Hello Vuryek,
My father in-law was one of the last prisoners released from Adana Prison. He was captured by the Turkish Army at Mia Milia, and was lucky not to be executed since this was the fate of so many, particularly at Mia Milia as the Turkish Army sustained heavy casualties. He was transported to Turkey by ship, and then to Adana by Turkish Army Truck. As this truck was travelling through villages and towns, the local Turks were piercing the canvass with sharp implements. The prisoners then moved to the centre in order to avoid injury.
He was captive in Adana up until the end of October. During this time, he endured many beatings and interrogations. They were inadequately fed and on some days only survived on bread and olives. The Turks use to contaminate their food with dead mice and rat droppings. On a brighter note, some of the Turkish guards would shout the GCs some cigarettes, and also bring food from their homes for the GC POW's.
Most of the prisoners were released and transported back to Cyprus for POW exchanges. My father in-law was released in the last batch, and this was only due to the fact that his father had a very good TC friend who had travelled to Adana to seek my father in-law after the BBC had broadcast scenes from the Adana Prison across the world. This TC was responsible for saving my father in-law's life, along with some others. My father in-law was not going to be released, as he was captured whilst active with the CNG. Other prisoners remained behind. It was believed that they would be released at a later date. These prisoners were never seen again. They are now declared as missing to this day. I am not sure how many of the 800 prisoners from Adana are missing and how many were released. I shall ask my father in-law about this. It is my understanding that most were released, and those that remained were mainly CNG POW's.
Television footage taken by a BBC crew in Turkish jails in Adana in
September 1974 shows some persons who have later been identified by
their own relatives as missing. Turkey is refusing to reveal information
from prisons' records in order to ascertain the identity of these
people. Certain prisoners of war, released after the invasion, have
stated they were held in prison with people who never came back to
Cyprus.
http://maillists.uci.edu/mailman/public ... 02968.htmlMy father in-law can be seen in this BBC footage taken in September 1974 from within Adana. Many Cypriots would be aware of this footage where many prisoners are standing in rank and file within the prison walls. Many of these prisoners are still missing.
I will try and find this television footage. RIK have been showing this footage regularly, and my father in-law can actually be seen 4 rows from the front.
My father in-law made a statutory declaration about his incarceration to The Republic of Cyprus in November, 1974. I shall consider posting it, but I will delete any reference to my father in-law's name.
My father in law will be one of the upcoming cases to be heard in the ECHR in Strasbourg. It is assumed by our lawyer, Mr Achilleas Dimitriades, that the case will be heard after the judgement is handed down on the currently impending cases (please do not quote me on this because these cases are political and things can change quickly). The case is for compensation revolving around the loss of enjoyment of his property, and also for his Petrolina Service station that he owns in occupied Cyprus, which is now within a Turkish Army Barracks and is used to replenish Turkish Armour and APCs. The affidavit submitted to the ECHR, also mentions his incarceration within Adana Prison and also offers a detailed account of what he endured. It is hoped that this will also be addressed by the ECHR.
SIGHTING OF MISSING PERSONS IN MAINLAND TURKISH PRISONS
Summary of testimony given by Christakis loannou from Pano Dhikomo
On 15.8.1974 he was taken prisoner by the Turks at Palekythro. He was transferred together with other prisoners to Paviides garage and on 31.8.1974 to Adana prisons, Turkey. He was in cell No. 9. In the same cell was also Andreas Varnava from Potamia, whom he met there and whose name he heard being called out by the Turks. Andreas Varnava who is now missing, stayed in the witnesses cell for 3-4 days and he was thereafter transferred to another place. He has not been seen since then.
Summary of testimony given by Andreas Nicodemos from Trimithi, Kyrenia District
He was a reservist. On 29.9.1974 while he was in his village Trimithi he was taken prisoner by Turkish soldiers together with other co-villagers. On 30.7.1974 he was transferred to Turkey to Adana prisons together with many other prisoners. On 20 or 21.8.1974 while the Turks were taking them out in the yard he heard someone call out his name. The person who called him, as he immediately found out, was his co-villager Kyriakos Frixou, who is now missing. He shook hands with him and they spoke about where and how they were arrested. At that moment they were ordered by the Turks to enter their cells. Since then no one has seen the missing.
Summary of testimony given by Costas Themistocleous from Omorphita
He mentions that he was taken prisoner at Palekythro by Turkish troops during the 2nd round of the Turkish invasion. After staying at different detention centers he, together with other prisoners, ended up at Adana prisons in Turkey. On 17.10.1974 while the prisoners were preparing to be transported to Cyprus for their release, he saw Savvas Apostolides, now missing, from Neo Horio Kythrea, who was a good friend of his. He did not speak to him, for it was forbidden. Instead he greeted him raising his hands and the missing reciprocated.
http://www.kypros.org/CyprusPanel/cyprus/missing.html
This is not the only way my father in-law has been effected.
Below is a picture of 4 captured CNG troops in 74 (I am sure everyone in Cyprus is very familiar with this photo):
The identified individuals are as follows:
1. Korellis Antonakis tou Michael, age 30, from Kythrea
2. Nicolaou Paniccos tou Chrysostomou, age 26, from Achna
3. Skordis Christoforos tou Georghiou, age 25, from Dhali
4. Papayiannis loannis tou Charalambous, age 24, from Aglangia
5. Hadjikyriakos Philippos tou Stephani, age 19, from Famagusta
The person identified as captive 1 (Korelis Antonakis from Kythrea) is also my father in-law's first cousin.
All these individuals were executed on the command of the Turkish Officer giving 1 of the POW's a cigarette. It would appear that this cigarette would be his last. The final smoke as it were.
I have much more to say about this matter. Perhaps I will start another thread down the track, when I have more time.
My father in-law’s village is Kythrea, and his Petrollina service station was nearby, now within a major Turkish Army barracks as you go from Kythrea to Kyrenia. You cannot even get to it, because I tried and was stopped.
I kindly request that someone translates the article, because this is a subject that is very important to my family.
