Cyprus-Forum.com

[insan]

Time for the truth

HISTORICAL truth matters and for this reason these conspiracy theories need to be tackled because they obscure our understanding of the past. This is not to say that the concept of historical truth is unproblematic or that truth no matter how one may define it is easy to establish. Yet certain interpretations should be dismissed as false or else we open the doors to a pernicious relativism where anything goes. That is not the aim of history and for this reason the historian has a duty to separate the metaphorical dross from the gold.

The second point, which is especially pertinent to the Cypriot context, is that conspiracy theories have a disproportional influence on non-academic historical knowledge. The belief that at some point a conspiracy changed the course of history is still widespread in Greek Cypriot society.

Because of the reluctance of the historians to challenge this attitude the popular understanding of Cypriot history has been dominated by conspiracies and a simplistic binary worldview where the non-Greek Cypriots are often perceived as potential plotters or enemies of the state. Whereas in other countries conspiracy theories are on the fringe of historiography, in Cyprus they are virtually embedded in the public discourse and their proponents even challenge scholarly historical interpretations.

Interpretations, which call for self-criticism and a cool appraisal of the EOKA struggle, are dismissed by EOKA supporters as yet another conspiracy that aims to undermine the national identity of the Greek Cypriots.

Behind such theories lies a reluctance to accept the findings of scientific historical inquiry and a deep-seated anti-intellectualism that prefers to view history in emotional terms.

In reality the decolonization of Cyprus was the result of a Greek Cypriot strategy going awry in the face of superior conflicting forces. Crucially its end was unintentional, a compromise born out of necessity between all interested parties as everybody settled for less than they had hoped.

Editor's Note: This article is based on a paper delivered by Demetris Assos to the PRIO Cyprus Center's 3rd Annual Conference held in Nicosia on 28-29 November 2008 under the title of One Island Many Histories: Rethinking the Politics of the Past in Cyprus. It has been edited and published here with the author's permission. To read the author's original article in full, unedited, including footnotes and bibliography, visit the author's blog site:

http://unfashionablerantings.blogspot.c ... 20theories

where there are several other articles about the Cyprus conundrum among other things. The blog is bilingual - English and Greek.

© Demetris Assos 2008.

----------------------------00000000000000000-------------------------

There r at least some several GCs who know the truths and r able to admit... Chris is the one among those who knows the truths but cannot admit...

[paliometoxo]

exactly turkey should stop denying its crimes and stop trying to make excuses to excuse the crimes they continue to do today and ignroe laws when it suits them.. how does a illigal forced half of the island try become a state when they so blatantly ignore rules such as gambling and only stop tcs from gambling or ignore all the un resolutions then demand two states from a war thry have started and trouble they have started ever since they landed in cyprus forcing christians to turn muslim

[Piratis]

In reality the decolonization of Cyprus was the result of a Greek Cypriot strategy going awry in the face of superior conflicting forces. Crucially its end was unintentional, a compromise born out of necessity between all interested parties as everybody settled for less than they had hoped.

And this exactly the problem. The Cypriot people should have been given their freedom and self-determination so we could peacefully and democratically decide the destiny of our own island. No revolution, no liberation struggle and no EOKA should be necessary. Just a referendum to ask the Cypriot people what they want among legitimate choices.

http://www.un.org/Depts/dpi/decolonizat ... ration.htm

The only thing that should determine the destiny of Cyprus should be the desires of the Cypriot people, and not of any foreign "superior conflicting forces".

What compromise did those "superior forces" made? They should have absolutely no role in Cyprus and everything they got from us on our expense is an unfair gain for them, and not a "compromise".

So there are really no "conspiracy theories" since everything is clearly recorded and obvious.

The truth is:

The Cypriot people were asking for their freedom for centuries, first from the Ottoman Turks and later from British Colonialists. After the second world war when every other territory was gaining its freedom and self-determination, the Cypriot people expected that they would also be granted their freedom and self-determination.

However Cyprus is in a strategic position, and it became even more strategic for the British when they lost the control of Middle East and the Suez. For this reason they denied to the Cypriot people their right to freely, democratically and peacefully decide the destiny of their own island.

In 1955 the Cypriot people revolted against the Colonialists with the aim to gain their freedom. The British unwilling to give up their strategic interests in the region, they collaborated with Turkey and used the Turkish minority by turning it against the majority.

The inter-communal conflict, the unfair 1960 constitution that was forced on the Cypriot people and the invasion of 1974 was all part on a pre-agreed plan between UK and Turkey, that would allow them to maintain troops and control over large areas of our island.

What came first was the partition plan and the collaboration between Turkey and UK (using the TC minority as their pawns). Until then there was no conflict between GCs and TCs.

Partition was not the result of the conflict. On the contrary, the conflict and the war were the result of the partition plan. Both the inter-communal conflict and the 1974 were in fact started by the TC/Turks and were created as the means to achieve partition.







In the first video you can see Lennox Boyed visiting Turkey and gifting to them half of Cyprus, while in the 3rd video you can see the result of the agreement between UK and Turkey with the TCs attacking the GCs and starting the inter-communal conflict.

