AKEL on the Day of Remembrance and Honour of the 1974 Prisoners of War
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 23rd April 2021, Nicosia
Today, 23rd April, designated as Day of Remembrance and Honour of the 1974 Prisoners of War, we remember and honor the victims of the indescribable betrayal committed which led our people to a tragedy that is still going on to this day. This day reminds us of the nightmarish moments of torture, degradation and humiliation experienced by a section of our people at the hands of Turkey’s invading army during that terrible summer of 1974. For these compatriots of ours the horrible moment of arrest and the ordeal that followed will always be engraved in their memory. The prisoners of the betrayed Cypriot “Thermopylae” are acknowledged and respected by our people. The State, however, must recognize in practice their struggle and services.
AKEL recognizes and honors the service of the 1974 prisoners of war. It recognises the feelings of injustice about the way the state has treated them. It stands by them in the struggle to vindicate the prisoners of war who are alive, but also those who have passed away. We support the efforts for the construction of a monument in honor of the 1974 prisoners of war to remind the young generations of the crimes committed against Cyprus’ prisoners of war, their ordeal and struggle for justice. Towards this end, AKEL will contribute to making use of the excellent film prepared two years ago by the Association of Prisoners of War, which illustrates the drama of the prisoners of war and at the same time, strengthens the efforts to ascertain the fate of our missing persons.
Today is also a reminder that the final and real vindication of the 1974 prisoners of war and all the victims of the Cypriot tragedy will be the liberation and reunification of our country and people with the solution to the Cyprus problem.
