Cyprus-Forum.com

[humanist]

bill cobett

Yes here it is...

"gc" .... 0%
"tc" .... 0%
CY .... 100%

.......... good response bill

halil may like to offer more information I heard it from him earlier in this post

[CBBB]

Did someone actually count the number of TCs and GCs?

Yes they have... just need to find the results of the census. Back in a mo...

Yes here it is...

"gc" .... 0%
"tc" .... 0%
CY .... 100%

So how was it claimed that there were more TCs.

It must be figures from the pseudo-government of the occupied territories, they are always trying to convince everyone that there are more TC's than there actually are!

[Viewpoint]

Did someone actually count the number of TCs and GCs?

Yes they have... just need to find the results of the census. Back in a mo...

Yes here it is...

"gc" .... 0%
"tc" .... 0%
CY .... 100%

So how was it claimed that there were more TCs.

It must be figures from the pseudo-government of the occupied territories, they are always trying to convince everyone that there are more TC's than there actually are!

Hello its says 0???

[CBBB]

So how was it claimed that there were more TCs.

It must be figures from the pseudo-government of the occupied territories, they are always trying to convince everyone that there are more TC's than there actually are!

Hello its says 0???

I was referring to your previous comment.

[EricSeans]

Here's a nice picky for a quiet Sunday evening.

This is the Activity Centre in the Buffer Zone.

A reminder that it is in the ownership of the Kykko Monastery and that a few days ago the police of the Free Areas along with the Monastery tried to evict the Occupiers and doubtless we'll see more on this in the next few days,

... which is a shame cos as some of you will know Kykko has a very fine 1,000 year old tradition in the Liberation Struggle, right up to giving sanctuary and succour to the fighters of the '50s and also to Big Mak during his flight from the Greek Coupists of '74.

Really to be regretted that Kykko can't show the same support to this new way of fighting the Struggle, not by giving its leave cos Occupations and Protest don't need permissions but by giving its Blessing by way of taking no steps, to do nothing to hinder the action.

An UNFICYP spokeswoman once told me, on the record: "We encourage more and more people to move back into the Buffer Zone." This would lead to "normalisation" and confidence-building, she added.

If this is still official policy, why aren't they appearing to be more pro-active?

At a guess Eric and stress it's just a guess...there are mixed signals coming from UNFICYP... they seem to be tolerating the protest as long as it stays within a very small physical space but as soon as the occupiers step outside the limit, the UNPol work with others to bring it back within some limit. We saw a couple of things that may lead us to think this, in the matter of the generator that was pinched by the TA from outside the limit and in the matter of UNPol working with Kykko Monastery and the police of the Free Areas to try and end the occupation of the two buildings belonging to the Monastery.

Reminders also that there are some very bureaucratic guidelines for civilian use of the buffer zone and that at the heart of Occupations all over the World is a foundation principal that there is no need whatsoever to seek permission to protest. Indeed it's been central to occupations and mass trespasses going back to the 1930's that the protest is enhanced by the anarchic breaking or bending of the normal laws of property, trespass etc.

Also has to be said that the UN would prob like to see reconciliation events held within the UN compound over at the Lydra Palace by far more traditional groups in a nice and polite and controlled and contrived environment but naturally that venue with the formality that goes with it won't appeal to many young CYs.

Again... all the above just some guesses.

I think that's pretty much spot on, Bill. The UN quote came after my snapper and I spotted signs of inhabitance in some bullet-scarred building on the BZ patrol track in the Green Line. It turned out to be an old GC lady who had remained in her house (along with her many cats) after everyone else fled in 1963-64. She was in complete isolation and her daily needs were provided by the UN, so this was of some PR value to UNFICYP.

As you say, it's so much easier for them to manage controlled protest between the NG and TF lines without causing any pesky annoyance to either side. And photo calls are so much more atmospheric at the Ledra Palace!

[bill cobbett]

Eric and others, on the matter of the UN role in this we touched on yesterday ...

