Cyprus-Forum.com

[BOF]

From todays Opinion in the Sunday Mail.
please discuss.....


THERE IS a section of our opinion formers that reads political significance into every criminal act that takes place. So when the remains of former president Tassos Papadopoulos were removed from his grave late last year this group immediately concluded that that the perpetrators’ objective was to frighten people and weaken their resistance to an unfair solution to the Cyprus problem. The perpetrators had struck a blow against the ‘symbol of resistance’ in the hope that it would be easier to impose their dark plans, we were told by a variety of politicians and media pundits.

Needless to say, these absurd theories could not stand up to rational examination. Nobody knew who the grave-robbers were but the conspiracy theorists identified their motives and objectives; one even told us that they were not Greek Cypriot, presumably to reinforce the oft-repeated popular myth that the plots against the island were thought up by foreign powers. The same stories were repeated 10 days ago when the flag that was flying by Papadopoulos’ grave had been pulled down. And the plot thickened last Sunday when it was reported that the same had happened to flags at the grave of former president Spyros Kyprianou at a Limassol cemetery.

It was therefore no surprise that the same group of people would interpret the cold-blooded murder of Andis Hadjicostis, who was gunned down outside his home on Monday night, as an attempt to silence the Dias media group of which he was the chief executive. The group has traditionally been opposed to a federal settlement and campaigned against a compromise agreement with the Turkish side. Again we were told that the murderers’ objective was to destabilise the country and weaken our resistance in view of a possible settlement. Again, it was implied that foreign secret services could have been the instigators of the crime, which was linked to the grave robbery.

The conspiracy peddlers have a political agenda and will always interpret events in a way that serves their ridiculous theories, but at the same time they are doing a big disservice to our society. By promoting the myth about foreign powers plotting against poor Cyprus they are exempting the authorities from any blame for the lawlessness we are witnessing. Criminal elements are allowed to engage in their illegal activities – gambling, protection rackets, extortion, murder, prostitution, intimidation, drug trafficking – with impunity. Are the foreign secret services really responsible for the alarming surge in crime?

Nobody has to take responsibility for the state authorities’ lamentable failure to combat crime when it is blamed on the foreign powers – we are always the powerless victims. This pitiful attitude was illustrated by no lesser official than Attorney-general Petros Clerides who, on the morning after Hadjicostis’ murder, abrogated any responsibility for the rise in crime. “Every citizen must be worried,” he said on a radio show on Tuesday and added: “It is not possible for people to be murdered at 8.30 at night, in a neighbourhood full of people... Who is protecting the ordinary citizen?”

Perfectly legitimate concerns had they been voiced by an ordinary citizen, but when the Attorney-general complains about the lawlessness and admits that we have lost the battle against crime without accepting any responsibility for the malaise what hope is there of stopping the rot? It was a case of passing the buck, implying that ineffective policing was to blame for our woes, but is the state prosecution service, of which he is in charge, without a share of responsibility?

When the politicians interfere in the work of the police to help supporters or friends avoid facing the consequences of their law-breaking, are they protecting the ordinary citizen or encouraging law-breaking? When the legislature, in which half the deputies are lawyers, passes laws restricting the powers of the police and prosecution services, while safeguarding the rights of wrongdoers, who is it actually helping? It is certainly not law enforcement. When ordinary people are using criminal elements to solve their problems because the courts take years to administer justice, are the foreign secret services to blame?

It is high time we stopped blaming all our society’s ills on the evil foreigners – the arrest of the three suspects on Thursday night should silence the conspiracy theorists for now - and started taking full responsibility for the mess we have created. We will be celebrating our 50th anniversary as an independent state this year and our society needs to start embracing adulthood.
Sunday Mail 17 Jan 2010

[Oracle]

... – the arrest of the three suspects on Thursday night should silence the conspiracy theorists for now - ...

But it's fine if the Mail has decided they are guilty without trial?

What an irresponsible attitude for a "newspaper". How would these people be guaranteed a fair trial with such pointed accusations!

The whole paper is a sham!

[Bananiot]

May be they are Cypriots, paid by foreigners, like those that voted for solution in 2004. On a more hilarious note, isn't it about time we coin another word and throw "conspiracy" into the dustbin of history? I suggest the new word starts with a c and ends with a y. Those that approve, hands up.

[Expatkiwi]

... – the arrest of the three suspects on Thursday night should silence the conspiracy theorists for now - ...

But it's fine if the Mail has decided they are guilty without trial?

What an irresponsible attitude for a "newspaper". How would these people be guaranteed a fair trial with such pointed accusations!

The whole paper is a sham!

One could say that for the entire Fourth Estate, Oracle. Still, an independent media is essential for any democracy, though sometimes we let the media get away with too much at times...

