Cyprus-Forum.com

[insan]

Isn't it strange that Kavazoğlu didn't mention just a single word abt EOKA that was just another secret organization funded by Americans? By not mentioning just a single word abt EOKA and it's activities; he made his article sound as written by a pro-EOKA journalist/spy?

It seems like Kavazoğlu ignored the activities of EOKA bcz he thought EOKA had nothing to do with the formation of TMT. Do u agree with Kavazoğlu that EOKA has no role on foundation of TMT and it's activities?

I'll go step by step... there r a lot of other aspects of theis article I'd like to question.

One factor to bear in mind is that Kavazoğlu, as a member of the AKEL cnetral committee, had to toe the party line in everything he said and wrote. It is unfortunate that AKEL made some grave errors and adopted some questionable positions which alienated Turkish Cypriots from it. I think that if at the time there had been a powerful bicommunal left-wing organisation on the ground with strong representation in the Turkish Cypriot community, the fascist TMT would have faced a stiffer task in imposing dictatotiral rule over the community. Let us not forget, though, that one of the first targets of the TMT was the trade union movement, probably the one area in Cyprus in which there existed genuine bicommunal solidarity. As you know, following the attempted assasination of Ahmet Sadi and the successful assisination of Fazıl Önder in 1958, Turkish Cypriots were coerced through a campaign of terror into resigning from the PEO trade union movement. The TMT knew that it had to destroy this kind of bicommunal solidarity if it was to achieve its long term goals.

What were those grave errors made by AKEL, Tim? we need to take into account the then circumstance, Tim. Majority of Cyprus population had been living in rural areas that most of them even hadn't have electricity infrastructure. I don't have any official statistical data regarding the literacy rate of the then Cypriots but I don't think the literacy rate was even over the mid rate.

Furthermore, then there was 2 political trends had taken whole world under it's control and heavy influence... People were either in one group or other... Communists and capitalists; leftists and rightists....

There were so many people in AKEL too, that wished Enosis... perhaps owerwhelming majority of factious men of AKEL.

Under such a political climate, AKEL executives who were perhaps the most literate persons of AKEL; could not defend the independent Cyprus thesis. Though an independent Cyprus under communist regime would have led Cyprus to become just another "satelite" of imperialist USSR.

Anyway, under such political circumstances that AKEL inevitably become officially supporting Enosis; what's the meaning for TCs to stay in AKEL founded trade unions? As long as they stayed in those pro-Enosis trade unions, they would have been considered "pro-Enosis", "traitor", communist TCs; targeted by TMT and hated by all average TCs who were against Enosis. I tend to believe this was the main reason why TMT targeted and assassinated some TC trade unionists.

He held the leaders of the two communities responsible for the events of 1963-64 and he knew very well that it was difficult to live in peace on an island where blood had been shed. He also knew well that the Enosis policy of the Greek Cypriot Leadership was nothing more than supporting the idea of division. His expectations from AKEL were deep regarding this very issue. Tell the Greek Cypriot community the truth and drive them away from the Enosis policy! Otherwise he felt that the future of the Republic of Cyprus would be very dark.

Unfortunately AKEL’s attitude did not meet Kavazoglu’s expectations as the Party insisted on its own self-determination/Enosis decision and whilst doing so left Dervis Ali in a difficult situation. What Kavazoglu said to Vanezos makes clear the tragic situation that he had been dragged into: “Vanezos, I will carry on with this fight as I have been doing so up until this moment. (...) However AKEL’s Enosis policy is not helping me the least bit and puts me in a difficult situation. (...) How can I help build a Turkish-Greek Cypriot friendship as a member of AKEL? What can I say to the Turkish Cypriots that have cooperated with me about the AKEL Enosis policy, what will I say?” These lines clearly explain the tragic situation that Kavazoglu found himself trapped in.

Soon Kavazoğlu became a Don Xiote, "traitor", lonely TC communist, an embarassed AKEL member... The only way for his survival was to escape to a communist country or London as he escaped in 1958... however he prefered to stay in Cyprus; GC dominated areas, chased by both EOKA(the national front) and TMT...

With the article u translated in this thread, he obviously created a pro-EOKA, Enosist impression... Did some AKEL executives force him to write that article?

I don't believe as regard to Cyprus independence and bright future of Cypriot people his only problem was with Denktash, TMT and imperiaslists... In 1964 when he wrote that article, he had problems with GC national Front, Makarios and even AKEL.

He prefered only to harshly critisize Denktash, TMT and imperialists... Why? Had he been balanced, perhaps he wouldn't have been assassinated by TMT... Though still it hasn't been proved that he was assassinated by TMT.

[Tim Drayton]

Isn't it strange that Kavazoğlu didn't mention just a single word abt EOKA that was just another secret organization funded by Americans? By not mentioning just a single word abt EOKA and it's activities; he made his article sound as written by a pro-EOKA journalist/spy?

