kimon07 wrote:The Diamond Jubilee celebrations are taking place these days, marking 60 years of the Queen’s reign. The Queen came to the throne on 6th February 1952. Her Coronation took place on 2nd June 1953. It’s proper, I believe, to congratulate the English people and our English friends in the forum.
Diamond Jubilee.jpg
But I also find it necessary to remind our members of another event that marked Cyprus the day of the coronation and was triggered by it:
On June 2nd 1953, Evagoras Pallikarides, age 15, starts his anti-British/pro Enosis activities by bringing down and ripping to pieces the British Flag which was flying in his school in Paphos. His act triggers student demonstrations against Britain in the whole of Paphos. Paphos thus becomes the only place in the Commonwealth were celebrations for the Crowning of the new Queen did not take place.
Ευαγόρας Παλληκαρίδης.jpg
Pallikarides was arrested but let free due to his age.
About the motives for his action he writes:
"…. Στην Κύπρο την αθάνατη,
την Κύπρο τη γενναία
είναι καιρός να στήσουμε
Ελληνική σημαία."
(It’s time to raise the Greek flag in immortal and beautiful Cyprus).
………………..
An excellent student, athlete and poet. In a poem to his sweetheart he expresses his love for her but also for Greece at the same time (“…It is you and Greece I love…”).
When he decided to join EOKA he left to his class mates his most known poem «Θα πάρω μιάν ανηφοριά θα πάρω μονοπάτια, να βρώ τα σκαλοπάτια πού παν στη Λευθεριά…….» (“I will take an uphill road I will follow paths to find the steps which lead to freedom”).
Read all.
http://www.executedtoday.com/2008/03/14 ... likarides/Pallikarides fought for a year before being apprehended (in December 1986) with a gun illegally in his possession — a hanging crime under British anti-terrorism laws, but as Pallikarides was just the ninth (and last) EOKA man executed, it seems plain that law was not receiving draconian enforcement. At least one author claims that the authorities threw the book at him on the gun charge because of a murder they believed he committed as a guerrilla but could not prove.
The fact that he turned 19 a fortnight before his execution likewise did not avail him clemency — as the young rebel predicted in court:
(During his trial he rejected the appointment of defence attorneys and he admitted guilty as charged. He tells the judge: “I know you will hang me. I acted as a Greek Cypriot who seeks his freedom. That is all.”)
He is sentenced to death by Hanging. Many prominent Cypriots and foreigners ask the British government to grant him pardon. All petitions are rejected by Marshal Harding and the British government (the royal prerogative of mercy)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pardon#United_KingdomA few days prior to his execution, he finishes his last short note with these words:
“……..It’s a good thing to die for Greece. The time is 7:30. The most beautiful day of my life. The most beautiful time. Don’t ask why.”
To his parents and relatives who visit him prior to his execution: He asks them not to grief and morn for…..
“… I gave an oath, to die for my country and I kept my oath”.
http://www.drasis-kes.org/general-artic ... llikaridisI wonder. Was Pallikarides a Greek or just a “Greek wannabe”?