[YFred]

May be they are Cypriots, paid by foreigners, like those that voted for solution in 2004. On a more hilarious note, isn't it about time we coin another word and throw "conspiracy" into the dustbin of history? I suggest the new word starts with a c and ends with a y. Those that approve, hands up.

Let my hand be the second one.

[BOF]

interesting........
O gets her soapbox out and complains about lack of a fair trial.
Firstly none of the accused is named in the article so i dont see that as an objection.
Secondly if you had read the police statement issued the day before to the Press, the names of the accused, the police modus operandi, the evidence collected,the contents of one of the accused's house - all this information was made available. THAT is where i would point the finger of blame regarding a fair trial (no underlining please note) Oracle.

so far no one has commented on increasing levels of crime in Cyprus mentioned in the article
Or the possible "de stabilisation of Cyprus by foreign agents" of foreign powers, or the fact that the police say neither incident of the grave robbing or the shooting is of a political nature. so the 007 theory seems to be dead in the water.

Finally O gets her always in a twist declaring the whole newpaper a "sham" so clearly she believes there are feds under the bed and because the paper is printed in english it is to be reviled.. she doesnt of course read it but can be subjective on its contents..
but thats demoracy for you..
And with that i wish all a very good night

[Oracle]

interesting........
O gets her soapbox out and complains about lack of a fair trial.

The whole article is nonsensical and based solely on these suspects being guilty.

Personally, I wish more people would get on soapboxes and demand fair trials where people are innocent until proven guilty, unlike the implication inherent in this reckless publication ...

Perhaps the Mail is happy with the presence of foreigners ... SBAs and Turkish Bases .... but why should we be?

[Expatkiwi]

interesting........
O gets her soapbox out and complains about lack of a fair trial.

The whole article is nonsensical and based solely on these suspects being guilty.

Personally, I wish more people would get on soapboxes and demand fair trials where people are innocent until proven guilty, unlike the implication inherent in this reckless publication ...

Perhaps the Mail is happy with the presence of foreigners ... SBAs and Turkish Bases .... but why should we be?

Mybe the question should be: I may not like the situation, but can I live with it? Sometimes Oracle, you may have to settle for less than you want.

[Milo]

interesting........
O gets her soapbox out and complains about lack of a fair trial.

The whole article is nonsensical and based solely on these suspects being guilty.

Personally, I wish more people would get on soapboxes and demand fair trials where people are innocent until proven guilty, unlike the implication inherent in this reckless publication ...

Perhaps the Mail is happy with the presence of foreigners ... SBAs and Turkish Bases .... but why should we be?

Of course O whatever you want, I,ll take the 70-80,000 odd foriegners living here back wherever with me and then you can finally be happy! But you won,t will you?

The income foriegners generate a mere drop in the ocean, frankly I cannot understand why the SBA,s are here as they serve no purpose and a waste of money but the one nearest to me, Ay Nik has a few more countries than the UK involved, so I,m reliably told.

According to a new poll us roving foriegners should be living in France as its been classed as the No 1 destination to live in.

So if anyone wants to buy a 4 bed property in the East, lots of land a/con heating/fire pool and spa ff gazebo, pergolas, licenced well, and wait for it TITLE DEEDS and only 18 months old. I think I,m off to the Dordogne

Actually truth is many who emigrate anywhere do so for a short period of time (4-5 yrs, we are in our 4th)and most return, hopefully I will sell my gaff in a few years to a returning Cypriot, who is ready to retire so I,ve been told, the garden will be fabulous by then, so don,t panic O you will maybe soon get your wish. But only when I,m ready

The Cyprus Mail although a little restrained in its reporting, though thats improving slowly is essential for many living in Cyprus so its fair to say it should be careful in HOW it reports, but were,nt these three arrested shown on Greek tv as well, or was I dreaming

Actually the Police here have a very good capture rate compared to many EU countries I,m quite impressed.

Do you think the Gendarmes in France will be any better

[Oracle]

interesting........
O gets her soapbox out and complains about lack of a fair trial.

The whole article is nonsensical and based solely on these suspects being guilty.

Personally, I wish more people would get on soapboxes and demand fair trials where people are innocent until proven guilty, unlike the implication inherent in this reckless publication ...

Perhaps the Mail is happy with the presence of foreigners ... SBAs and Turkish Bases .... but why should we be?

Of course O whatever you want, I,ll take the 70-80,000 odd foriegners living here back wherever with me and then you can finally be happy! But you won,t will you?

Are you in the military, Milo?

(Take the chip off your shoulder You, like the Mail, seem to be grasping at straws with which to beat the GCs.)

but were,nt these three arrested shown on Greek tv as well

I'll spell it out again. It's not about NOT reporting the news of the arrest ... of these suspects!

It's about the Mail basing a whole article's message on the presumption that these suspects are guilty!

The Mail has condemned them, already ...