Cyprus-Forum.com

[RAFAELLA]

What about Petros Kakoullis? Another victim of the turkish brutality.
He accidentaly crossed the "borders" while he was collecting snails and was shot dead when he had already gave himself up.
What our turkish friends have to say about this murder?
Are turkish soldiers trained to kill undefended and unarmed civilians?

Regarding Kenan Akin? For the murder of Solomou he said: "Why are you making the killing of a dog sound so important?"
Below is his interview published in a tc weekly newspaper
Weekly AKTUEL (31.10.96 - 6.11.96) publishes the text of an exclusive interview with Kenan Akin, so-called Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Under the title, "I wish I was there during the incident. I could kill", the interview goes as follows:
Question: Were you there on the day of the incident?

Akin: In the morning I was there, at around 9:30 I left.

Question: Did you return after the incident?

Akin: No.

Question: Did you see your picture published in the Greek Cypriot press which was taken from television and enlarged?

Akin: Could have. I was not there when the incident took place. But I felt sorry for not being there. I wish I was there. I could have pulled the trigger at least once. I wish I was there, definitely I was going to shoot.

Question: Don't you think that this is an issue to be tackled by the security forces? Apart from this, it is reportedly said that in your election region you were saying that you have killed and you took the responsibility.

Akin: No... During the incident I was on a picnic near the beach with my wife and my child.

Question: Do you have a gun?

Akin: Yes, but I do not carry it.

Question: Following the claims against you, is there any investigation against you by your party, by the government or by the legal organs?

Akin: The esteemed President asked me at one of our meetings. I told him I was on a picnic by the beach with my wife and my child. There was no investigation within the party. Only our general chairman put a question at the party's general assembly. He should have been convinced of what I had said, so that he would not have considered it necessary to establish a commission to open an enquiry.

Question: Do you envisage making any attempt to clear your name of these claims against you by opening an inquiry?

Akin: These are Greek Cypriot lies. The other side are educating their children with Turkish animosity. You are never writing this. Why are you making the killing of a dog sound so important?"
http://www.hr-action.org/chr/Aktuel103196.html

....but the truth was revealed:
Turkish magazine says no doubt about Kenan Akin's involvement in Solomou's murder
Turkish weekly AKTUEL (3.10.96 - 1.11.96) publishes a very interesting article on the killings of Solomos Solomou and Petros Kakoullis.
In an introductory note it is written: "The tension in Cyprus was reflected in the Turkish press only as regards the `flag fight'. However, there are terrible claims regarding the killings that occurred during the incidents. There are eye witnesses of the killing of the Greek Cypriot protestor Solomos Solomou by the Minister of Agriculture of the TRNC Kenan Akin, and of the killing of Petros Kakoullis, who crossed the border while collecting snails and was shot dead when he had already gave himself up.

The Greek Cypriots are taking these issues, which are considered a disgrace in a democratic country, to international platforms, and are pushing the Turkish side into the corner. As the case is, the TRNC officials do not even investigate the claim".

And the main article says:

"Everything happened before the cameras. Photographers and cameramen from the world press have second by second photographed the incident. World televisions immediately after the incident repeatedly showed how the Greek Cypriot protestor Solomos Solomou slipped through the hands of the UN Peace Force soldiers, crossed into the TRNC side of the Green Line and under the bewilderment of people present there tried to climb on the flag post, and finally how he fell down from the flag post following the fire opened against him from the Turkish side.

The next day, the newspapers reported the incident publishing pictures taken from the video. In fact HURRIYET daily, on 15 August, published the picture under banner headlines showing the moment Solomos was hit. In the photograph, the man in civilian clothes standing on the balcony of the building just behind the protestor, who was wearing eye glasses and was firing a pistol, was marked in a circle. According to the caption under the picture, the man who was firing was a Turkish security officer.

In those days public opinion had shown interest not in the identity of the killer but in the one who was killed...

Following the incident the sides on the island started to direct against each other the well-known accusations. Solomos's killing was on the verge of being forgotten, as a small detail in the bloody history of Cyprus, when an interesting coincidence took place.

Such a resemblance...

A Turkish soldier, Allahverdi Kilic, while on sentry duty, was killed by unidentified people in the early morning of 8 September. Bayrak Radio Television reporting the developments on that day, included the condolence visits paid to the father of the killed soldier at the Famagusta hospital.

One of the persons who visited the hospital was the Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources of the TRNC, Kenan Akin. During the visit the minister was wearing a stripped short-sleeved dark T-shirt.

Following the airing of this scene on that day, a few hours later, the Greek Cypriot radio broke out the news with the following striking claim: "Minister Akin killed Solomos".

Two days later, the Greek Cypriot television screened the incident with comparative pictures. The next day all the Greek Cypriot newspapers were full of Kenan Akin's picture taken during the condolence visit and the picture taken at the moment Solomos was killed. The British newspaper the Guardian broke the news to the world.

