young Greek Cypriot whom they buried alive, and ten dead Turkish Cypriots. This one priest counted at least 127 bodies brought to him, and there must have been many similar incidents throughout the island.

No body said all Nikitas....Nobody!!!!!It certainly wasn't the mear 100 that Bafidis and GR keep telling us that it is..Thats for sure.....

What am I trying to prove......That you lot are either brain washed with propaganda or are part of the laundry team.....You know what you are!!!!!

[Tim Drayton]

another reiable source for Tim to view.

http://www.ataturk.com/content/view/30/65/

ataturk.com Zan?

You have saved me the trouble, thanks.

Two fools patting themselves on the back for scoring an own goal...

Look at the content dear Tim and forget trying to be clever.......

I have looked at the content, dear, dear Zan, and the first question I ask myself, yet again, is when does that article date from? Anybody with the most superficial knowledge of affairs in Cyprus knows that over the past few years there have been major developments on the question of the missing. None of this is reflected in the article you have copied and pasted, which appears to date from the 1990s. A glance at the following report (from the BBC - quite a reliable, impartial source, I hope you will agree) will help to bring you up to date:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6166560.stm

I agree that the issue of the missing people is a very important one. Cyprus probably needs to go through a process similar to the Truth and Reconciliation process seen in South Africa. The truth needs to be discovered and come to terms with, not so that some sad individual in Harringay with a chip on his shoulder can devote his life to pasting articles on web sites chronicling the wrongs committed by the other community against his, but so that the past may be buried and people may move on.

I am sorry to say it, but as a foreigner who has been living in Cyprus for only four years and has made an attempt to follow current affairs here, it is clear to me when you post 15 or 20 year old articles as though they were current news that you have not the slightest clue as to what is happening on the island nowadays.