Cyprus-Forum.com

[YFred]

Ombudswoman report reveals racist cover-up
By Anna Hassapi

OMBUDSWOMAN Iliana Nicoalou has slammed an attempt on the part of Ministry of Education officials to cover-up a racist attack against a 14-year-old Cypriot student of African origin.

In her report, Nicolaou notes that although the Minister of Education Andreas Demetriou reacted in a correct way to the incident, characterising it as racist, Ministry officials disobeyed instructions, presenting the attack as an incident of school violence and not of racist behaviour.

“There was a reluctance to recognise a problem that does exist, to simplify its analysis and evaluation, and an ease in ignoring, unfortunately, incidents of this nature,” the report noted.

Nicolaou expressed satisfaction with Demetriou’s handling of the matter as the Minister speedily visited the 14-year-old at hospital and then visited Akaki high-school, where the attack against the pupil took place.

The Ombudswoman, however, criticised the handling of other Ministry officials who tried to play down the racist character of the incident, branding the case as an example of ‘anti-social behaviour’ on the part of some pupils.

“This is not an isolated incident and we call authorities to abandon inactivity, indecisiveness, silence and confusion which result in the reproduction of such incidents,” the report stated.

“The relevant authorities are silent on the real parameters of the incident. We get an image of an education system that is obviously confused and refuses to accept the nature of this racist incident,” the report continued.

The Ombudswoman’s report refers to the attack against Margaritas Doukou, a Cypriot citizen from Sudan which took place on 18 December 2008 at a school sports day. On that day, teams from Akaki high-school, which Doukou attends, and Stavrou high-school played against each other. When the game ended and Akaki high-school won, one pupil from Stavrou high-school pushed a pupil from Akaki and when Doukou intervened to defend her friend all hell broke loose.

A group of pupils started hitting the 14-year-old while chanting racist slogans such as ‘Blacks get out of Cyprus’, ‘Go clean up my grandfather’ and ‘Take €10 and come with me’.

The 14-year-old managed to escape and locked herself in a classroom. While she was there, a female student stood outside the door and shouted ‘Daughter of the Black, I will not rest unless I kill you’. The 14-year-old was taken to hospital where it was confirmed that she had been hit on the head and stomach, sustained a concussion, headache and stomach ache.

In her report, Nicolaou also noted the reluctance of police officers to file a formal report on the case. Doukou’s father told police that he wanted to file an official report, but police officers reportedly tried to discourage him and repeatedly asked the 14-year-old if she preferred that the students who attacked her get a warning from police. Doukou insisted on filing the case, and police submitted the file following the intervention of the Ombudswoman’s office.

The teachers association of Stavrou high-school punished the pupils who were involved in the attack against the 14-year-old, but did so not on account of them being racist, but because they swore at the deputy headmistress of the school.

On January 13, 2009, the teachers expelled the female pupil who reportedly hit the 14-year-old, giving the following reasons to justify their decision: active involvement in the incident, swearing at the deputy headmistress on the day, as well as on the following days. Five more students were suspended for a few days for their involvement in the events.





Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2009

[paliometoxo]

what is that picture of in your avar? it looks like a erm.... snail?

[YFred]

what is that picture of in your avar? it looks like a erm.... snail?

I was very upset about you charging me double for MS so I made enquiries and bought 10 licences for 200 quid official.

The Image was Pink Floyd Meddle and just in case you are not sure what this one is its Led Zepp1 album cover.

[paliometoxo]

sweet!

i never charged double i charged you half less :O i said 5 not the normal 10 bucks for a copy...

10 licences for 200? i thought the os alone just one copy was more.. or it used to be i guess nwo with windows 7 coming it will be cheaper.. am going to upgrade to windows 7 ultimate to when its released hopefully this year or begining of next

[utu]

Racism exists everywhere, YFred. Sad to say, Cyprus is no exception. It exists in all of its ugliness here in Canada as well...

[paliometoxo]

i notice in canada a lot seem to speak french

[Viewpoint]

Address the issue this is what TCs faced back in the 1960s, the GCs are still racing their children as racists so can you imagine the outrage and explosive situation thaqt would occur if this incident was between GCs and TCs???

Obviously the system in the Gc south is riddled with racists bastards who would ratehr brush incidents like this under the carpets to avoid the addressing the real problems.

[paliometoxo]

why do you think it made the news? because it happens all the time??

your so quick to judge the south for things like this when it happens twice as much and worse in turkey and north cyprus..

[Viewpoint]

why do you think it made the news? because it happens all the time??

your so quick to judge the south for things like this when it happens twice as much and worse in turkey and north cyprus..

The subject refers to how the system works in the GC south or not as this case shows, referring to other countries not provide the excuse you are looking for as the danger we would face if we united will come the GCs and their racist mentality.

[paliometoxo]

indeed....