Speech by AKEL Parliamentary Representative G.Loukaides at the political meeting in memory of the hero and martyr Sotiris Adamou Konstantinou

 

 

11 July 2022, Local Club of the Left “EAS” Agios Dometios, Nicosia

Comrades and friends,

We are here once again, at the “EAS” Local Club of the Left in the neighborhood of Agios Dometios, faithful to our obligation to keep the memory of Sotiris Adamos Konstantinou alive. We do so not out of formal anniversary obligation, but as a minimum sense of duty to pay due tribute to the memory of Sotiris. To honor a worthy son of the motherland of our Cyprus, whose sacrifice has become a symbol of the democratic resistance against the treacherous coup d’état and at the same time a symbol of unparalleled courage and fortitude.

Remembering his sacrifice, on these days of July, our memory turns back to the twin crimes that were committed against our homeland: the shameful coup of the Greek Junta and EOKA B and the brutal Turkish invasion. We remember them and we will never let the perpetrators, executioners and political apologists of the actions of Grivas and EOKA B, falsify the historical truth and lead the people into forgetfulness and oblivion. This is what the memory of our unsung heroes demand.

Sotiris Adamou Konstantinou was born into a poor family, but from a family with rich… values. His parents, Adamos and Martha, raised their child on meager means. Yet the greatest asset they gave him in life could not be measured in the balance with any material possessions. Adamos, Martha and then the Club of “EAS” IN Agios Dometios OF THE People’s Movement of the Left, passed on to Sotiris the most noble ideals ever born to humanity: peace, justice, democracy and solidarity. Ideals which he himself served unswervingly and unwaveringly, throughout his short life and above all through his heroic sacrifice.

On the fateful day of 15 July 1974, the imaginary clock of democracy stopped. The coupists tank crews took to the streets and, on the orders of the Greek Junta, headed for the Presidential Palace to overthrow the legitimate forces of the country and assassinate the democratically-elected President, Archbishop Makarios III. The 31st Commando Squadron, in which Sotiris was serving his military service, received an order from the then Commander of the Commando Units, junta Colonel Konstantinos Kompokis, to attack the state-owned television and radio station RIK.

Sotiris, with unparalleled courage, stood up and stoop up to the blind hatred of his superiors. Faithful to his ideals and principles, he refused to attack legality and democracy. He refused to become one with the sinister cabal of treason and precisely for that reason he was then murdered.

His murder was but the culmination of the constant struggle, literally for survival, that Sotiris waged in the special Commando forces, being a democrat and a leftist. He was considered a “dangerous element”, following the similar practices of filing carried out by junta security and intelligence forces, Sotiris experienced intimidation, torture and even beatings during his service. His only “sin” was his political beliefs and his involvement in his local left-wing Club of EAS.

Despite his heroic sacrifice, unfortunately, for three decades his name was written in the dark annals of history, among the names of the coupists who died attacking their own country. Instead of his name being honored as a monument to his love for our homeland and heroism, he was blacklisted after a veil of silence covered the events and the historical truth was concealed. But history has a memory, it remembers and through the events, it can speak.

And history has spoken. It took decades to pass and Sotiri’s family to go through a whole round of soul-destroying procedures in order to bring about a catharsis in historical memory. The evasions and lies were slowly replaced with sufficient evidence to order a full investigation of the events.

The conclusion of the scientific investigation of his remains showed that Sotiris was stabbed and then shot in the back with a weapon which, at that time, was carried by officers. The investigation dispelled the shadow that for decades had hidden the truth and desecrated the memory of Sotiris as a patriotic hero who not only did not participate in the coup, but was murdered because of his refusal to take part in it.

 

His remains were buried with hero’s honors on 23 December 2007 at the Agios Dometios cemetery. 33 years later, another tile has been added to the efforts over many years to restore historical truth.

His family never needed proof of his innocence, since the character and values that shaped Sotiris could not have led him to betrayal. The official state may have apologized for including him as a coupist, but the apology was half-hearted because no one apologized for the cold-blooded execution, no one confessed that the murder was purely politically motivated, and no one paid for his actions.