It seems like Kavazoğlu ignored the activities of EOKA bcz he thought EOKA had nothing to do with the formation of TMT. Do u agree with Kavazoğlu that EOKA has no role on foundation of TMT and it's activities?

I'll go step by step... there r a lot of other aspects of theis article I'd like to question.

One factor to bear in mind is that Kavazoğlu, as a member of the AKEL cnetral committee, had to toe the party line in everything he said and wrote. It is unfortunate that AKEL made some grave errors and adopted some questionable positions which alienated Turkish Cypriots from it. I think that if at the time there had been a powerful bicommunal left-wing organisation on the ground with strong representation in the Turkish Cypriot community, the fascist TMT would have faced a stiffer task in imposing dictatotiral rule over the community. Let us not forget, though, that one of the first targets of the TMT was the trade union movement, probably the one area in Cyprus in which there existed genuine bicommunal solidarity. As you know, following the attempted assasination of Ahmet Sadi and the successful assisination of Fazıl Önder in 1958, Turkish Cypriots were coerced through a campaign of terror into resigning from the PEO trade union movement. The TMT knew that it had to destroy this kind of bicommunal solidarity if it was to achieve its long term goals.

What were those grave errors made by AKEL, Tim? we need to take into account the then circumstance, Tim. Majority of Cyprus population had been living in rural areas that most of them even hadn't have electricity infrastructure. I don't have any official statistical data regarding the literacy rate of the then Cypriots but I don't think the literacy rate was even over the mid rate.

Furthermore, then there was 2 political trends had taken whole world under it's control and heavy influence... People were either in one group or other... Communists and capitalists; leftists and rightists....

There were so many people in AKEL too, that wished Enosis... perhaps owerwhelming majority of factious men of AKEL.

Under such a political climate, AKEL executives who were perhaps the most literate persons of AKEL; could not defend the independent Cyprus thesis. Though an independent Cyprus under communist regime would have led Cyprus to become just another "satelite" of imperialist USSR.

Anyway, under such political circumstances that AKEL inevitably become officially supporting Enosis; what's the meaning for TCs to stay in AKEL founded trade unions? As long as they stayed in those pro-Enosis trade unions, they would have been considered "pro-Enosis", "traitor", communist TCs; targeted by TMT and hated by all average TCs who were against Enosis. I tend to believe this was the main reason why TMT targeted and assassinated some TC trade unionists.

He held the leaders of the two communities responsible for the events of 1963-64 and he knew very well that it was difficult to live in peace on an island where blood had been shed. He also knew well that the Enosis policy of the Greek Cypriot Leadership was nothing more than supporting the idea of division. His expectations from AKEL were deep regarding this very issue. Tell the Greek Cypriot community the truth and drive them away from the Enosis policy! Otherwise he felt that the future of the Republic of Cyprus would be very dark.

Unfortunately AKEL’s attitude did not meet Kavazoglu’s expectations as the Party insisted on its own self-determination/Enosis decision and whilst doing so left Dervis Ali in a difficult situation. What Kavazoglu said to Vanezos makes clear the tragic situation that he had been dragged into: “Vanezos, I will carry on with this fight as I have been doing so up until this moment. (...) However AKEL’s Enosis policy is not helping me the least bit and puts me in a difficult situation. (...) How can I help build a Turkish-Greek Cypriot friendship as a member of AKEL? What can I say to the Turkish Cypriots that have cooperated with me about the AKEL Enosis policy, what will I say?” These lines clearly explain the tragic situation that Kavazoglu found himself trapped in.

Soon Kavazoğlu became a Don Xiote, "traitor", lonely TC communist, an embarassed AKEL member... The only way for his survival was to escape to a communist country or London as he escaped in 1958... however he prefered to stay in Cyprus; GC dominated areas, chased by both EOKA(the national front) and TMT...

With the article u translated in this thread, he obviously created a pro-EOKA, Enosist impression... Did some AKEL executives force him to write that article?
I don't believe as regard to Cyprus independence and bright future of Cypriot people his only problem was with Denktash, TMT and imperiaslists... In 1964 when he wrote that article, he had problems with GC national Front, Makarios and even AKEL.

He prefered only to harshly critisize Denktash, TMT and imperialists... Why? Had he been balanced, perhaps he wouldn't have been assassinated by TMT... Though still it hasn't been proved that he was assassinated by TMT.

All of your points make sense to me.

One has to remember that this article appeared in a communist party journal in Bulgaria at a time when this country was under Stalinist rule. This was a time of strict censorship there and the contents of the article would also have had to conform to the official party line there.

I only felt that this article was of interest in the way that it attempts to analyse the wiser political consequences of the imposition of TMT rule on the TC community.

