Checkpoint blocked after settlers refused entry
Published on August 27, 2011
OVER 700 Turkish settlers were sent packing from the Ayios Dhometios checkpoint yesterday after staging a protest when they were refused entry to travel to the Hala Sultan Tekke mosque in Larnaca.
Eighteen buses carrying 800 pilgrims arrived at the checkpoint but police refused them entry as the vast majority were found to be Turkish mainlanders.
Also 17 of the 18 buses did not have the correct insurance to cross, police said. The angry pilgrims descended from the buses and staged a protest at the checkpoint. One of the bus drivers then used his bus to block the crossing.
The protest was only resolved with the intervention of officials from the foreign and justice ministries, and the UN peacekeeping force.
In the end only 46 Turkish Cypriots on one bus were allowed to enter the Republic. The rest were sent back to the north amid their angry protests. “These people have been living in the TRNC for 30 years and you say they are not Turkish Cypriot,” one outraged man shouted.
Justice Minister Loucas Louca said later: ‘If any foreigner [other than EU citizens] wants to visit the Republic of Cyprus he must come from a legal port of entry.” He did not rule out that the event was staged deliberately to create an issue.
http://www.cyprus-mail.com/cyprus/check ... y/20110827
“These people have been living in the TRNC for 30 years and you say they are not Turkish Cypriot,” one outraged man shouted.
I think, "the light finally came on" for this settler.
Once an Illegal Alien, always an Illegal Alien, unless the RoC gives them a Cypriot Citizenship.