This is a very interesting piece on the UN in this affair from one of the Occupiers. Very, very interesting indeed ... It's a must read, reproduced as found...

(It's from http://www.facebook.com/notes/μιχάλης-ελευθερίου/pretty-absurd-for-a-tuesday/10150463962751875)

Pretty Absurd for a Tuesday
by Μιχάλης Ελευθερίου on Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at 12:24am
On Tuesday 10th January I arrived at the Buffer Zone just past 7.30pm for one of the Workshops taking place in our new Activity Centre.

I was just screeching my way into the Dead Zone pulling on the brakes of my bicycle when a familiar and over appeasing face met me with a smile, “hello” I said, worried whether I could recall in time how I knew this man. My phone rang “there’s some guy here looking for you, Gerard, he’s…” I interrupted “he’s standing in front of me.”

Gerard told me that he had an important topic to discuss with me about the movement and that he hoped we could go get a coffee. I recognised him now, he had visited us once before pretending to be a civilian, he even wrote some graffiti on the wall with us. “Could we meet tomorrow, just I’ve come for a workshop that’s starting soon.” I asked. He explained to me that it was imperative that we speak today, and said he was rather hoping we could go to Starbucks for a coffee. “Starbucks?!” I commented. As we only had around twenty minutes, I invited him into the social space to sit down.

We were alone. He went on to explain that he was a “peace keeper” from the UN. He appeared shrewd, cunning and utterly dull. He began to speak about how we should be using our influence in a more constructive manner as a movement, and that he wanted to make me an invitation. He stressed that he wasn’t coming as the UN, but as ‘Gerard speaking.’ He went on “this is an important time for the negotiation process and you should be using your influence as a movement in a way that impacts on these talks. There is a very important one in New York soon.” I immediately knew something was wrong “we don’t live on the clouds here and I’m pretty sure that you don’t either, and I’m very sure that you know our occupation has virtually no impact on the farce that we call ‘peace negotiations’.” I concluded calmly “so knowing very well that you know this, what are you doing here?” - “You are hurting the only organisation that is fighting for the same as you.” I asked how we were hurting the UN, and got no response. I asked several times during the conversation and didn’t receive an answer until mentioning that I hadn’t yet got one. He eventually replied “the north and the south are getting increasingly irritated.” I suppressed a smile “by what?” – “some of the stuff that you guys are writing here, like the support for Halil, and then they’re calling the UN asking why we aren’t doing anything about it.” – I was shocked “and what should you be telling them? Shouldn’t the UN be supporting a boy that has been put into military prison for writing in a BLOG about abuses conscripts suffer in the army?!” He squinted his eyes and looked into me as though about to pierce the air with ungodly wisdom, and said “but, would that not happen in Afghanistan?” – I could only distort my face at the absurdity and squeal “what does that even mean?”. He then went on to tell me, in a dramatic and sombre tone, “I personally know 3 UN soldiers that have left their families and died here in Cyprus. Do you think that's right?” this proceeded an invitation to go to the UN headquarters and ‘check out the work they do here’ I was shocked “killed in Cyprus?” I thought, and then for a split second analysed a thousand doubts, before he then went on to clarify “not in conflict, one man was crossing the road and got run over by a boy racing his Mercedes” my eyebrows turned in “I had to call his family” he leaned back in his chair slightly, as far back as British people tend to lean back in their chairs, and puffed “that wasn’t an easy phone call to make.” He then cast me that same intense look he had done before, only now I knew it would be followed by obscene banality “I mean, it’s not as bad as telling them that they got killed in conflict, but it’s still pretty bad.” I expressed that it was very unfortunate indeed what happened to that man, but couldn’t understand how this related to our occupation, I don’t think he was sure either. “Do you think it’s right, Mihalis, that these men should lose their lives, here in Cyprus. Are their human rights not worth as much as yours?” I began to consider two possibilities; that this man sitting in front of me was obscenely stupid, or that he thought I was. Somewhere between frightening disbelief and thoroughly enjoying myself, I requested we move on to a new topic. After appealing to the movement’s ego by implying that we are somehow principal players in the peace negotiations failed, Gerard took a different angle “you know why I think you’re here?” he said confidently, “because you’re all too coward, to go out there, and do it where it really counts… taking this outside the presidential palace.” I paused until there was a definite reign of silence and said slowly “they really didn’t send me the smartest one did they?” To which he replied instantly, “no they didn’t”, quickly becoming blank as if realising what he had said. He also managed, with that, to confess that he wasn’t coming as ‘Gerard speaking’, but that somebody sent him. I continued “we are not so simple habibi [sic] that you can come in here and say ‘I double dare you coward’ and we all go running to the presidential palace. We are not here for a bit of excitement, we are here to protest this system and division in which we live, to raise awareness of that system amongst our peers and we understand, as do you, the great significance of the place that we are occupying. We are not doing this for a bit of excitement or because we’re bored as the UN has stated.” Gerard made a desperate last attempt “do you know what I think Mihalis? That this is the most rebellious thing you’ve ever done, that you’re a rich kid from a rich family, that you’ve never had to do anything and you’ve had it easy, never had a problem in your life.” He smiled as if expecting me to shatter into pieces before his piercingly accurate character analysis. Of course, he was as far off the mark as had so quickly become characteristic of him. I told him that he was pretty bad at the psychology stuff and it was almost a fair try. I stood up and he remained seated, awkwardly expectant as if I was rising to have a stretch. He eventually understood that our conversation had ended.