I was told by someone who claims to have known Kavazoğlu personally that in private he was very critical of the direction being taken by AKEL on thing like the national question, but as a loyal party member he never made these qualms known in public. This is only heresay, but it tallys with what you have said above.

[Tim Drayton]

I have just come across the English translation of an article by Niyazi Kızılyürek on the very point we are discussing:

http://209.85.229.132/search?q=cache:RA ... en&ct=clnk
Dervis Ali Kavazoglu, AKEL and Enosis
18.04.2008

Niyazi Kizilyurek
The life of a Turkish Cypriot Communist

A book entitled ‘Dervis Ali Kavazoglu: the Road to Nicosia – Larnaca 11 April 1965’ written by a former member of AKEL Central Committee, Christakis Vanezos, has recently been published. On April 11, Demetris Christofias made a speech at a ceremony organised to commemorate the lives of Dervis Ali Kovazoglu and Kostas Misaulis, in which he delivered messages of friendship to Turkish Cypriots.
Vanezos’ book is an autobiography delivering some interesting events in Kavazoglu’s life from the writer’s perspective as he is the only person who is able write such a memoir in that style as he was Kavazoglu’s roommate and shared the last years of his life. Dervis Ali Kavazoglu was a union-based leftist intellectual who believed that Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots should be able to live in peace next to each other. As in the case of the first generation of Turkish Cypriot leftists he believed in unity and not in division and defended the brotherhood and the unity of the Turkish and Greek Cypriot working class.
Kavazoglu accepted Marxist ideology and became a communist. He made internationalism both his motto and the basis of his teaching that he followed, keeping his distance from nationalism and chauvinism as he influenced his friends for his cause. As a result of assaults on the Turkish Cypriots PEO union member workers, on May 1, 1958, he lost some of his close friends though some surviving friends moved to London. He refused to go abroad and moved to the Greek Cypriot side where he lived for the rest of his short life. While working as a union member at the PEO Dervis Ali Kavazoglu became a member of the AKEL Central Committee; probably the first and probably the last Turkish Cypriot to hold such a position in the highly influential AKEL party.
Republic of Cyprus and Kavazoglu
Following the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus in 1960 Kavazoglu grasped the idea of independence totally and wrote under a nick-name in ‘Cumhuriyet Newspaper’. He was in close cooperation with the paper’s barristers, Ayhan Hikmet and Muzaffer Gurkan, who were trying to give life to the Republic. Their assassinations in 1962 caused him great sorrow and Vanezos has related the devastation felt by Kavazoglu in the book. The sorrow was not just because of the loss of two friends. Following the death of his two comrades Kavazoglu found the need for a deeper solidarity and had to find other ways of fighting the cause. May be the ‘Luricina connection’, which lead to his own assassination, was a relationship formed as a result of the lack of organisation following the assassination of his barristers.
Kavazoglu-Luricina connection
Christakis Vanezos writes about a journey he made with Kavazoglu during January or February in 1965 when they left Nicosia and travelled towards Larnaca making a stop on the road soon after they passed Piroyi village where they than got in contact on the roadside with two Turkish villagers from Luricina (Akincilar) village. They wanted Kavazoglu’s help with some car registration. One is immediately struck with the idea as to whether a member of the AKEL Central Committee, whose life is under threat, would risk his life to help two Turkish Cypriots that are asking a favour for ‘car registration’. It would not be a wild guess to say that Kavazoglu’s thought was: “If you do not deal with the small problems of the people you cannot get them to support your cause.”
The day of April 11
Dervis Ali Kavazoglu had made a joyous start to the day of April 11. He shared a house with two families, the Conis family had left the house early in the morning and the Vanezos family was about to leave the house to visit relatives. Information, which is now available, states that Kavazoglu was to go to Larnaca with Kosatas Misaolis as they had already planned. It is not quite possible to know anything about the ‘Luricana connection’ with the current information. However, it can be guessed that he apparently wanted to find a solution to a Teacher Problem and planned to use his ‘Luricina connection’. Apparently the people he was in contact with promised to help him with the problem. On April 11, 1965, when he went to meet the two Luricina villagers on the road from Nicosia to Larnaca he thought he would return with a teacher. Instead he was the victim of an assassination at the meeting point.
AKEL’s Enosis Policy and the Kavazoglu Tragedy
Although Dervis Ali Kavazoglu fought with all his might for ‘the cause’ despite difficulties, he was deeply sorry for the events that took place in 1964. The reason was not just the bloodshed between the two communities but also that AKEL, the party that he was a proud member of, had decided to return to their Enosis policy, which drove him to take a stand of political solidarity. AKEL had indeed returned to their Enosis policy in 1964, leaving their 1960 “completion of Independence” policy. Kavazoglu had objected to division all his life and he even put his life at stake in order to defend his cause. Now, especially after the establishment of the independent Republic of Cyprus, it was unacceptable to him that the Party had once again gone back to Enosis. His disappointment is obvious in the lines written by Vanezos. In a speech about the fighting in Erenkoy/Mansura made by Hambis Michaelides, a member of the Central Committee, he said “The blood of the Greek Cypriots and their Greek brethren got mixed up in Mansura,” which caused Kavazoglu deep sorrow. When talking about this incident with Vanezos, Kavazoglu, with his head between his hands, could not help but ask: “Then why am I fighting this war?”
He held the leaders of the two communities responsible for the events of 1963-64 and he knew very well that it was difficult to live in peace on an island where blood had been shed. He also knew well that the Enosis policy of the Greek Cypriot Leadership was nothing more than supporting the idea of division. His expectations from AKEL were deep regarding this very issue. Tell the Greek Cypriot community the truth and drive them away from the Enosis policy! Otherwise he felt that the future of the Republic of Cyprus would be very dark.
Unfortunately AKEL’s attitude did not meet Kavazoglu’s expectations as the Party insisted on its own self-determination/Enosis decision and whilst doing so left Dervis Ali in a difficult situation. What Kavazoglu said to Vanezos makes clear the tragic situation that he had been dragged into: “Vanezos, I will carry on with this fight as I have been doing so up until this moment. (...) However AKEL’s Enosis policy is not helping me the least bit and puts me in a difficult situation. (...) How can I help build a Turkish-Greek Cypriot friendship as a member of AKEL? What can I say to the Turkish Cypriots that have cooperated with me about the AKEL Enosis policy, what will I say?” These lines clearly explain the tragic situation that Kavazoglu found himself trapped in.
AKEL Enosis self-criticism
Kavazoglu’s predictions were verified by political events in the days to follow when his party AKEL finally had to accept his prophecy regarding the issue, but, unfortunately their ‘apology’ came 25 years too late. AKEL made an announcement of self-criticism on January 27, 1990 - exactly 25 years after the Kavazoglu assassination – when it admitted that pursuing their Enosis policy during the years 1964-1967 was a “mistake”.
So, you see AKEL officially accepted Dervis Ali Kavazoglu’s words said in the beginning of the 60s twenty-five years later in 1990.

