Cyprus-Forum.com

[iskismet]

I draw attention to this, not because I am biased, but because if we all know about it and do nothing we are all guilty of being conspirators. It then hardly becomes us to criticise any nation for the abuse of human rights if this is happening under our noses.

'Amnesty International has once again found Greek Cypriot police guilty of disregard for the due process of law and of carrying out systematic torture. The findings of the human rights organization, which expressed particular concern over arrest and custodial procedure, were published in the Greek Cypriot press on May 4.

Public disclosure last autumn of a police torture chamber in Limassol had already created a public furor (sic), leading to questions about the entire criminal justice system South Cyprus.

Amnesty, in its report, first highlighted the case of Salih Askeroglu, a Turkish Cypriot residing in the South who was beaten up by a police "anti- terrorist squad" after his home was entered and searched without a warrant.

A second incident involved in the report concerned another Turkish Cypriot, Erkan Egmez, who had been kidnapped by Greek Cypriot Ombudsman Nicos Charalambous, which confirmed police malpractice and described how Mr. Egmez had been severely tortured on several occasions.

Reports in the April 30 issue of the Greek Cypriot newspaper "Vima" unequivocally stated that Mr. Egmez became a victim -"the sole reason being that he was a Turkish Cypriot". '

[Piratis]

Again you show how biased and one sided you are. You looked hard to find one case of Turkish Cypriot to make this propaganda, while the human rights of 200.000 Greek Cypriot refugees are violated every day for the last 30 years.

Incidents like the one you mention happen everywhere, and they are of course unfortunate, they are condemned and they should be stopped.

For example in the USA and UK massive violations of human rights happen. I am not referring to the murders that the UK and USA soldiers commit in Iraq against innocents, or the inhumane treatment of Iraqis in jails there, I am referring to incidents that happen within those countries.

For example:

Serious human rights violations have taken place as a consequence of the United Kingdom (UK) authorities’ response to the 11 September 2001 attacks in the USA.

Foreign nationals - most, if not all, either asylum-seekers or recognized refugees in the UK - have been detained without charge or trial, for an unspecified and potentially unlimited period of time under the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 (ATCSA), passed as a response to the 11 September attacks.

By mid-September 2002, 11 people had been detained without charge or trial after being certified as "suspected international terrorists" under the ATCSA. The certification is based on secret information, which has not been disclosed to the detainees and which cannot be effectively challenged by them or their lawyers.

At least 25 more people had been arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000, some of whom were released without charge. The UK authorities have also detained a number of individuals on extradition warrants received from other governments, including France and the USA.

Some of these detainees have been held in conditions amounting to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment in high security prisons in the UK. Detainees have been subjected to "small-group isolation" and continue to be held in 22-hour-a-day lock-up. They have not received adequate health care. Such a regime can lead to a serious physical and mental deterioration.
....
http://web.amnesty.org/web/wire.nsf/November2002/UK

Human rights violations should not happen in any EU country, and I am sure that you agree with me that all such violations should be condemned and stooped right away.

I draw attention to this, not because I am biased, but because if we all know about it and do nothing we are all guilty of being conspirators. It then hardly becomes us to criticize any nation for the abuse of human rights if this is happening under our noses.

So the abuses of human rights that as you say "happen under your nose" indeed happen, and they are much closer to your nose that you thought.

Instead of accusations and propaganda I believe it would be better to see this issue as EU citizens that want to stop all human right violations in our union. I am also sure you would agree with me that the human rights violations of 200.000 Greek Cypriots should completely stop right away, just like any other human right abuses should stop, and that those people should be allowed to return to their homes and their properties.

[iskismet]

Absolutely right, I agree with most of what you are saying - I am taking action by being a member of Amnesty and also writing to my member of parliament.

But why am I biased by putting that up on a mainly GC site. What I am trying to do is involve you all - with enough pressure the RoC, TRNC and the UK, and the others will have to rethink their policies on human rights.

What have you done about it Piratis, apart from talk on this site?

[Piratis]

Absolutely right, I agree with most of what you are saying - I am taking action by being a member of Amnesty and also writing to my member of parliament.

Ok, thats good

But why am I biased by putting that up on a mainly GC site.

I believe most active members here are Turkish Cypriots actually ...

What I am trying to do is involve you all - with enough pressure the RoC, TRNC and the UK, and the others will have to rethink their policies on human rights.

What have you done about it Piratis, apart from talk on this site?

I must admit that I am not an activist, and I agree that if more of us were more active that less human rights violations would happen.

On the other hand, I do not support any human right violations either. By showing your support to the illegal "TRNC" you do support the violation of the human rights of 200.000 people (and in extent all Cypriots).
This is not because the "TRNC" violates some human rights the same way that UK or RoC might do it. This is because the very existence of the illegal "TRNC" is based on massive human rights violations. This is to say that if human rights violations didn't happen, "TRNC" would not exist. So supporting the "TRNC" and being a human rights activist at the same time is a paradox (not to use a heavier word).

[iskismet]

You are beginning to sound almost human Piratis