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Turkish Cypriots blame attacks on football fanatics, not extremists
By Alexia Saoulli

REPORTS that Turkish Cypriots are too scared to cross over to the free areas following Saturday’s vandalism incidents in Nicosia appear to be grossly exaggerated, the Cyprus Mail discovered yesterday.

The attacks, believed to have been committed by football fans en route to an Apoel-Omonia match, targeted cars with Turkish Cypriot number plates.

The incident prompted fears that “acts by extremist and nationalist circles” could damage the trust between the two communities.

But speaking to a number of Turkish Cypriot drivers at Nicosia’s Ayios Dometios checkpoint this appeared unlikely. Moreover the incidents’ did little to deter crossings from the occupied areas, which had remained constant, according to local police.

“I’m not scared because I know it was fanatics,” said Ibrahim Yeniceri.

He said Greek Cypriot football fans targeted each other all the time because it was what they did and that it wasn’t racially motivated.

“We see it on the television all the time. They do the same to each other. No one should look for a needle in a haystack,” he said.

Yousouf Sonmez, 30, was also unafraid.

“Every day I go to work and the weekend I come across and walk about. I’m happy with my employer and he’s happy with me. This was just about football fanatics so I have no reason to be afraid to bring my car across because there is no problem,” he said.

Only one Turkish Cypriot said he was afraid. The man, who suffers from multiple sclerosis said he had thought twice about crossing over yesterday because he was concerned about being attacked.

“He had an appointment with the Institute of Genetics and Neurology and I told him he’d be fine and to come over with me,” his friend added.

According to police statistics on January 17, when the incidents occurred, 2,541 Turkish Cypriots crossed over from Ayios Dometios in 1,184 cars. By January 18 this number dropped to 737 people and 342 cars.

“On Sundays the numbers are always less. This is because Sundays are for families who cross over to spend the day, while every other day Turkish Cypriots come across to go to work,” an Operations Department officer said.

In order to determine if the incident had affected the numbers, a comparison would need to be made with this Sunday’s crossings, she said.

Nevertheless on Sunday January 11, some 994 people crossed over in 427 cars. Despite the 257 drop a week later, the officer said it was not a significant enough reduction to blame it on Saturday’s incidents.

On Monday, January 19, the numbers were back up to 2,256 Turkish Cypriots who used the Ayios Doemtios checkpoint and 1,215 cars.

“It was the start of the week and the workers were going back to work, so it’s not indicative of whether the incident will affect the crossings,” she said.

Despite the Greek Cypriot side’s optimism, a Turkish Cypriot police officer at the same checkpoint was less positive.

He admitted that he did not any official numbers but from what he could see, less people were choosing to visit the south of the island.

“In the morning the crossings are the same. This is the workers going to work and they have to go over. In the evenings the families cross to have something to eat, to shop or to visit. These numbers seem to be less because people are scared to cross over,” he said.

But a man rushing to get to work, looked surprised when asked whether he was frightened.

“What of? Of Greeks? No, I’m never frightened of Greeks,” he said.

Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2009

http://www.cyprus-mail.com/news/main.ph ... 8&cat_id=1

[zan]

Not trying say that it was anything like 9/11 but people went to work and play even after that......The feelings behind what happened though were not indicative of the actions......

[DT.]

Not trying say that it was anything like 9/11 but people went to work and play even after that......The feelings behind what happened though were not indicative of the actions......

Don't listen to them Zan...what do they know, these TC's only live and work in Cyprus. You need to let them know from North London what the situation is really like

[zan]

Not trying say that it was anything like 9/11 but people went to work and play even after that......The feelings behind what happened though were not indicative of the actions......

Don't listen to them Zan...what do they know, these TC's only live and work in Cyprus. You need to let them know from North London what the situation is really like

Keep that little excuse up dear DT.......Does not change a thing.....You can find it reassuring though...As long as it brings down your blood pressure then thats all hat matters..To you...Thats all you think about anyway

Halil has posted from the TRNC and so have other people reported on it so your little (out of date) games are just amusing you and maybe GR...We are not amused!!!!

[DT.]

Not trying say that it was anything like 9/11 but people went to work and play even after that......The feelings behind what happened though were not indicative of the actions......

