Cyprus-Forum.com

[humanist]

http://www.pottstownmercury.com/article ... 953295.txt

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By Tony Phyrillas, [email protected]

The recent controversy over whether singer Jennifer Lopez would perform at a luxury hotel in Turkish-occupied Cyprus brought much-needed attention to a tragedy that is fading from most people's memory.

Thirty-six years ago this month, Turkey invaded the tiny nation of Cyprus, killing thousands and forcing 200,000 Greek-Cypriots from their homes before establishing a military occupation of the northern third of the island.

Lopez was offered $3 million to headline the grand opening of a luxury resort in the occupied portion of Cyprus. That led to a grassroots campaign by bloggers and on Facebook to persuade Lopez to back out of performing on the anniversary of the invasion. When organizations such as the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association and the Cyprus Action Network of America wrote to Lopez explaining the brutal treatment of the civilian population during the 1974 invasion and subsequent establishment of an illegal regime by Turkey, Lopez canceled her appearance.

"Jennifer Lopez would never knowingly support any state, country, institution or regime that was associated with any form of human rights abuse," the entertainer's management said in a statement posted on her website.

Despite the loss of millions in income and a threatened $40 million lawsuit by the owners of the luxury hotel, Lopez did the right thing.

The same cannot be said of a succession of American administrations — from Gerald Ford to Barack Obama.

The United States has turned its back on the Cypriot people despite strong evidence that America had a major role to play in the 1974 invasion.

Armed with U.S.-supplied weapons (sold to Turkey on the condition they be used for defensive purposes only), Turkey invaded Cyprus on July 20, 1974, under the guise of protecting the Turkish minority (about 18 percent of the population) following an unsuccessful coup against the government of Cyprus by forces loyal to the military junta that governed Greece at the time.

Without an army, navy or air force, the Cypriot people had to rely on a few thousand lightly-armed national guardsmen to defend the island against a full-scale invasion, led by American tanks, helicopter gunships and jet fighters.

In a matter of days, the 40,000-strong Turkish invasion force drove nearly 200,000 Greek Cypriots from their homes, farms and businesses, turning them into refugees in their own country.

Greece attempted to intervene on behalf of Cyprus, but then-Secretary of State Henry Kissinger ordered the U.S. 7th Fleet to blockade the Greek navy with orders to sink the Greek ships if they did not return to their home ports.

A cease-fire was arranged on Aug. 16, 1974, but the damage was done. More than 6,000 Greek-Cypriots were killed by the Turkish troops and another 1,600 (including five American citizens) disappeared behind Turkish lines. Thirty-six years later, there has never been a full accounting by Turkey of what happened to the 1,300 men, 116 women and 133 children caught behind the advancing Turkish army.

Mass graves have been uncovered on parts of the island where civilians were executed by the Turks. Eyewitnesses have testified before investigative commissions of the systematic rape, torture and execution of Cypriot civilians, including children, the edlerly and the disabled.

Since the invasion, more than 115,000 "undesirables" from the mainland have been illegally settled in occupied Cyprus. Turkey opened the doors of prisons and mental institutions and dumped the occupants to Cyprus.

In 1983, Turkey declared the occupied portion of Cyprus as an independent nation. To this day, the so-called "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" is recognized by only one country — Turkey.

The Turkish invasion and continuing violation of human rights in Cyprus has been condemned by every major international body, including the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Commonwealth of Nations, the European Court of Human Rights and the Council of Europe. Turkey's entry into the European Union has been rejected because it continues to occupy a current EU member — Cyprus.

Turkey is clearly in violation of the U.S. Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, the United Nations Charter and the NATO Treaty.

Fed by billions of dollars in U.S. military and economic aid, Turkey thumbs its nose at international law and U.S. taxpayers. This is the same Turkey that continues to have one of the worst records of human rights violations in the world.

Turkey maintains 35,000 occupation troops (armed and equipped by U.S. tax dollars) on Cyprus to prevent the Greek-Cypriots from returning to their homes. It has ignored dozens of U.N. resolutions condemning the invastion and calling for withdrawal of all Turkish troops as a prelude for unification of the island.

As long as U.S. dollars flow into Turkish coffers, there is no incentive for Turkey to leave Cyprus.

Tony Phyrillas received a first-place award for column writing in 2010 from the Pennsylvania Associated Press Managing Editors. You can visit his blog at http://tonyphyrillas.blogspot.com Send e-mail to [email protected]
Comments

The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the views of pottsmerc.com or The Mercury.