[Tim Drayton]

Oh ... I see your earlier quote comes from this article.

[insan]

Isn't it strange that Kavazoğlu didn't mention just a single word abt EOKA that was just another secret organization funded by Americans? By not mentioning just a single word abt EOKA and it's activities; he made his article sound as written by a pro-EOKA journalist/spy?

It seems like Kavazoğlu ignored the activities of EOKA bcz he thought EOKA had nothing to do with the formation of TMT. Do u agree with Kavazoğlu that EOKA has no role on foundation of TMT and it's activities?

I'll go step by step... there r a lot of other aspects of theis article I'd like to question.

One factor to bear in mind is that Kavazoğlu, as a member of the AKEL cnetral committee, had to toe the party line in everything he said and wrote. It is unfortunate that AKEL made some grave errors and adopted some questionable positions which alienated Turkish Cypriots from it. I think that if at the time there had been a powerful bicommunal left-wing organisation on the ground with strong representation in the Turkish Cypriot community, the fascist TMT would have faced a stiffer task in imposing dictatotiral rule over the community. Let us not forget, though, that one of the first targets of the TMT was the trade union movement, probably the one area in Cyprus in which there existed genuine bicommunal solidarity. As you know, following the attempted assasination of Ahmet Sadi and the successful assisination of Fazıl Önder in 1958, Turkish Cypriots were coerced through a campaign of terror into resigning from the PEO trade union movement. The TMT knew that it had to destroy this kind of bicommunal solidarity if it was to achieve its long term goals.

What were those grave errors made by AKEL, Tim? we need to take into account the then circumstance, Tim. Majority of Cyprus population had been living in rural areas that most of them even hadn't have electricity infrastructure. I don't have any official statistical data regarding the literacy rate of the then Cypriots but I don't think the literacy rate was even over the mid rate.

Furthermore, then there was 2 political trends had taken whole world under it's control and heavy influence... People were either in one group or other... Communists and capitalists; leftists and rightists....

There were so many people in AKEL too, that wished Enosis... perhaps owerwhelming majority of factious men of AKEL.

Under such a political climate, AKEL executives who were perhaps the most literate persons of AKEL; could not defend the independent Cyprus thesis. Though an independent Cyprus under communist regime would have led Cyprus to become just another "satelite" of imperialist USSR.

Anyway, under such political circumstances that AKEL inevitably become officially supporting Enosis; what's the meaning for TCs to stay in AKEL founded trade unions? As long as they stayed in those pro-Enosis trade unions, they would have been considered "pro-Enosis", "traitor", communist TCs; targeted by TMT and hated by all average TCs who were against Enosis. I tend to believe this was the main reason why TMT targeted and assassinated some TC trade unionists.