Don't listen to them Zan...what do they know, these TC's only live and work in Cyprus. You need to let them know from North London what the situation is really like

Keep that little excuse up dear DT.......Does not change a thing.....You can find it reassuring though...As long as it brings down your blood pressure then thats all hat matters..To you...Thats all you think about anyway

Halil has posted from the TRNC and so have other people reported on it so your little (out of date) games are just amusing you and maybe GR...We are not amused!!!!

I'm serious...these natives have no idea whats good for them. You keep manning the Hackney stations until these uneducated fools start towing the line. They'll learn someday...

[zan]

Not trying say that it was anything like 9/11 but people went to work and play even after that......The feelings behind what happened though were not indicative of the actions......

Don't listen to them Zan...what do they know, these TC's only live and work in Cyprus. You need to let them know from North London what the situation is really like

Keep that little excuse up dear DT.......Does not change a thing.....You can find it reassuring though...As long as it brings down your blood pressure then thats all hat matters..To you...Thats all you think about anyway

Halil has posted from the TRNC and so have other people reported on it so your little (out of date) games are just amusing you and maybe GR...We are not amused!!!!

I'm serious...these natives have no idea whats good for them. You keep manning the Hackney stations until these uneducated fools start towing the line. They'll learn someday...

Isolation is only in trade and recognition DT....The phone lines and the Internet and personal visits give me and mine what we want....

Now I did say hat you should try to scare me...Try a Steven King style...that might work!!!

[DT.]

Not trying say that it was anything like 9/11 but people went to work and play even after that......The feelings behind what happened though were not indicative of the actions......

Don't listen to them Zan...what do they know, these TC's only live and work in Cyprus. You need to let them know from North London what the situation is really like

Keep that little excuse up dear DT.......Does not change a thing.....You can find it reassuring though...As long as it brings down your blood pressure then thats all hat matters..To you...Thats all you think about anyway

Halil has posted from the TRNC and so have other people reported on it so your little (out of date) games are just amusing you and maybe GR...We are not amused!!!!

I'm serious...these natives have no idea whats good for them. You keep manning the Hackney stations until these uneducated fools start towing the line. They'll learn someday...

Isolation is only in trade and recognition DT....The phone lines and the Internet and personal visits give me and mine what we want....

Now I did say hat you should try to scare me...Try a Steven King style...that might work!!!

WHy are you getting so upset by this. I'm only agreeing with you that you know better than most of the TC's living in Cyprus do.

[zan]

Not trying say that it was anything like 9/11 but people went to work and play even after that......The feelings behind what happened though were not indicative of the actions......

Don't listen to them Zan...what do they know, these TC's only live and work in Cyprus. You need to let them know from North London what the situation is really like

Keep that little excuse up dear DT.......Does not change a thing.....You can find it reassuring though...As long as it brings down your blood pressure then thats all hat matters..To you...Thats all you think about anyway

Halil has posted from the TRNC and so have other people reported on it so your little (out of date) games are just amusing you and maybe GR...We are not amused!!!!

I'm serious...these natives have no idea whats good for them. You keep manning the Hackney stations until these uneducated fools start towing the line. They'll learn someday...

Isolation is only in trade and recognition DT....The phone lines and the Internet and personal visits give me and mine what we want....

Now I did say hat you should try to scare me...Try a Steven King style...that might work!!!

WHy are you getting so upset by this. I'm only agreeing with you that you know better than most of the TC's living in Cyprus do.

The ones you mix with I do....The kiss arse mates who will not tell you what hey really want.....Have you convince them that their real enemy is Turkey whilst you twist the knife inserted in 1963, in the ribs of my people.........That is the danger when you mix with yes men.....You only foll yourself...Thy know what is needed but you hear what you want to hear....The majority that are talking seems to have you cocking a deafen.....

[Oracle]

It's heart-warming to be reassured that football hooligans, the whole world over, will indiscriminately attack anyone; despite gender, race, creed or colour.

.... less of a "Cyprus Problem" then, and more a Global Problem of disaffected youth.

[zan]

It's heart-warming to be reassured that football hooligans, the whole world over, will indiscriminately attack anyone; despite gender, race, creed or colour.

.... less of a "Cyprus Problem" then, and more a Global Problem of disaffected youth.

Each with a specific enemy to goad them on......