Turkish Cypriots protest shopping crack down
By George Psyllides
Published on December 22, 2010 +-Text size
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TURKISH Cypriots yesterday waved cucumbers and other groceries in the air at a Nicosia crossing point as they protested against the breakaway Turkish Cypriot state’s seizures of products purchased in the government-controlled areas.
The protest was organised by the Trade Union Platform following seizures of products, including toys, last Saturday.
Members of the platform yesterday visited the government-controlled areas and purchased groceries and toys, which they subsequently carried through the Ayios Dhometios crossing point.
The group stopped in the middle of the Turkish Cypriot checkpoint - disrupting traffic - and spoke to the media while displaying their shopping, which included large cucumbers and other produce and toys they had bought for Turkish Cypriot officials - the ‘finance minister’ got an abacus.
A Turkish Cypriot man crossing in his car flashed a package of local coffee he had just bought from the government-controlled areas.
Another man holding a cucumber in each hand posed for photos in front of a sign welcoming visitors to the ‘TRNC’.
Sener Elcil, secretary general of teachers’ union KTOS, described Saturday’s seizures as fascism.
“They said it is illegal. Do you think there is a law” in the north? Elcil asked the Cyprus Mail. “In the north part of the island everything is based on orders they get from Turkey.”
Elcil suggested the north’s economy has collapsed due to ballooning expenditure stemming from the increasing arrivals of Turkish nationals who did not pay any taxes.
He said Turkish companies operating in the north were not paying taxes and there was no money to pay people’s salaries.
Quoting Turkish Cypriot daily newspaper Kibris, the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) said the breakaway state was in search of 50 million Turkish lira (€25.5 million) to pay the salaries, pensions and social insurance of ‘civil servants’.
Kibris said if the money is not found then the ‘finance ministry’ will ask Turkey for the funds as an advance on the annual financial package Ankara gives the breakaway state.
However, according to Kibris, Turkey has not yet replied to a previous request for an advance of 100 million Turkish lira (€51 million).
Turkish Cypriot ‘customs director’ Mustafa Cobanoglu said according to the Green Line Regulation, each individual is allowed to buy €135 worth of products from the government-controlled areas.
He said this amount does not include any kind of items but only those a person needs for their trip, CNA reported.
Electronics, spare parts, furniture, chairs and toys do not count as personal effects, he said.
A couple of items from a supermarket and one or two kilos of shopping are allowed, he added.
Cobanoglu said there is a recommendation to intensify checks as shopping from the government-controlled areas has recently risen.
This proposal is supported by the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce, he said.
The Turkish Cypriot official said items without an import permit will be seized and those caught hiding stuff they bought will be fined.
Most of the products found are toys, furniture, plants, meat and other meat products as well as milk and dairy products.
He noted that tolerance is exhibited regarding purchase of toys, meat or dairy products in small quantities, but that the purchase of five or 10 kilos of meat cannot be permitted.
http://www.cyprus-mail.com/cyprus/turkish-cypriots-protest-shopping-crack-down/20101222
wtf?...