He held the leaders of the two communities responsible for the events of 1963-64 and he knew very well that it was difficult to live in peace on an island where blood had been shed. He also knew well that the Enosis policy of the Greek Cypriot Leadership was nothing more than supporting the idea of division. His expectations from AKEL were deep regarding this very issue. Tell the Greek Cypriot community the truth and drive them away from the Enosis policy! Otherwise he felt that the future of the Republic of Cyprus would be very dark.

Unfortunately AKEL’s attitude did not meet Kavazoglu’s expectations as the Party insisted on its own self-determination/Enosis decision and whilst doing so left Dervis Ali in a difficult situation. What Kavazoglu said to Vanezos makes clear the tragic situation that he had been dragged into: “Vanezos, I will carry on with this fight as I have been doing so up until this moment. (...) However AKEL’s Enosis policy is not helping me the least bit and puts me in a difficult situation. (...) How can I help build a Turkish-Greek Cypriot friendship as a member of AKEL? What can I say to the Turkish Cypriots that have cooperated with me about the AKEL Enosis policy, what will I say?” These lines clearly explain the tragic situation that Kavazoglu found himself trapped in.

Soon Kavazoğlu became a Don Xiote, "traitor", lonely TC communist, an embarassed AKEL member... The only way for his survival was to escape to a communist country or London as he escaped in 1958... however he prefered to stay in Cyprus; GC dominated areas, chased by both EOKA(the national front) and TMT...

With the article u translated in this thread, he obviously created a pro-EOKA, Enosist impression... Did some AKEL executives force him to write that article?
I don't believe as regard to Cyprus independence and bright future of Cypriot people his only problem was with Denktash, TMT and imperiaslists... In 1964 when he wrote that article, he had problems with GC national Front, Makarios and even AKEL.

He prefered only to harshly critisize Denktash, TMT and imperialists... Why? Had he been balanced, perhaps he wouldn't have been assassinated by TMT... Though still it hasn't been proved that he was assassinated by TMT.

All of your points make sense to me.

One has to remember that this article appeared in a communist party journal in Bulgaria at a time when this country was under Stalinist rule. This was a time of strict censorship there and the contents of the article would also have had to conform to the official party line there.

I only felt that this article was of interest in the way that it attempts to analyse the wiser political consequences of the imposition of TMT rule on the TC community.

I was told by someone who claims to have known Kavazoğlu personally that in private he was very critical of the direction being taken by AKEL on thing like the national question, but as a loyal party member he never made these qualms known in public. This is only heresay, but it tallys with what you have said above.

Before the formation of TMT, there had been several attempts of TCs getting organized under several organizations and fight against Enosis:

Kara Çete, 9 Eylül Cephesi and Volkan r the ones I know formed by pure TCs. They didn't have any guerilla training, they didn't have contemporary weapons... They all failed to lead a counter-struggle against EOKA and Enosists.

After 3 years the formation of EOKA and it's continueing activities in Cyprus with colloboration and cooperation of some Turkish militay personel, Right winged Turkish leadership formed TMT and began organizing TCs towards it's goal that was partition.

What alternatively could TC leadership or TC community do under the circumstances of late 50s and mid-60s?

It seems to me that everything had gone in perfect correlation of then the circumstances.

[insan]

Oh ... I see your earlier quote comes from this article.

Yes, I would link it to cached google page but forgot...

[Tim Drayton]

Isn't it strange that Kavazoğlu didn't mention just a single word abt EOKA that was just another secret organization funded by Americans? By not mentioning just a single word abt EOKA and it's activities; he made his article sound as written by a pro-EOKA journalist/spy?

It seems like Kavazoğlu ignored the activities of EOKA bcz he thought EOKA had nothing to do with the formation of TMT. Do u agree with Kavazoğlu that EOKA has no role on foundation of TMT and it's activities?

I'll go step by step... there r a lot of other aspects of theis article I'd like to question.

One factor to bear in mind is that Kavazoğlu, as a member of the AKEL cnetral committee, had to toe the party line in everything he said and wrote. It is unfortunate that AKEL made some grave errors and adopted some questionable positions which alienated Turkish Cypriots from it. I think that if at the time there had been a powerful bicommunal left-wing organisation on the ground with strong representation in the Turkish Cypriot community, the fascist TMT would have faced a stiffer task in imposing dictatotiral rule over the community. Let us not forget, though, that one of the first targets of the TMT was the trade union movement, probably the one area in Cyprus in which there existed genuine bicommunal solidarity. As you know, following the attempted assasination of Ahmet Sadi and the successful assisination of Fazıl Önder in 1958, Turkish Cypriots were coerced through a campaign of terror into resigning from the PEO trade union movement. The TMT knew that it had to destroy this kind of bicommunal solidarity if it was to achieve its long term goals.