Indeed, when the photograph was enlarged and clarified, the appearance of the person in the shadow was clearly seen. The photographs, when put side by side with the pictures shown on BRT on 8 September, are very clear and leave no room for doubt.

Former leftist, new Grey Wolf

Kenan Akin has been living on the island since 1975. For years he was working in a government company as a lathe-worker. During this time he was an active member of the leftist DEV-IS trade union. Later on, his name was mentioned among the founding members of the right-wing New Birth Party. Then he went into business. A short time after he entered the parliament, his name was involved in the first attack. The TRNC Attorney General, in order to secure Akin's trial regarding the beating up of two customs-policemen, had asked from the parliament the removal of Akin's immunity. The immunity was not removed. As the case was, this time he drew the attention by attacking the chairman of the New Cyprus Party Alpay Durduran.

Kenan Akin continued engaging in politics in the Democratic Party ranks headed by Serdar Denktash. He was appointed Minister and a few days later Solomou was killed.

It seems that no one in the TRNC government wing wants to believe that Kenan Akin was involved in the Solomos' killing. Moreover, politicians whom AKTUEL referred to to take their views, charged that even if the Minister was involved in the crime he was right. Their reason is the same: "Who ever it was they would do the same".

Legal authorities are undecided whether to open up an investigation or not. The TRNC Attorney General Office is conducting a general investigation regarding the day the incident took place. According to the Attorney General, Akin Sait, all the pictures, photographs are in the hands of the Attorney General's Office. For the time being there is absolutely no evidence supporting the claims that Akin was involved in the incident. "Our work is not completed yet", says the Attorney General.

However, the opposition is firm not to let the claims go. Especially the Republican Turkish Party is getting ready to bring the issue to the parliament. The RTP's General Secretary Ferdi Sabit Soyer said: `We have heard that following the incident Mr. Akin, speaking in his election regions, was arrogantly saying that he had killed Solomos. We have conveyed this claim to the President and to the prime minister'. The RTP has taken the words of these two officials that the case will be brought to light. Sabit added: `We will raise the issue according to the parliamentary traditions. Despite our warnings, Akin was made Minister. This is a mistake which will affect all of us'". (MY) EF/SK
http://www.hri.org/news/cyprus/tcpr/199 ... pr.html#05

Photos at this site:
http://www.hr-action.org/chr/solomon.html

[MicAtCyp]

Well It is unethical to shot a civilian. is It against
the war of law? This is other bussiness.

I noticed despite your short posts you always have good points to add up to the discussions. Aferin sana!

[detailer]

Well It is unethical to shot a civilian. is It against
the war of law? This is other bussiness.

I noticed despite your short posts you always have good points to add up to the discussions. Aferin sana!

In that event, that guy didnt behave like a civilian and he could not be taken as a civilian either

[metecyp]

In that event, that guy didnt behave like a civilian and he could not be taken as a civilian either

Is it so hard to admit that we (the TC side) were wrong in this incident? The guy was frustrated, he was probably a lunatic as well or on drugs. You have to be an idiot to climb up the pole to take down the Turkish flag...The appropriate action would be to take him down, send him to a court and let him serve his sentence. What's so hard to understand here? There's nothing to argue about..all this nonsense about him being a civilian or not is bullshit in my opinion.

[-mikkie2-]

The guy was frustrated, he was probably a lunatic as well or on drugs.

Frustrated? Yes. Lunatic or on drugs? I would very much doubt it.

[metecyp]

Frustrated? Yes. Lunatic or on drugs? I would very much doubt it.

I don't know what your definition of sanity is but no matter how frustrated I might be with the GC administration, I wouldn't try to climb up the pole to take down the Greek flag, for example.

[-mikkie2-]

Metecyp,

His actions are a measure of the frustrtaions and anguish many refugees feel about the situation. His frustrations came out in the heat of the moment and overode any sense of self preservation.

If you were in a similar position, I doubt you could categorically say how you would feel or react. The same goes for me or anyone else.

[Murtaza]

Well It is unethical to shot a civilian. is It against
the war of law? This is other bussiness.

I noticed despite your short posts you always have good points to add up to the discussions. Aferin sana!

In that event, that guy didnt behave like a civilian and he could not be taken as a civilian either

Yes You are right he didnt act as a civilian. And yes he can be shot acording to warlaws.


But Ethically we should us force with necessarily.
Should we kill him? I think not, he can be shooted by his arm or leg.
Or we just wait him, arrest him and put him jail.

I accept that man was provocating us, Flag is most important symbol of a country. And I most probably shoot him too.But It is still unethical.
And My Country(Turkey) has guilt. It is not related with TC.

But ironically It is not the against of war.

[garbitsch]

So it is ethical to shoot a Turkish soldier waiting in the border, but not a civilian who had crossed the border and climb to the flag pole to take down the Turkish flag.

[demetriou_74]

cross the border is bad, but shooting him when he posed no threat was plain brutality. and as for killing an old man collecting snails, after he surrenderedis just a disgrace