[vaughanwilliams]

http://www.pottstownmercury.com/articles/2010/07/29/opinion/srv0000008953295.txt

comment(s) | Email to a friend | Print version | ShareThis | RSS Feeds

By Tony Phyrillas, [email protected]

The recent controversy over whether singer Jennifer Lopez would perform at a luxury hotel in Turkish-occupied Cyprus brought much-needed attention to a tragedy that is fading from most people's memory.

Thirty-six years ago this month, Turkey invaded the tiny nation of Cyprus, killing thousands and forcing 200,000 Greek-Cypriots from their homes before establishing a military occupation of the northern third of the island.

Lopez was offered $3 million to headline the grand opening of a luxury resort in the occupied portion of Cyprus. That led to a grassroots campaign by bloggers and on Facebook to persuade Lopez to back out of performing on the anniversary of the invasion. When organizations such as the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association and the Cyprus Action Network of America wrote to Lopez explaining the brutal treatment of the civilian population during the 1974 invasion and subsequent establishment of an illegal regime by Turkey, Lopez canceled her appearance.

"Jennifer Lopez would never knowingly support any state, country, institution or regime that was associated with any form of human rights abuse," the entertainer's management said in a statement posted on her website.

Despite the loss of millions in income and a threatened $40 million lawsuit by the owners of the luxury hotel, Lopez did the right thing.

The same cannot be said of a succession of American administrations — from Gerald Ford to Barack Obama.

The United States has turned its back on the Cypriot people despite strong evidence that America had a major role to play in the 1974 invasion.

Armed with U.S.-supplied weapons (sold to Turkey on the condition they be used for defensive purposes only), Turkey invaded Cyprus on July 20, 1974, under the guise of protecting the Turkish minority (about 18 percent of the population) following an unsuccessful coup against the government of Cyprus by forces loyal to the military junta that governed Greece at the time.

Without an army, navy or air force, the Cypriot people had to rely on a few thousand lightly-armed national guardsmen to defend the island against a full-scale invasion, led by American tanks, helicopter gunships and jet fighters.

In a matter of days, the 40,000-strong Turkish invasion force drove nearly 200,000 Greek Cypriots from their homes, farms and businesses, turning them into refugees in their own country.

Greece attempted to intervene on behalf of Cyprus, but then-Secretary of State Henry Kissinger ordered the U.S. 7th Fleet to blockade the Greek navy with orders to sink the Greek ships if they did not return to their home ports.

A cease-fire was arranged on Aug. 16, 1974, but the damage was done. More than 6,000 Greek-Cypriots were killed by the Turkish troops and another 1,600 (including five American citizens) disappeared behind Turkish lines. Thirty-six years later, there has never been a full accounting by Turkey of what happened to the 1,300 men, 116 women and 133 children caught behind the advancing Turkish army.

Mass graves have been uncovered on parts of the island where civilians were executed by the Turks. Eyewitnesses have testified before investigative commissions of the systematic rape, torture and execution of Cypriot civilians, including children, the edlerly and the disabled.

Since the invasion, more than 115,000 "undesirables" from the mainland have been illegally settled in occupied Cyprus. Turkey opened the doors of prisons and mental institutions and dumped the occupants to Cyprus.

In 1983, Turkey declared the occupied portion of Cyprus as an independent nation. To this day, the so-called "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" is recognized by only one country — Turkey.

The Turkish invasion and continuing violation of human rights in Cyprus has been condemned by every major international body, including the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Commonwealth of Nations, the European Court of Human Rights and the Council of Europe. Turkey's entry into the European Union has been rejected because it continues to occupy a current EU member — Cyprus.

Turkey is clearly in violation of the U.S. Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, the United Nations Charter and the NATO Treaty.

Fed by billions of dollars in U.S. military and economic aid, Turkey thumbs its nose at international law and U.S. taxpayers. This is the same Turkey that continues to have one of the worst records of human rights violations in the world.

Turkey maintains 35,000 occupation troops (armed and equipped by U.S. tax dollars) on Cyprus to prevent the Greek-Cypriots from returning to their homes. It has ignored dozens of U.N. resolutions condemning the invastion and calling for withdrawal of all Turkish troops as a prelude for unification of the island.

As long as U.S. dollars flow into Turkish coffers, there is no incentive for Turkey to leave Cyprus.

Tony Phyrillas received a first-place award for column writing in 2010 from the Pennsylvania Associated Press Managing Editors. You can visit his blog at http://tonyphyrillas.blogspot.com Send e-mail to [email protected]
Comments

The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the views of pottsmerc.com or The Mercury.

