AKEL denounces attacks on Turkish Cypriot compatriots: Isolate the fascist elements!     

 

Statement of Georgos Loucaides, AKEL C.C. Spokesperson

AKEL C.C. Press Office, 16th November 2015, Nicosia

 

AKEL condemns in the strongest possible terms the unprovoked attacks which our Turkish Cypriot compatriots suffered today from fascist elements that were supposedly protesting against the occupation and the pseudo-state.

These limited numbers, who are driven by bigotry and chauvinism-nationalism, with their actions and sick ideology not only do not contribute to the liberation struggle of our people, but facilitate instead the perpetuation of the occupation and partition.

This is the reason why society, the political forces and the government/State should politically isolate the fascist elements and their inhuman ideology, cracking down in the bud any illegal activity they conduct.

At this critical period for the prospect of a solution to the Cyprus problem, this need becomes even more necessary, given that such actions by extreme-right wing elements are causing untold damage.

In view of the critical developments surrounding the Cyprus problem, one would have expected that the government would have been focusing on preparing our school student youth and people for the prospect of the solution and reunification of our homeland. However, the government and ruling forces unfortunately as a result of a series actions and omissions on their part are moving in the opposite direction.

Instead of setting the cultivation of a culture of peaceful cohabitation of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots as the principal educational goal of the year, they took the decision to send our school students to the hideout of Grivas so that school students take examples from his sectarian, nationalist ideology and fascist activity.

Instead of upgrading activities highlighting the need to respect democracy and legality, the government and ruling forces chose to downgrade the 7th December anniversary the Day of Democratic Resistance and grant tens of thousands of euros for the construction of a “heroes” monument in honour of the armed commandos who attacked the Presidential Palace in the coup d’état with the order to assassinate the elected President Makarios and dissolve the Republic and Democracy.

The above mentioned, and not only these, prove the government’s responsibilities for the preservation and strengthening of the phenomenon of nationalism-chauvinism and intolerance.

AKEL expresses its sympathy and solidarity with our Turkish Cypriot compatriots who cane under the cowardly attack by the extreme right-wing elements. Leading Party cadres have already gone to the Lykavitos police station and talked with some of the Turkish Cypriots who were attacked, conveying to them the feelings of solidarity of the cadres and members of AKEL, as well as of the overwhelming majority of the Greek Cypriots, who reject and denounce such actions.

Finally, we recall that AKEL had tabled for discussion in June 2014 a related issue in Parliament concerning the activities of ultra-right organizations in Cyprus, while last week it also tabled for discussion a relevant issue on the deplorable actions of the Ministry of Education, which we have referred to above.