As it appears now they even had partition maps prepared from back then:

http://www.cyprus-forum.com/viewtopic.php?t=25713

All that was need was for TCs to attack the GCs in order to start the conflict, so later Turkey would invade and annihilate 5 out of every 6 Cypriots from the north part of Cyprus in order to "save" the "poor", "innocent" TCs.

This way Turkey would get control of half of Cyprus.

The other partner in this crime (Britain) would get to keep two huge "sovereign" bases on our island. Britain did not maintain such bases in any other of their former colonies.

[insan]

It seems that just the fitting part of the article of Demetris Assos suits Piratis' propaganda needs... Piratis; more than historical facts and evidences, u stubbornly keep repeating the same official GC propaganda that makes no sense... The below quoted part of the article perfectly describes ur mentality, Piratis.

In the current debate on the revision of school history text books the proponents of no change, which incidentally are supporters of EOKA, implicitly accept that some conspiracy took place. By opposing any change they want to preserve a distorted view of history where conspiracies take precedence over rational and empirical interpretations of history. Behind such theories lies a reluctance to accept the findings of scientific historical inquiry and a deep seated anti-intellectualism which prefers to view history in emotional terms.

http://unfashionablerantings.blogspot.c ... 20theories

[Piratis]

If what I said is "propaganda" then why don't you try to refute what I said with evidence?

Wasn't your partition plan created before the inter-communal conflict, and didn't you attack us in the 1950s starting the inter-communal conflict as the first step of achieving your partition plan as it has been agreed with the British Colonialists?

[Oracle]

Time for the truth

Tick tock Turkey!

One by one the Court decisions are unravelling your lies ....

[insan]

Time for the truth

Tick tock Turkey!

One by one the Court decisions are unravelling your lies ....

No one denies the property rights of any Cypriot who became refugees as a consequence of decades lasted interest conflict between TCs/GCs - Turks/Greeks and besides allies. However no one believes the property issue will be able to be solved through such court cases. It's unrealistic... Such court cases r nothing more than a diplomatic show... Consolotion... till the right time comes to solve the problem based on realities...

[insan]

If what I said is "propaganda" then why don't you try to refute what I said with evidence?

Wasn't your partition plan created before the inter-communal conflict, and didn't you attack us in the 1950s starting the inter-communal conflict as the first step of achieving your partition plan as it has been agreed with the British Colonialists?

GC/Greek insistence on Enosis and majority rule, furthermore; EOKA's armed struggle pushed TCs to ask partition. I don't blame GCs/Greeks for asking Enosis and struggling for it either through written media, church or armed struggle. U should understand that TCs were against both Enosis and GC rule in Cyprus. As almost all other neighbouring countries and some super powers have interests on Cyprus; TCs together with Turkey also have their own interests as a nation. As Greece gave u a helping hand and supported ur national cause for ur common national interests; Turkey too did the same for TCs...

The main reason behind all the sad events took place between TCs and GCs is the interest conflicts between 2 communities and their "motherlands". Had Turks and Greeks been 2 friendly(truely) nations; most probably there wouldn't have been Cyprus problem or solved peacefully very long ago.

I know.. it's very hard for most of the Greeks and GCs to overcome Turco-Phobia... However u need to put aside the fairy tales and face with the truths and realities...

Democracy and justice stroies r one thing realities and how this world goes around is another...

http://unfashionablerantings.blogspot.c ... 20theories

[Nikitas]

I got my suspiciousness towards Turks after the unprovoked attacks on our neighborhood (near what is today the Lokmaci gate) in 1958. It is a shocking experience to realise people you never met, who are unknown to you, are attacking your house for no reason you can fathom.

I therefore empathize with the TCs who faced the same in 1963.

But please do not blame everything on Enosis and all that stuff. The Turkish plans had been in place beforehand, the same methodology was used in the Istanbul pogrom and Enosis was not an issue there. And if you read Assos article carefully, the part re the Harding proposals, you will see how the British decided to play the "Turkish card".

Enosis would be possible if Greece was for it, and it clearly was not, and that also is shown in the article. So the Enosis excuse is just that, an excuse for everything that followed since.

[insan]

I got my suspiciousness towards Turks after the unprovoked attacks on our neighborhood (near what is today the Lokmaci gate) in 1958. It is a shocking experience to realise people you never met, who are unknown to you, are attacking your house for no reason you can fathom.

I therefore empathize with the TCs who faced the same in 1963.

But please do not blame everything on Enosis and all that stuff. The Turkish plans had been in place beforehand, the same methodology was used in the Istanbul pogrom and Enosis was not an issue there. And if you read Assos article carefully, the part re the Harding proposals, you will see how the British decided to play the "Turkish card".

Enosis would be possible if Greece was for it, and it clearly was not, and that also is shown in the article. So the Enosis excuse is just that, an excuse for everything that followed since.

Nikitas, as it is clearly seen in my above post, I didn't blame anything on EOKA. I just tried to explain the events in correlation with each other.