(ME continues...)

Funny shit aside, there are some important points...

Because we are in a public space, and because our means of communication is essentially public too (social media), we have no privacy. I believe we should internalise this reality as a policy: complete transparency. These ridiculous meddlings should be made public. I have since checked and Mr Gerard is very high ranking in the UN, definitely ‘in the top 5’ I have on good authority. Which leads me to the second point. A desperate attempt (and this was a pretty desperate attempt) often comes as a last attempt before a drastic action. The UN has a ‘job’ to do, first and foremost. The fact that we are in the Buffer Zone of course has many implications for this job, from their image in controlling the area to their relationship with the two sides. The UN, of course, does not want to deal with this complication, which is what we essentially are for them. This is not the first warning we have had recently and I think it’s safe to assume that we can expect more meddling from the UN between the two sides (like the stunt with the generator) and any other sabotage, infiltration and/or other tricks to weaken or finish with the occupation whilst the public rhetoric remains that of neutrality. It is for this reason that I think transparency of this type of information is foremost. We need to be prepared, vigilant, active, public and transparent. The rhetoric is changing, the mask of tolerance is falling, and we need to raise awareness of this. So please, send this on, and hell, it’s pretty funny shit anyway.

[repulsewarrior]

...thanks bill.

Freedom for Cyprus!

Cheers!

[B25]

Well the next time you bump into this dickhead Mixalis, you should tell him to remind these corrupt UN officials of the UN Charter and that Turkey is in complete violation of every resolution and what the hell are they doing talking to Mixalis instead of forcing Turkey to abide by internationl law. FFS.

The buffer zone movement, consists of a bunch of unemployed gypsies from both sides, who have nothing better to do. Pft!

[bill cobbett]

Indication this morning of more aggressive approach from the Pisskeepers of UNFICYP who have forcibly removed a banner calling for the release of Halil Karapasaoglu , the imprisoned CY, on the grounds that it "offended someone".

From... http://www.facebook.com/OccupyBufferZone

[B25]

Indication this morning of more aggressive approach from the Pisskeepers of UNFICYP who have forcibly removed a banner calling for the release of Halil Karapasaoglu , the imprisoned CY, on the grounds that it "offended someone".

From... http://www.facebook.com/OccupyBufferZone

They are acting under turkish orders, what d'you think?

Dare anyone offend the ottomans huh!