Temperatures to soar

Cyprus Social Ecology Movement reiterated the need to protect workers from direct sunlight and called for the revision of legislation.


“The high temperatures in combination with increased humidity over the last few days in Cyprus, brings back the serious issue of the ‘wretched conditions’ of workers in the outdoors in the insufferable heat and temperatures totally unsuitable for the human body,” the movement said.


The CSEM said the law did not include workers exposed to direct sunlight. It said the lack of legislation was a serious deficit which left workers exposed to danger and even jeopardised their lives. It also went on to accuse employers of indifference when it came to offering adequate protection to their employees who were forced to work under heatwave conditions and very high temperatures.

Thousands of Turkish Cypriots say ‘no’ to Ankara austerity

CLOSE TO 30,000 Turkish Cypriots rallied in the northern part of Nicosia yesterday calling for the Turkish government in Ankara to withdraw an economic austerity package that they say will force the community to emigrate.


“This country is ours. We will govern ourselves!” read banners carried by throngs of protesters yesterday at what was undoubtedly the largest rally staged by the community since those in support of a UN-backed plan to reunite the island in 2004.


Discontent has been growing in the north since Ankara forced the ruling National Unity Party (UBP) to implement from January 1 sweeping austerity measures aimed at cutting back on what it sees as the north’s bloated public sector. Some salaries in the sector have been cut by up to 40 per cent, and there are plans to privatize some of the north’s ‘state–run’ corporations – a move unions believe will lead to mass redundancies.


Although primarily aimed at the Turkish government, many used yesterday’s protest to express support for the reunification of the island.


“We want the world to hear that we want peace and reunification. We want a future,” said 40 year-old Ayse Oz.


Others expressed a simple desire for self-determination - something many said even Ankara, the breakaway state’s benefactor, had refused to grant the community.


“We want to rule ourselves. Right now we don’t have sovereignty, but this is our country; we have to be the ones to run it,” 64 year-old retired Salih Pilli told the Cyprus Mail.


A similar rally on January 28 gathered over 10,000 protesters and provoked the anger of Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan who, after seeing banners calling on Ankara to “leave the Turkish Cypriots alone”, blasted the community for being recipients Turkish financial aid while simultaneously telling Ankara to get out of its affairs. Erdogan raised tension in February by replacing his ‘ambassador’ to Nicosia with Halil Ibrahim Akca, the chief architect of the austerity package.


Clearly angered by what they saw as Erdogan’s “insults” to the community, many of yesterday’s rallygoers again carried banners calling on his Justice and Development Party (AKP) to “get your hands off the Turkish Cypriots” – a move that can be expected to further irritate the Turkish leader.


Speaking to the rally, head of the Turkish Cypriot Teachers’ Union (KTOS) Sener Elcil called for Turkey to end its policy of running the north from Ankara, and issued an appeal to Greek Cypriots and the EU to help end the division of the island.


“We will put pressure Turkey. We will put pressure on The Greek Cypriots. And we will put pressure on the EU. Turkish Cypriots will be the power behind reunification,” he said.


But with the participation also of right-wing parties in yesterday’s rally, not all calls were for reunification. Some, like Democrat Party (DP) leader Serdar Denktash, son of the founder of the ‘TRNC’ Rauf Denktash told the Mail earlier that he would join the rally because he wanted Turkey to “respect the administration” in the north as a “truly sovereign authority”.


“We are saying that we can rule ourselves. This is our house. Okay, it’s not a clean house, but we can clean it up,” he said. For the past two weeks Denktash has been staging a vigil outside the Turkish ‘embassy’ in north Nicosia


With people of all ages in attendance, yesterday’s rally passed off peacefully with police exercising their power to confiscate banners they saw as provocative or insulting to Turkey. Owner of the outspoken daily Afrika Sener Levent and a number of supporters were turned back from the rally when they tried to enter Inonu Square, the rally’s destination, carrying a banner reading, “You saved us? Hassiktir! (a mild curse in Cypriot parlance but highly insulting in Turkish)” Others carrying the Cyprus Republic flag were also presented from entering the square, and a brief scuffle ensued but no one was hurt. Levent responded by displaying the flags and banners from his office’s balcony in north Nicosia.


Commenting on the rally, head of the Eastern Mediterranean University’s (EMU) Cyprus Policy Centre Ahmet Sozen told the Cyprus Mail the protest stemmed from an almost universal desire among Turkish Cypriots for self-determination.


“This is not the same as saying they want their own state, but they want to rule themselves, either in a federation with the Greek Cypriots, or if that isn’t going to come in the near future, without the interference of Ankara, he said”.


How Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot authorities will react to yesterday’s rally remains to be seen. However the ‘finance minister’ Ersin Tatar on Tuesday warned of economic collapse if the Ankara-devised austerity package was not implemented. “If you don’t take austerity measures, and keep on borrowing, we’ll end up not being able to pay public sector salaries,” he said. He added that he wanted “to be able to create a sustainable economy so we can stand on our own feet without taking aid from Turkey”.


On the Greek Cypriot side, over 50 people gathered at the Ledra Street crossing yesterday to support and encourage Turkish Cypriots in the north, who were protesting against Ankara’s austerity measures.


The protest was organised by a Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot teachers platform.


Most of the demonstrators expressed a desire to have a solution and most importantly see a reunified island soon.


“We want reunification of our country and stronger protests [to achieve this], there are too few people here today,” said 67-year-old Andreas Mandis.


“We have to mobilise to stand by our Turkish Cypriot compatriots against all the things that are keeping our country apart,” said 37-year-old Nicoletta Angelodimou.


Polis Aniftos, a 40-year-old, expressed a similar sentiment: “We want to express our support in the Turkish Cypriot struggle.”


“A solution is the only way….the situation cannot continue with the way talks are proceeding,” he added.

Protest and solidarity gathering

G/C and T/C Teachers' Platform United Cyprus, G/C section

Saturday 12/02/2011 – 11.00 am

Our Turkish Cypriot compatriots continue with their popular protests the resistance to their current relation with Turkey and to the provocative statements by Tayip Ertogan. The atmosphere smells 2003 and reminds us the error of our side that did not embrace in practice the mobilisation then, thus leaving an opportunity to create a solution dynamic to pass away. The second chance has arrived and as history shows, we need not just verbal support but intense and clear action in society that clearly sends the message that united and in solidarity Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots can coexist and live with dignity in their common country. The time to get out in the streets and send the message to all directions that with our actions, we stand by the protesters, has come and it will not wait. No more games with time. Now is the time to refuse partition. Now is the time for the solution.

Let us get into the streets
to send a strong message of solidarity
to create a common front of action
to reunite Cyprus
to not miss another chance.

Happy New Year

Cyprus Social Ecology Movement wishes you a Happy, Prosperous and Creative year.