U said Greece was not for Enosis... r u sure?

In April 1951, Greece suggested Unification with Cyprus and offered in exchange to hand over extensive areas in Cyprus and Greece for British military bases. Allegedly, the British and American clandestine services were for the trade, but the British government was against it.

http://www.psywarrior.com/cyprus.html

Greece was for Enosis very long ago... Since it's independence. It was Greece that sent nationalist teachers to spread the idea of Enosis among GCs. I don't blame Greeks that they struggled for what they believed or for their national interests.

Colonel George Grivas arrived in Cyprus in October 1952. He wandered through the most remote and mountainous regions of the Mount Troodos and Mount Pentadaktylos, seeking for the best and most defensible places that might provide cover for troops and weapons. During his stay in Cyprus, he reached an important conclusion: His planned guerilla offensive would be carried out solely by Cypriots, despite the expressed will of many mainland Greeks, particularly soldiers, to participate. This would help legitimize the resistance in the eyes of the international community, while Greece would find it much easier to face British accusations and political pressure.

Who sent Grivas to Cyprus? Very well planned, ain't it? Turkey couldn't do a similar plan because TCs were less in numbers when compared with GCs.

In October 1952, Archbishop Makarios traveled to the U.S. He organized a three-month information campaign on the Cyprus question. He met with politicians and representatives of Greek community organizations, he talked to radio and TV stations and, finally, he formed a liaison committee called “Justice in Cyprus”, with the support of wealthy Greeks and Americans.

GOG supposedly wasn't behind Grivas and his guerilla warfare plans but wealthy Greeks were officially behind it... Very clever, ain't it?

At the end of 1954, George Grivas established a permanent base in Nicosia, under the outmost secrecy, and started training Cypriots in the use of arms and grenades, as well as in the sabotage tactics. A valuable source of support during these difficult initial stages of the armed struggle preparations was the priest Stavros Papagathagelou, leader of the Christian Orthodox Youth Association. His members were involved in the delivery, transportation and storage of military equipment, while the most committed of those were chosen to man armed groups. The priest involved himself with the publication of a secret newspaper and the recruitment of new members to the organization.

Where did Grivas obtain all those arms and weapons? Greece ofc... As it is clearly seen, Greece was behind EOKA struggle and Enosis both officially and unofficially according to the plans.

Grivas should be too stupid to openly declare guerilla warfare against TCs because such a case would have been a direct invitation for Turkish military intervention.

On the other hand TCs and Turks should be too stupid not to understand why Grivas officially targeted Brits but not TCs even though it was a very well known fact that TCs were fiercly against Enosis and would take side with Brits in order to prevent it.


-------------------0000000000000000000000-----------------------------

Nikitas, I agree with u that same methodology was used in the Istanbul pogom. The purpose of this event was to get attention of international community towards Cyprus issue and accelerate the solution process before more blood being shed. I don't approve such methodologies that cause violence and deaths of innocent people but as u too well know, such methodologies oftenly used by especially right wingers during cold war era.

------------------0000000000000000000000--------------------------------

Brits decided to play "Turkish card" because almost all of their proposals rejected either by Makarios or Grivas. Makarios and Grivas played only for Greece and Hellenism while other concerned parties played for "satisfactory to all". They were all in NATO. Greek proposals and aim was putting Turks outside of Cyprus and suggesting to treat TCs as a minority. Greek proposals and aim were no way in interest of TCs, Turks and even allies because upseting Turkey regarding Cyprus issue might cause a war between Greece and Turkey that would eventually lead a big crack in NATO.

-----------------00000000000000000000000------------------------------

As for the events of 1958... I need to reunderline it that I don't approve such savage struggling tactics of right wingers but they happened all around the world during cold war era. I guess the below quotation explains the motives behind the events of 1958.

By mid-1958 Turkish Cypriots were sure that soon the tide would turn their way. On 7 June 1958, Turkish Cypriots started fires in Nicosia. In two months of bitter communal strife, 56 Greeks and 53 Turks were killed. Paphos were burnt down. In Nicosia, the Olympiacos club and other places suffered the same fate.

Passions reached a climax on Thursday 12 June 1958, when the Turks massacred eight Greeks during a clash near the Turkish village of Guenyeli. The report by the Commission of Inquiry (Sir Paget Bourne, Chief Justice of Cyprus, was the sole Commissioner) was published in Nicosia on 9 December 1958. The commission sat from 20 June to the 28th. It found that the 35 Greek “prisoners” from Skylloura had been rounded up by the security forces and, surprisingly, released on the same day near Guenyeli, seven miles from where they were arrested and a considerable distance from the nearest Greek villages. This incident has gone down in Cypriot history as the “Guenyeli Massacre,” organized by the British and executed by the Turks.

On 4 August, Grivas issued a cryptic leaflet declaring a five-day cease-fire against the British and Turks, but reserving the right to future action in the event of provocation.

It sadly caused many casualties from all sides but on one hand succeeded to stop more blood shed and on the other hand showed whole world the existence of TCs in Cyprus.