Cyprus-Forum.com

[Alasya]

Its interesting how this forum receives a forago of postings regarding Turkish human rights violations, but none from the "RoC". I visited the Cyprus Action Network. www.cyprusaction.org a G/C website which raises concerns about the human rights of T/Cs in South Cyprus.

Below is the article:

Republic of Cyprus: Preliminary Report on Human Rights Issues and Violations (government-controlled areas).
Last Edited: February 8th 2004. This is an evolving document. Please use the edition date when referencing

While most international attention during the past few decades has for obvious reasons focused on human rights violations in Cyprus by Turkey, human rights issues in the Republic of Cyprus (or rather the government-controlled areas or simply the "South") rarely receive appropriate attentioni. Yet, human rights issues in the South deserve closer attention as evidence demonstrates major deficiencies in several areas. We, as the Cyprus Action Network, would like to invite both Cypriots and non-Cypriots to provide us with evidence and reports that could help us expose human rights violations. We believe that old-fashioned state practices and mentalities will start to change only through widespread publication of these incidents.

While human rights should be observed by all states under all occasions, the human rights record of the Republic of Cyprus is particularly important for political reasons. The prospect of reunifying Cyprus IS dependent on human rights issues, particularly on those relating to Turkish Cypriots. If the Republic of Cyprus is to evolve into a bi-communal federation in the future with a Turkish Cypriot and a Greek Cypriot constituent state (as it claims it aspires to do), then the continuation of its current administrative practices, social prejudices, and discriminatory policies will certainly constitute important obstacles to this evolution. In contrast, if the Republic of Cyprus develops solid multicultural policies, it will diminish the chances for ethnic tension and it will provide a smoother transition to a new bi-communal and multicultural state.

The Cyprus Action Network is particularly concerned with the rights of the Turkish Cypriot community before a settlement is reached. The occupation of northern Cyprus and the properties of the Greek Cypriots in the North by the Turkish military should not serve as an excuse to allow human rights violations in the South. Likewise, the continuation of ethnic conflict and the absence of a settlement should not justify prejudices and different types of discrimination against the Turkish Cypriots or any other group.

We believe that the opening of the "Green Line" in April 2003 presents a challenge for the Greek Cypriot authorities, which they have not yet managed to deal with it effectively. Many Turkish Cypriots have expressed disappointment regarding their treatment in the South, by authorities and the general public alike. The lack of goodwill and effort in the South to make Turkish Cypriots and other marginalized groups feel comfortable undermines the vision of a trust-based multicultural society that EU membership implies. As the numerical majority, the Greek Cypriots should try their hardest to build good relationships with marginalized groups. It is important to note that even the strongest opponents of Denktash, such as Sener Levent (editor of Afrika) ii and Ibrahim Aziz (TC journalist residing in the South)iii have expressed complaints about their treatment by Greek Cypriot authorities on different occasions.

We would like to stress that this document is not a full report, but rather an effort to outline the human rights debate. Therefore, we would like to invite friends of the Cyprus Action Network and other activists to contribute to this debate. We will be glad to consider these contributions for publication in our website. There are several topics pertaining to the Cyprus conflict and immigration. The Republic of Cyprus has an unfortunate historical record involving high levels of inter-communal violence, as well as a fortunate one of economic performance that made the South a magnet for immigrants from the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and the Black Sea countries.

The Greek Cypriot press pays close attention to human rights violations in the island. We strongly recommend all newspapers for research purposes and in particular the dailies Politis ("Citizen") and Cyprus Mail as well as the Agence France Presse (French Press Agency), which we have used for the writing of this preliminary document. More specifically, we would like to invite factually accurate contributions in the following sub-categories:

Pre-1974 History of Human Rights Violations
Post-1974 Human Rights Violations of Turkish Cypriots
Delays in the Application of Measures for Turkish Cypriot (aiming at the equality of members of the two communities) announced in 2003
Prisons in the Republic of Cyprus
Human Rights Violations and Immigrants in the Republic of Cyprus
Gender Equality and Domestic Violence
Illegal Turkish Immigrants in the North
The National Guard

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i This review was prepared by Alexandra Manglis, Olga Demetriou, Neophytos Loizides and Elena Georgiou, as well as other Cyprus Action Network members.

[Piratis]

Alasya, how about RoC sending to jail Turkish Cypriots that illegally occupy property that does not belong to them, that do not pay their taxes, that do not respect the law etc. You only seem to want your rights from RoC, without having any responsibilities. You want to receive everything from RoC, while at the same time you try to destroy RoC. In other countries this would be considered treason and punished with the heaviest of penalties.

What we have in Cyprus today is an abnormal situation cause by the occupation. Of course TCs would prefer if GCs would be the only ones who suffered from this abnormality, while they would be able to enjoy their full rights in RoC without any responsibilities and without obeying the law.

Our refugees don't go to RoC to complain about the violations of their human rights. They know that the occupation is responsible and not RoC. You should do the same, and protest against Turkey, against the occupation, against the illegal "TRNC". Those are the ones who stop both TCs and GCs from enjoying their full human rights.

[erolz]

Alasya....

I think you have rather missed the point of the Cyprus Action Network article.

[Piratis]

I didn't miss any point. Their point is that while TCs can deny to us our most basic human rights, pay no respect to RoC, pay no taxes and are trying to brake RoC apart, they should be treated like other law obeying citizens.

[erolz]

I didn't miss any point. Their point is that while TCs can deny to us our most basic human rights, pay no respect to RoC, pay no taxes and are trying to brake RoC apart, they should be treated like other law obeying citizens.

If the Republic of Cyprus is to evolve into a bi-communal federation in the future with a Turkish Cypriot and a Greek Cypriot constituent state (as it claims it aspires to do), then the continuation of its current administrative practices, social prejudices, and discriminatory policies will certainly constitute important obstacles to this evolution. In contrast, if the Republic of Cyprus develops solid multicultural policies, it will diminish the chances for ethnic tension and it will provide a smoother transition to a new bi-communal and multicultural state.

Or do you think worrying about developing 'solid multicultural policies' is only something that should be worried about after you get what back what you want or not worried about ever?

Their point, it seems to me, is about what people in the RoC can do to make the RoC a 'better' place to live in. In this sense it has nothing to do with TC per se, it has to do with what RoC citizens can and should be doing. This is far from your 'interpretation' of what their 'point' is. Still you do the same to any 'point' you do not like the conclusions of, so I should nto be surprised to see you do this once more I guess.

[pantelis]

Dear Pirati,
A violation of human rights is just that, there is no room for excuses or justification.

[Othellos]

Its interesting how this forum receives a forago of postings regarding Turkish human rights violations, but none from the "RoC". I visited the Cyprus Action Network. www.cyprusaction.org a G/C website which raises concerns about the human rights of T/Cs in South Cyprus.

From a quick look that I took at the above link, I noticed that the site posts articles about human rights violations throughout Cyprus (free and occupied areas). Also I am not so sure about this web site being exclusively owned by GC's, as under "local contacts" Greek and Turkish names and email addresses are listed. None of them btw seem to reside in Cyprus. Other than that, I will agree with what Piratis seems to suggest: that when it comes to human rights then these must equally apply to all. I will also agree with Pantelis that "a violation of human rights is just that, there is no room for excuses or justification".

Wishing you all a Happy and Healthy 2005

O.

[brother]

Alright so when will you be arresting the GC in TC homes and lands and when will the ROC goverment be toppled for holding TC lands for ransom under the illusion of settlement.

First start practising before preaching values.