On the contrary, even today, in a shameful but deliberate effort to erase our people’s collective memory, the Anastasiades Government, the ruling DISY Democratic Rally and the political-ideological descendants of EOKA B’ the far-right ELAM party, all together, honor and lay wreaths every year not only at the grave of the destroyer of Cyprus Georgios Grivas, but also at the graves of those Commandos who fell in the attack on the Presidential Palace, being on duty for the destruction of democracy. The contradictory attitude of DISY, on the one hand, supposedly condemning the coup and, on the other hand, commemorating precisely those who carried it out, causes only indignation and abomination.

Comrades,

Today we honor a fellow countryman who consciously chose to sacrifice his own life rather than conform to fascism and turn his weapon against democratic legitimacy, thus choosing to pay the highest price he could pay, to be on the right side of history.

Similar, lesser choices and dilemmas are faced by all of us in the course of our lives. Not only about political choices we must make, but also on a range of other issues where we are called upon to put our collective interests and principles above selfish, individual interests. The alienation and erosion of consciences in today’s world, unfortunately, tends to make the norm, not the choice that Sotiris deliberately chose, that of self-denial and altruism, but the very opposite, even if there is much less and more at stake in our scales. That is why Sotiris’ shining example, along with other similar examples, must be systematically projected and highlighted to educate our youth and people.

At the same time, the practical tribute to those who have left us, to our heroic dead and the minimum debt we owe to the generations to come, demands and imposes first of all the respect for historical truth and consequently the drawing of the correct conclusions from the tragedies experienced by our country. Not only in order to avoid similar mistakes being repeated or even crimes being committed again, but also so that we can walk in the present and in the future with greater security and certainty, given that the devastating consequences of the twin crimes of 1974 remain and pose deadly dangers for our people.

The examination and consequent critical analysis of history is one of the most important tools in this direction. It is precisely in this context that AKEL, armed with the truth, responds to every attempt to falsify history and to every narrative that is insidiously turned against reality. As well as any attempt to equate the victims with the perpetrators and to attribute equal responsibility.

Allow me, therefore, to refer to some of the claims made by those forces and circles who still attempt to falsify history, both to justify their sinful past and to support their current positions and policies.

The first example of such unsubstantiated claims, which is refuted by the facts, is the denial of the central role in the coup played by the EOKA B leader Grivas.

Just a few days ago, we heard an MP in parliament say that the Left is trying, he says, to convince them that Grivas, while he died in January ’74, planned something, namely the coup d’état, which happened seven months later. Their audacity, then, knows no bounds!

They forget – or rather try to make society forget – the various coup plans that were revealed and planned as early as 1970, many of them signed by Grivas himself.

The 1974 coup was the culmination of intense efforts by the Greek junta, EOKA B and NATO to overthrow the legitimate government of President Makarios. This was admitted by Grigoris Bonanos, the then junta Chief of the Greek Armed Forces, in his testimony before the Committee of Inquiry of the Greek Parliament in 1986, when he said: “I don’t know the reasons Ioannides had. But it is a fact that he had in his mind since February 1974 the overthrow of Makarios and had raised it in the presence of Androutsopoulos, Gizikis and myself.”

Quite simply, Grivas did not have the military command of the coup because he passed away, not because he didn’t want to. But he remains one of the main architects and perpetrators of the blackest betrayal in the history of the country, since he cultivated and prepared the political ground in Cyprus so that the coup could take place!

A few days ago, the government and the ruling DISY party tried to honor him again, trying to deceive the Parliament in a fraudulent way, in order to approve – in the supplementary budget of the state – the allocation of funds for the construction of a monument to Grivas.

Needless to say, they found AKEL against them and their plans were foiled, since once again they were left alone with the far-right ELAM on their side.

