Cyprus-Forum.com

[zan]

I don't know if this has been asked or discussed before but I would like to explore what people think.

It is a time sometime in the near future and the island of Cyprus has reunified and all the people have returned to their homes. We have sorted out the problem for the higher ranking peoples of Cyprus and elections are set to take place.

The picture I want to discuss is what is happening with the little people. We seem to constantly argue about who and what should happen at government level but what would life be like for the normal working class Turkish Cypriot. What advantages will they have and what hardships.

Thank you for your response.

[andri_cy]

2015

[Eliko]

I would imagine that life will be precisely the same for all the 'little people' as it has ever been, they will be used and brain-washed in the same manner as they have been for centuries, whatever the situation the ruling minority will subject them to the new or existing rules of the times. I find it quite extraordinary that 'We' little people seem to get along with each other fine under normal circumstances yet can be cajoled into becoming violent racists at the whim of the 'ruling minority' under whose laws we are forced to kill for their protection, the ultimate reward we can expect is that they have license to exploit and rob us with impunity. The structure of society is faulty and will remain so untill 'We' of the world cry out in one voice "Enough !". I have travelled the world and never found any problem among the 'little people' (as you describe them), generally kindness and a genuine interest in the differences which exist between cultures, providing of course you exhibit respect for them as they do to you.

[Piratis]

The picture I want to discuss is what is happening with the little people. We seem to constantly argue about who and what should happen at government level but what would life be like for the normal working class Turkish Cypriot. What advantages will they have and what hardships.

And why you refer only for Turkish Cypriots in this case? Cypriots in general will have the chance to return to their homes and violations against their human rights and illegalities would end.

Turkish Cypriots will of course not have any illegally acquired advantages, e.g. doubling their property by keeping as their own the property of their GC neighbor who has been ethnically cleansed, but they will have the advantage of living in a normal democratic modern European country. Their standards of living will increase instantly, they will be earning more money, they will have access to better infrastructure (roads, hospitals etc) and they will be free from the control of Turkey that is using them for her own strategic reasons. Most importantly they would have secured peace for themselves and their children, since as it is now, living in an unrecognized state illegally created on land that does not belong to them, is like a time bomb that is going to explode sooner or later.

[zan]

I would imagine that life will be precisely the same for all the 'little people' as it has ever been, they will be used and brain-washed in the same manner as they have been for centuries, whatever the situation the ruling minority will subject them to the new or existing rules of the times. I find it quite extraordinary that 'We' little people seem to get along with each other fine under normal circumstances yet can be cajoled into becoming violent racists at the whim of the 'ruling minority' under whose laws we are forced to kill for their protection, the ultimate reward we can expect is that they have license to exploit and rob us with impunity. The structure of society is faulty and will remain so untill 'We' of the world cry out in one voice "Enough !". I have travelled the world and never found any problem among the 'little people' (as you describe them), generally kindness and a genuine interest in the differences which exist between cultures, providing of course you exhibit respect for them as they do to you.

I agree with what you are saying but I want to get down to details of daily life. For instance I have taken a single profession, like being a policeman for instance, and gone through the process of applying for a job. I don’t see many hardships for the GCs in this but I can see many for the TC. First of all the interviewers will be GC. The areas for which I will be used will be limited to TC populated areas and so on.

There is also the cost of all these houses that are to be returned. How will a poorer TC afford to buy one or afford the rent. The TC will be forced into poorer housing. Could these become the ghettos of Cyprus.

What I am asking is should there be a law passed for positive discrimination. What would the GC majority think of that because it is creating great tension in the UK.

[andri_cy]

Zan, if there were to be a solution, and say Turkey were to be held responsible for (lets not argue about the invasion right now) fact that they stayed longer than maybe necessary, and they were found "guilty" by some kind of committee or I don't know what to call it, they might end up having to not only compensate the GC refugees that cannot return, I would think it would be fair to assume and demand that the TC's be compensated too. This is all hypothetical and I don't know how it would work. Also if the RoC has taken TC land using the eminent domain law, the TC who owned the land will also get compensated by the RoC I am sure that there will be ways to overcome all this were it to happen. Also, taking your example of a policeman, why would the interviewers be solely GC's? I would assume there would be a lot of integration. Maybe a mix of interviewers. Maybe make it so people who are hired to be cops speak both languages, no matter what their dominant language is and so forth. I know a bunch of people are now going to get all riled up and start telling me how this doesn't sound realistic and all that BS, but I am just throwing something out there

[souroul]

the only problem i see is turkish settlers, people that invested or live in stolen GC property, and Turkey trying to get into our "unified" internal affairs