The above proving that there are always at least two sides to every story.

[DTA]

Could not be more bias and full of shit if it was written oracle.

[charlie brown]

Are you saying he is a lier? tell us why.

[DTA]

[quote="charlie brown"]Are you saying he is a lier? tell us why.[/quot
e]

the article is bullshit, first of all the 200,000 refugees includes 70,000 tcs from the south so there is no 200,000 gc refugees. At the rime of the intervention the coup was not failed it was very much in progress and self proclaimed Turk eater Samson was declared president. The figure of 6000 gc killed was not done by the Turkish army as it includes those killed by the coup Samson vs mac the knife. There is a lot more but that should do you for now.

[charlie brown]

[quote="DTA"][quote="charlie brown"]Are you saying he is a lier? tell us why.[/quot
e]

the article is bullshit, first of all the 200,000 refugees includes 70,000 tcs from the south so there is no 200,000 gc refugees. At the rime of the intervention the coup was not failed it was very much in progress and self proclaimed Turk eater Samson was declared president. The figure of 6000 gc killed was not done by the Turkish army as it includes those killed by the coup Samson vs mac the knife. There is a lot more but that should do you for now.[/quote]

You idiot! You think those numbers change anything? what differance does it make to you if the turkish army murderd & raped 6,000 or 5,000.
Why bother posting if you're just going to make a mug of yourself?

[denizaksulu]

Are you saying he is a lier? tell us why.[/quot
e]

the article is bullshit, first of all the 200,000 refugees includes 70,000 tcs from the south so there is no 200,000 gc refugees. At the rime of the intervention the coup was not failed it was very much in progress and self proclaimed Turk eater Samson was declared president. The figure of 6000 gc killed was not done by the Turkish army as it includes those killed by the coup Samson vs mac the knife. There is a lot more but that should do you for now.

The following document in a Greek Cypriot GO Church somewhere in England makes more sense now.
According to the GO Church there were 142,000 GC refugees.
The picture is definitely clearer.




Is the Greek Orthodox Church lying? or does the RoC intentionally use the magic number of 200,000 to include those TCs refugees too.

I might also add that In an island the size of Cyprus even one refugee is more than enough

[DTA]

Are you saying he is a lier? tell us why.[/quot
e]

the article is bullshit, first of all the 200,000 refugees includes 70,000 tcs from the south so there is no 200,000 gc refugees. At the rime of the intervention the coup was not failed it was very much in progress and self proclaimed Turk eater Samson was declared president. The figure of 6000 gc killed was not done by the Turkish army as it includes those killed by the coup Samson vs mac the knife. There is a lot more but that should do you for now.

You idiot! You think those numbers change anything? what differance does it make to you if the turkish army murderd & raped 6,000 or 5,000.
Why bother posting if you're just going to make a mug of yourself?

your the fucking mug if you can't see propaganda when it is right infront of your stupid face numbers mean a lot when they are used as propaganda.

You asked a question I answered it with facts you didn't like these facts and then tried to get abusive, therefore you are a dick. I hope I have enlighten your small mind.

[denizaksulu]

Are you saying he is a lier? tell us why.[/quot
e]

the article is bullshit, first of all the 200,000 refugees includes 70,000 tcs from the south so there is no 200,000 gc refugees. At the rime of the intervention the coup was not failed it was very much in progress and self proclaimed Turk eater Samson was declared president. The figure of 6000 gc killed was not done by the Turkish army as it includes those killed by the coup Samson vs mac the knife. There is a lot more but that should do you for now.

You idiot! You think those numbers change anything? what differance does it make to you if the turkish army murderd & raped 6,000 or 5,000.
Why bother posting if you're just going to make a mug of yourself?

your the fucking mug if you can't see propaganda when it is right infront of your stupid face numbers mean a lot when they are used as propaganda.

You asked a question I answered it with facts you didn't like these facts and then tried to get abusive, therefore you are a dick. I hope I have enlighten your small mind.

Thats what happens DTA, when some believe their own propaganda. No one responded the GC Churches' claim of 142,000 refugees apart from GR, who says they are' hardly credible evidence'. What can one say? Apart from the fact that the Greek Orthodox church is calling these propagandists liars.
If numbers are not that important why do they keep on ramming down our throats this magical figure of 200,000?

[humanist]

Deniz, the numbers could be fudged but there are still 142000 people loosing out and 35,000 on the other side