What were those grave errors made by AKEL, Tim? we need to take into account the then circumstance, Tim. Majority of Cyprus population had been living in rural areas that most of them even hadn't have electricity infrastructure. I don't have any official statistical data regarding the literacy rate of the then Cypriots but I don't think the literacy rate was even over the mid rate.

Furthermore, then there was 2 political trends had taken whole world under it's control and heavy influence... People were either in one group or other... Communists and capitalists; leftists and rightists....

There were so many people in AKEL too, that wished Enosis... perhaps owerwhelming majority of factious men of AKEL.

Under such a political climate, AKEL executives who were perhaps the most literate persons of AKEL; could not defend the independent Cyprus thesis. Though an independent Cyprus under communist regime would have led Cyprus to become just another "satelite" of imperialist USSR.

Anyway, under such political circumstances that AKEL inevitably become officially supporting Enosis; what's the meaning for TCs to stay in AKEL founded trade unions? As long as they stayed in those pro-Enosis trade unions, they would have been considered "pro-Enosis", "traitor", communist TCs; targeted by TMT and hated by all average TCs who were against Enosis. I tend to believe this was the main reason why TMT targeted and assassinated some TC trade unionists.

He held the leaders of the two communities responsible for the events of 1963-64 and he knew very well that it was difficult to live in peace on an island where blood had been shed. He also knew well that the Enosis policy of the Greek Cypriot Leadership was nothing more than supporting the idea of division. His expectations from AKEL were deep regarding this very issue. Tell the Greek Cypriot community the truth and drive them away from the Enosis policy! Otherwise he felt that the future of the Republic of Cyprus would be very dark.

Unfortunately AKEL’s attitude did not meet Kavazoglu’s expectations as the Party insisted on its own self-determination/Enosis decision and whilst doing so left Dervis Ali in a difficult situation. What Kavazoglu said to Vanezos makes clear the tragic situation that he had been dragged into: “Vanezos, I will carry on with this fight as I have been doing so up until this moment. (...) However AKEL’s Enosis policy is not helping me the least bit and puts me in a difficult situation. (...) How can I help build a Turkish-Greek Cypriot friendship as a member of AKEL? What can I say to the Turkish Cypriots that have cooperated with me about the AKEL Enosis policy, what will I say?” These lines clearly explain the tragic situation that Kavazoglu found himself trapped in.

Soon Kavazoğlu became a Don Xiote, "traitor", lonely TC communist, an embarassed AKEL member... The only way for his survival was to escape to a communist country or London as he escaped in 1958... however he prefered to stay in Cyprus; GC dominated areas, chased by both EOKA(the national front) and TMT...

With the article u translated in this thread, he obviously created a pro-EOKA, Enosist impression... Did some AKEL executives force him to write that article?
I don't believe as regard to Cyprus independence and bright future of Cypriot people his only problem was with Denktash, TMT and imperiaslists... In 1964 when he wrote that article, he had problems with GC national Front, Makarios and even AKEL.

He prefered only to harshly critisize Denktash, TMT and imperialists... Why? Had he been balanced, perhaps he wouldn't have been assassinated by TMT... Though still it hasn't been proved that he was assassinated by TMT.

All of your points make sense to me.

One has to remember that this article appeared in a communist party journal in Bulgaria at a time when this country was under Stalinist rule. This was a time of strict censorship there and the contents of the article would also have had to conform to the official party line there.

I only felt that this article was of interest in the way that it attempts to analyse the wiser political consequences of the imposition of TMT rule on the TC community.

I was told by someone who claims to have known Kavazoğlu personally that in private he was very critical of the direction being taken by AKEL on thing like the national question, but as a loyal party member he never made these qualms known in public. This is only heresay, but it tallys with what you have said above.

Before the formation of TMT, there had been several attempts of TCs getting organized under several organizations and fight against Enosis:

Kara Çete, 9 Eylül Cephesi and Volkan r the ones I know formed by pure TCs. They didn't have any guerilla training, they didn't have contemporary weapons... They all failed to lead a counter-struggle against EOKA and Enosists.

After 3 years the formation of EOKA and it's continueing activities in Cyprus with colloboration and cooperation of some Turkish militay personel, Right winged Turkish leadership formed TMT and began organizing TCs towards it's goal that was partition.

What alternatively could TC leadership or TC community do under the circumstances of late 50s and mid-60s?

It seems to me that everything had gone in perfect correlation of then the circumstances.

Was it just a chain of random events, each one causing the next, or was some kind of master plan or conspiracy behind it all? This is the fundamental question I ask myself and do not know the answer. I really appreciate this input from people like you with first-hand experience of events which helps me to better understand what went on.

