Sener is a bit misinformed about some issues. For example the events of the coup are taught and condemned in our schools. The same with EOKA B. Also the leaders of the coup were jailed.
Beyond that, I understand that Sener would like Turkish Cypriots to be treated by Greek Cypriots as if nothing is happening. However our country is partly occupied by Turkey and the majority of TCs have unforunately chosen to be our enemies by siding with the Turkish occupation and supporting the illegalities.
In most countries those people would be considered traitors of the country, and would be send to jails. In Cyprus however a citizen (Turkish Cypriot) is able to support and help in the crimes that are committed against Republic of Cyprus, and not only he is not convicted, but he can receive free health care and several other benefits!
However I will accept the criticism of Sener for one important reason: Not all Turkish Cypriots support crimes and illegalities, and many of them would support Republic of Cyprus if they could.
Therefore I believe it is unfair for people like Sener Levent to be placed in the same category with the TCs who hate GCs and would do everything in their power to destroy Republic of Cyprus.
This is what I suggested some time ago which I believe would be fair:
Until today we are used to think of the Turkish Cypriot community as one. However maybe this is wrong. Some TCs do not support the illegalities and the Turkish occupation and they are victims of this occupation like we are.
Just like our government has helped the GC victims of the invasion and occupation they should also help the TC victims and bring them closer to RoC.
The hard point in this is to distinguish these innocent TCs from the ones that support the occupation and benefit on the loss of their Greek Cypriot compatriots.
Some measures I propose in this effect are:
- The day of the illegal elections in the occupied areas the RoC to organize full day events in the free areas for the Turkish Cypriots. This way RoC will know which TCs are participating in the pseudo elections and which ones are supporting RoC by boycotting them.
- One or Two year voluntary service in RoC. Just like GCs spent 2 years in the army the TCs can do 1 – 2 year voluntary work in RoC. This work can be related with the TC-GC relations and with the improvement of the living standards of the TCs that choose to live in the free areas, Turkish education in the free areas etc.
- Trade from legal ports and using the legal procedures. The TCs can register their businesses in RoC and have their taxes and behefits from RoC instead of the “TRNC”. RoC can maintain Turkish Cypriot governmental employees that will operate in the occupied areas and will make sure that this businesses are following the RoC requirements.
- Encourage TCs to express publicly their disagreement with the occupation regime and their support to RoC. (e.g. like the TC that raised the RoC flag and was arrested)
- TCs should register any land that was illegally given to them by the pseudo state and declare that this land does not belong to them and that they will not use it/rent it/ sell it or profit from it in any other way.
These are just some unrefined examples.
The TCs that do the above should be given their land in the free areas, as well as all the other benefits that GCs have (education, healthcare, RoC passport, pension etc).
Also, if/when their number is increased to a large percentage of the TC community these TCs can have their our separate representation in the government and in the parliament, and their elected people should be considered by RoC the representatives of the TC community, and not the leaders of the “TRNC” who are after all elected by a large number of settlers. Then RoC should discuss only with them (and with Turkey) and ignore the puppets of Turkey in the occupied areas.
This is of course not the solution, but it is I believe something that will help to integrate the TC community back to RoC and help our TC compatriots that are victims of the Turkish occupation like us.
