Speech by the General Secretary of AKEL Andros Kyprianou at the book presentation of the biography of Panayiotis Paschalis
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 8 November 2018, Nicosia
I received with great joy the invitation to address the presentation of the book dedicated to Panayiotis Paschalis. The late Panayiotis was a person who served in full not just his professional title, but that very human capacity. He served until the very end of his life, the universal and noble ideals of freedom and dignity. He did not betray them even when he was imprisoned in a cell.
Panayiotis was imprisoned on the 18th January 1978 on his birthday while on a mission of “Haravgi” newspaper to record the massacres being committed by the Zionists against the Palestinian people. He was accused of spying for the socialist block which subsequently was turned into espionage in favor of the Palestine Liberation Organization. He was accused of being an enemy of Israel and the news of his imprisonment travelled around the world.
“We will withstand and resist as they could not imagine possible,” Panayiotis Paschalis wrote in one of his letters to his beloved ones, from inside the prisons of Israel. These letters, together with the “hidden” prison diary he kept, were a biography and at the same time were a literary breath that gave oxygen to anyone who read them. All this and much more which are included in this book confirm to the reader that Panayiotis Paschalis wasn’t just a journalist. He was a fighter, a struggling journalist, a fighter of Cyprus, a fighter of freedom and peace.
He spent six months in complete isolation and he was eventually tried and sentenced to five years’ imprisonment. AKEL and the mass organisations of the Left subsequently organized mass demonstrations and mobilizations for his release, while Cypriot and international journalist organizations, mass organizations and national liberation movements expressed their full support for the demand calling for the release of Panayiotis. As a result of the international outcry that was provoked, Panayiotis Paschalis was released after 28 months of imprisonment in May 1980.
Much of Panayiotis’ reports and articles were living stories. Panayiotis had a passion not only with his work, but with the ideals that guided his work: freedom, the struggle for the truth, the struggle for the liberation of the peoples and for peace. That’s how Panayiotis worked and struggled after finishing his studies in cinematography and journalism in the German Democratic Republic. He then began working in AKEL’s newspaper “Haravgi”. His work over many years was revealing. His journalistic perception was a projector revealing the darkest pages not just of Cypriot history. Characteristic examples were his reports on the British bases in Cyprus and their role, the battles in the region of Tilliria in August 1964 and on the struggle of the Palestinian people and other international issues.
The whole history of Panayiotis Paschalis, all his activities, all of his contribution, all of his struggles today constitute a precious legacy not only for the people of the People’s Movement of the Left, but for every journalist too who understands the responsibility of his/her profession. The entire history of Panayiotis Paschalis, all his actions, all his struggle is another proud distinction for AKEL and the mass organisations of the Left. May the future generations learn from his ethos, militancy and work. That’s why this book is extremely important because it is the voice talking about the life, work and struggles of Panagiotis to the future generations, giving inspiration but in particular, by primarily projecting such an example and life stand.
His family and especially his wife Maroulla who stood on his side all the years, in both happy and difficult moments, are justifiably proud of Panayiotis.
