sadik wrote:
The only thing that this kind of behavior will achieve is further alienate the TCs and the GCs from each other. The problem in Cyprus is not a problem of criminal law and it is not a problem between individuals. The fact of the matter is that there are 40000 Turkish troops in the north, and Papadopoulos can do NOTHING about this, neither he has the desire to do anything about it, and he decides to go after individual TCs as if it's their fault. What is next? Am I also going to be arrested the next time I visit my GC friends, because I sold a case of diet coke and beer to construction workers?
The only thing that can effectively stop the construction on the GC property is a solution. And there is no hope in that area. For gods sake, it will have taken 2 years for Papadopoulos to meet Talat over a cup of cofee, if the meeting takes place today. What are we supposed to do as TCs? Wait for another 30 years, until the GCs come to terms with their unwillingless to share anything with the TCs, and accept to live in poverty indefinetly so that we "keep our motivation for a solution".
The only outcome of this kind of developments will be that the TCs will stop using the Larnaka airport and they will stop shopping at Marks and Spencer. This is the achievement they are after?
I have to agree with Sadik on this aspect.
If the RoC was to start enforcing its laws to the letter, practically there will be few TCs that wouldn’t be subjects to an arrested. This would have tremendously affected the already damaged climate between the two communities. This is why the RoC authorities -who by definition and by default have a duty to apply the law to its letter in all other cases relating to Cypriot citizens living in the south (G/Cs,) are essentially been asked to close their eyes and ignore any under the letter of the same law violations, that may affect Cypriot citizens living in the north (T/Cs.) This is a fact, and it relates to all aspects of life.
However, there are a few particularities in this case and other similar cases which could not have been ignored.
One relates to the Orams’ case, which coinsidentally is going to its hearing stage in the UK very soon. One of the Orams’ basic defending arguments in the British high court that examines the enforcement of the case (ruling) in the UK, is that the attempted application of RoC laws regarding property rights, is done very selectively and exclusively for her, and perhaps a few other foreigners (British,) in a discriminating fashion, while at the same it (RoC) chooses to ignore and not prosecute any TC that is involved in similar situations, even though they know within the letter of the law there is at least an equal involvement by TCs in this practice, and which are allowed to freely and systematically cross south without been questioned or prosecuted. This constitutes a double standard approach towards two sets of EU citizens. In this the Orams are right!
The second point I wanted to make relates to the fact that the arrested individual was not just an architect (and one can be pretty sure that there is almost no TC architect in the north that hasn’t at any stage made plans for construction on GC property in the north,) but was (the arrested T/C) also found to be a partner (not the major partner I believe) in a construction company in the north that has developed and started construction projects on GC land that the company currently “posseses.” Furthermore, the arrested T/C was also carrying plans and promotion material (brochures and leaflets in boxes) in his car (for unspecified but profound reasons,) while passing from the north to the south, something which means that he was also engaged in the promotion of this activity.
Now, given all the above, can the RoC authorities at the check point that searched his car and found this material -especially in an open space in which this was probably also been observed by other individuals, easily close their eyes and let it pass, and pretend that nothing is happening. It is a very difficult issue indeed. Any G/C that may attempt to do the same, either with GC land in the north, or T/C land in the south, is subject to the strictest enforcement of the law that will most certainly lead him to imprisonment. Yet, both G/Cs and T/Cs are regarded as citizens of the RoC, and they are both supposed to equal in the face of the law.
What I would say (and “suggest’) is that until this anomalous situation is ended in whichever way, the T/Cs that cross south to at least be careful in what they are carrying in their cars or to be careful in what kind of activities they are engaged with, while in the south -and there are some who even go to tourist areas in the south and approach real estate agents, tourist companies and even individual tourists, with the intent of promoting properties in the north, under the nose of G/C refugees and under the nose of the RoC authorities. Such practices are adding insult to injury and they live no other option to the authorities than to arrest and prosecute such individuals.
) prompted me having to leave pretty quickly 
.