[insan]

Isn't it strange that Kavazoğlu didn't mention just a single word abt EOKA that was just another secret organization funded by Americans? By not mentioning just a single word abt EOKA and it's activities; he made his article sound as written by a pro-EOKA journalist/spy?

It seems like Kavazoğlu ignored the activities of EOKA bcz he thought EOKA had nothing to do with the formation of TMT. Do u agree with Kavazoğlu that EOKA has no role on foundation of TMT and it's activities?

I'll go step by step... there r a lot of other aspects of theis article I'd like to question.

One factor to bear in mind is that Kavazoğlu, as a member of the AKEL cnetral committee, had to toe the party line in everything he said and wrote. It is unfortunate that AKEL made some grave errors and adopted some questionable positions which alienated Turkish Cypriots from it. I think that if at the time there had been a powerful bicommunal left-wing organisation on the ground with strong representation in the Turkish Cypriot community, the fascist TMT would have faced a stiffer task in imposing dictatotiral rule over the community. Let us not forget, though, that one of the first targets of the TMT was the trade union movement, probably the one area in Cyprus in which there existed genuine bicommunal solidarity. As you know, following the attempted assasination of Ahmet Sadi and the successful assisination of Fazıl Önder in 1958, Turkish Cypriots were coerced through a campaign of terror into resigning from the PEO trade union movement. The TMT knew that it had to destroy this kind of bicommunal solidarity if it was to achieve its long term goals.

What were those grave errors made by AKEL, Tim? we need to take into account the then circumstance, Tim. Majority of Cyprus population had been living in rural areas that most of them even hadn't have electricity infrastructure. I don't have any official statistical data regarding the literacy rate of the then Cypriots but I don't think the literacy rate was even over the mid rate.

Furthermore, then there was 2 political trends had taken whole world under it's control and heavy influence... People were either in one group or other... Communists and capitalists; leftists and rightists....

There were so many people in AKEL too, that wished Enosis... perhaps owerwhelming majority of factious men of AKEL.

Under such a political climate, AKEL executives who were perhaps the most literate persons of AKEL; could not defend the independent Cyprus thesis. Though an independent Cyprus under communist regime would have led Cyprus to become just another "satelite" of imperialist USSR.

Anyway, under such political circumstances that AKEL inevitably become officially supporting Enosis; what's the meaning for TCs to stay in AKEL founded trade unions? As long as they stayed in those pro-Enosis trade unions, they would have been considered "pro-Enosis", "traitor", communist TCs; targeted by TMT and hated by all average TCs who were against Enosis. I tend to believe this was the main reason why TMT targeted and assassinated some TC trade unionists.

He held the leaders of the two communities responsible for the events of 1963-64 and he knew very well that it was difficult to live in peace on an island where blood had been shed. He also knew well that the Enosis policy of the Greek Cypriot Leadership was nothing more than supporting the idea of division. His expectations from AKEL were deep regarding this very issue. Tell the Greek Cypriot community the truth and drive them away from the Enosis policy! Otherwise he felt that the future of the Republic of Cyprus would be very dark.

Unfortunately AKEL’s attitude did not meet Kavazoglu’s expectations as the Party insisted on its own self-determination/Enosis decision and whilst doing so left Dervis Ali in a difficult situation. What Kavazoglu said to Vanezos makes clear the tragic situation that he had been dragged into: “Vanezos, I will carry on with this fight as I have been doing so up until this moment. (...) However AKEL’s Enosis policy is not helping me the least bit and puts me in a difficult situation. (...) How can I help build a Turkish-Greek Cypriot friendship as a member of AKEL? What can I say to the Turkish Cypriots that have cooperated with me about the AKEL Enosis policy, what will I say?” These lines clearly explain the tragic situation that Kavazoglu found himself trapped in.

Soon Kavazoğlu became a Don Xiote, "traitor", lonely TC communist, an embarassed AKEL member... The only way for his survival was to escape to a communist country or London as he escaped in 1958... however he prefered to stay in Cyprus; GC dominated areas, chased by both EOKA(the national front) and TMT...

With the article u translated in this thread, he obviously created a pro-EOKA, Enosist impression... Did some AKEL executives force him to write that article?
I don't believe as regard to Cyprus independence and bright future of Cypriot people his only problem was with Denktash, TMT and imperiaslists... In 1964 when he wrote that article, he had problems with GC national Front, Makarios and even AKEL.

He prefered only to harshly critisize Denktash, TMT and imperialists... Why? Had he been balanced, perhaps he wouldn't have been assassinated by TMT... Though still it hasn't been proved that he was assassinated by TMT.

All of your points make sense to me.

One has to remember that this article appeared in a communist party journal in Bulgaria at a time when this country was under Stalinist rule. This was a time of strict censorship there and the contents of the article would also have had to conform to the official party line there.