[zan]

Zan, if there were to be a solution, and say Turkey were to be held responsible for (lets not argue about the invasion right now) fact that they stayed longer than maybe necessary, and they were found "guilty" by some kind of committee or I don't know what to call it, they might end up having to not only compensate the GC refugees that cannot return, I would think it would be fair to assume and demand that the TC's be compensated too. This is all hypothetical and I don't know how it would work. Also if the RoC has taken TC land using the eminent domain law, the TC who owned the land will also get compensated by the RoC I am sure that there will be ways to overcome all this were it to happen. Also, taking your example of a policeman, why would the interviewers be solely GC's? I would assume there would be a lot of integration. Maybe a mix of interviewers. Maybe make it so people who are hired to be cops speak both languages, no matter what their dominant language is and so forth. I know a bunch of people are now going to get all riled up and start telling me how this doesn't sound realistic and all that BS, but I am just throwing something out there

We cannot become a nation of compensation hunters. It is not the language that will be the problem either. I am getting the feeling that either you guys are not comfortable with discussing this issue or that you are all too young to appreciate the prejudices that people will no doubt have to face. Lets take off the rose coloured specs and see it as it is. The working class TCs will enter into a united Cyprus as second class citizens and I would like to discuss what you think these difficulties will be. TCs will be turned away from jobs just for being TCs and there will also be practical reasons why a TC cannot be utilised for a particular trade. Give me some reasons why the TCs should accept these difficulties and agree to a united Cyprus. Minority status, second class status and only second to the settlers.

[cypezokyli]

Zan, if there were to be a solution, and say Turkey were to be held responsible for (lets not argue about the invasion right now) fact that they stayed longer than maybe necessary, and they were found "guilty" by some kind of committee or I don't know what to call it, they might end up having to not only compensate the GC refugees that cannot return, I would think it would be fair to assume and demand that the TC's be compensated too. This is all hypothetical and I don't know how it would work. Also if the RoC has taken TC land using the eminent domain law, the TC who owned the land will also get compensated by the RoC I am sure that there will be ways to overcome all this were it to happen. Also, taking your example of a policeman, why would the interviewers be solely GC's? I would assume there would be a lot of integration. Maybe a mix of interviewers. Maybe make it so people who are hired to be cops speak both languages, no matter what their dominant language is and so forth. I know a bunch of people are now going to get all riled up and start telling me how this doesn't sound realistic and all that BS, but I am just throwing something out there

We cannot become a nation of compensation hunters. It is not the language that will be the problem either. I am getting the feeling that either you guys are not comfortable with discussing this issue or that you are all too young to appreciate the prejudices that people will no doubt have to face. Lets take off the rose coloured specs and see it as it is. The working class TCs will enter into a united Cyprus as second class citizens and I would like to discuss what you think these difficulties will be. TCs will be turned away from jobs just for being TCs and there will also be practical reasons why a TC cannot be utilised for a particular trade. Give me some reasons why the TCs should accept these difficulties and agree to a united Cyprus. Minority status, second class status and only second to the settlers.

this is the (usual) pessimistic perspective.
which ofcource hides some truths in it.
first, you forget that when it comes to unskilled workers there are already several thousands that work in the south. they in the process learn the basic greek they need in some way it works.

now for skilled workers. obviously, a tc who cannot speak greek is of no use for a gc businessman who trades or does business with gcs. BUT, the same businessman (for obvious reasons) would like to expand his business in the north, and he doesnt speak not a single word of turkish. nor does he know the realities of the tc society. so which kind of employee is he going to need ?
(capitalism has no moral values, but based on pure self-interest is most of the times not-racist)

obviously, the people that will receive priority are the ones who manage to become billingual. with compulsory billigualism in both parts of cypriot educational systems, in a matter of 15-20 years this problem should be reduced.

in the meantime we ofcource need to start working on possible racism, and discrimination. mixed schools is always a good idea... even though coming back to the cypriot reality, we need also to acknowledge that rousfet is already a form of discrimination and its all over the place.


lastly, if you also agree workers rights should be respected in both parts of cyprus

[miltiades]

When a political party evolves encompassing Cypriots with the only criteria being their political skills , educational standing and exclusive commitment to the Cypriot people and actively engaged in promoting the Cypriot identity ( if Potatoes and vegetables can be called produce of Cyprus -Not Greek or Turkish - ) then the little people will live happily ever after . I'm proud of my Cypriotness to the extend that I will happily and joyfully rally behind the leader of any party that has as its agenda the welfare of the Cypriot people. Greek , Russian ,Turkish , Armenian or from outer space , no problem provided he is above all a Cypriot.