[color=darkred]I only felt that this article was of interest in the way that it attempts to analyse the wiser political consequences of the imposition of TMT rule on the TC community.[/color]
I was told by someone who claims to have known Kavazoğlu personally that in private he was very critical of the direction being taken by AKEL on thing like the national question, but as a loyal party member he never made these qualms known in public. This is only heresay, but it tallys with what you have said above.

Before the formation of TMT, there had been several attempts of TCs getting organized under several organizations and fight against Enosis:

Kara Çete, 9 Eylül Cephesi and Volkan r the ones I know formed by pure TCs. They didn't have any guerilla training, they didn't have contemporary weapons... They all failed to lead a counter-struggle against EOKA and Enosists.

After 3 years the formation of EOKA and it's continueing activities in Cyprus with colloboration and cooperation of some Turkish militay personel, Right winged Turkish leadership formed TMT and began organizing TCs towards it's goal that was partition.

What alternatively could TC leadership or TC community do under the circumstances of late 50s and mid-60s?

It seems to me that everything had gone in perfect correlation of then the circumstances.

Was it just a chain of random events, each one causing the next, or was some kind of master plan or conspiracy behind it all? This is the fundamental question I ask myself and do not know the answer. I really appreciate this input from people like you with first-hand experience of events which helps me to better understand what went on.

Tim, these r not my first-hand experiences of events but some other people's first hand experiences that can be found in various sources and confirmed.

I'm just telling u what I know by questioning the events with it's casual links and then the circumstances. Sorry if i caused any misunderstanding by not begining my sentences with, "It is said that", "Sources cite that", "in my opininion" etc.

Now i need to go shoping Tim... when i'm back i'll question the above red highlighted part...

[Nikitas]

"Has they minded their own business.............things would be different."

You mean accept foreign domination would be allright. Same could be said of the TCs in 1963, had they accepted the imposition of the 13 points everything would be hunky dory.

You surprise me Deniz.

Equally surprising is the posting by YFred above:

"Right winged Turkish leadership formed TMT and began organizing TCs towards it's goal that was partition.

What alternatively could TC leadership or TC community do under the circumstances of late 50s and mid-60s? "

They could have asked for true independence for the island, as opposed to the oath of "Taksim or death" oath they took. If Enosis was a curse for the TCs why not realise that Taksim is its exact equal for the GCs? Why isolate Taksim as the ONLY possible option for the TC community?

Now that you have your Taksim, combined with Enosis, do you like it? Isn't that what Kavazoglu was warning against? How much effect did EOKA have in this policy of Taksim, was it really EOKA that was the driver or simply the excuse that Turkey wanted to lay its hands on Cyprus?

The neo partitionists of the forum are certain that the TCs and Turkey were simply reacting. I believe that Turkey was in fact the prime instigator of the events that led to partition, it had been proacive and not reactive all along.

[insan]

"Has they minded their own business.............things would be different."

You mean accept foreign domination would be allright. Same could be said of the TCs in 1963, had they accepted the imposition of the 13 points everything would be hunky dory.

You surprise me Deniz.

Equally surprising is the posting by YFred above:

"Right winged Turkish leadership formed TMT and began organizing TCs towards it's goal that was partition.

What alternatively could TC leadership or TC community do under the circumstances of late 50s and mid-60s? "

They could have asked for true independence for the island, as opposed to the oath of "Taksim or death" oath they took. If Enosis was a curse for the TCs why not realise that Taksim is its exact equal for the GCs? Why isolate Taksim as the ONLY possible option for the TC community?

Now that you have your Taksim, combined with Enosis, do you like it? Isn't that what Kavazoglu was warning against? How much effect did EOKA have in this policy of Taksim, was it really EOKA that was the driver or simply the excuse that Turkey wanted to lay its hands on Cyprus?

The neo partitionists of the forum are certain that the TCs and Turkey were simply reacting. I believe that Turkey was in fact the prime instigator of the events that led to partition, it had been proacive and not reactive all along.

Yes, Nikitas I am too, highly tending to believe that it was Turkey's and TCs reaction to EOKA and their goal Enosis. Turkey was comfortable with British rule in Cyprus because Brits were a far better, friendly ally than Greeks.

Neither TCs nor Turkey could feel themselves comfortable if Cyprus had been united with Greece. This is crystal clear to me... and plz stop accusing or labeling some TCs of being neo-partitionists. If we were partitionists we would simply tell it. Is it something to be embarassed or disguised? We r trying to question the events from a multi-dimensional view point. When u r disturbed, u don't have to accuse or label us as neo-partitionists. It's not difficult for any of us to accuse or label u anything we like... Plz simply state ur opinion or counter arguements, that's enough for all of us...