A second narrative promoted by the same circles is the abdication of responsibility of the US and the blood-stained NATO coalition. They portray the Turkish invasion as some isolated tragic event caused only by the otherwise irreversible Turkish expansionism. By doing so they are completely ignoring, at the same time, that it was not independent of the political conditions prevailing on the island, not unconnected to the treasonous coup and not unrelated to the US-NATO plans for Cyprus and the Southeast Mediterranean region.

If Cyprus was, they claim, a member of NATO or aligned with the Western camp instead of the “Non-Aligned Movement”, the invasion could have been averted. However, the evidence that emerges in the “Cyprus File” (Note: commissioned by the House of Representatives) is irrefutable as to the knowledge and active participation of the NATO forces in the division of our country.

At the same time, those who put forward such positions completely overlook an obvious and clear reality that remains unchanged to this day. Always, in the scales of US and NATO interests, Turkey has always counted and been worth many times more than Greece and Cyprus put together. Everything else that is said and written is nothing but lame excuses.

Such pretexts were the fear cultivated over many decades of the “communist takeover” of the country, due to the strong political presence of AKEL or by the narrative promoted the idea of the role of Makarios being the “Castro of the Mediterranean”, as the Americans called Makarios. Makarios was anything but a communist. What made him indeed undesirable (to NATO/Americans etc.) was his understanding of this clear truth and, above all, his determination to prevent the partitionist plans of the USA and NATO that were being hatched against our country, many years before that horrific summer of 1974. The Ball-Acheson plan is just one example that confirms the truth of the matter.

Consequently, as we have already underlined, only respect for the historical truth can lead us to the correct, self-evident lessons. Only in this way can we, as a people, take safe steps into the present and the future. As much as some people may not like it, we as AKEL will continue to raise our voices and fists and proclaim:

• No more fascism, fanaticism and intolerance! The only way forward is democracy and mutual respect, together with the political isolation and not solidarity with the neo-Nazi far-right which has reappeared in a threatening manner.
• No more nationalism-chauvinism, depreciation and hatred towards our Turkish Cypriot compatriots, elements that were and still represent the ‘Trojan horse’ for the promotion of Turkish expansionism and were fostered by American-NATO and British imperialism in order to impose the division of our homeland.
• On the contrary, today more than ever, it is necessary to form a strong common front of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots for reunification and rapprochement. This is the only way to keep as many Turkish Cypriots as possible away from Turkey’s suffocating embrace, keeping alive the hope and prospect of a solution and our liberation from the occupation and de facto partition.

Consequently, there should be no illusions about our foreign policy choices, which should be multidimensional and determined on the basis of our country’s interests and international law, not on the basis of dogmatic obsessions and unhistorical NATO-ism.

• Another crucial historical lesson for today is the need to define ambitious and realistic goals and to demonstrate unwavering steadfastness and consistency to our positions. The government’s regressions and contradictions are severely damaging the credibility of the Greek Cypriot side and facilitating Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot chauvinist leadership in imposing unprecedented unacceptable fait accompli and in its attempt to do away with the agreed basis for the solution of Bizonal, Bicommunal Federation and the body of work agreed throughout the procedures of the negotiations that have taken place over the years in general, as it was concluded at the Crans Montana talks.

Comrades,

48 years after the twin crimes against our homeland, it remains our heavy responsibility to hand over to future generations a free and reunited homeland within the framework of a just, viable and workable solution.

A solution based on the UN Security Council Resolutions, the High-Level Agreements and International and European Law.

A solution that leads to a united state, with a single sovereignty, a single international personality and a single nationality, and that will guarantee the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Cypriot people.

A solution that will free us from “guarantor” powers, intervention rights and occupying troops. And this solution is none other than a bizonal bicommunal federation with political equality.

There is no other alternative. Any attempt to derail to other forms of solutions can only be detrimental. Just as damaging is the present situation of the prolonged deadlock on the Cyprus problem and the absence of any negotiations. The very history of the Cyprus problem proves that in times of a negotiating deadlock, and especially when the blame for this is being apportioned on the Greek Cypriot side, Turkey promotes new fait accompli.

A tragic expression of this reality is the fact that Turkey, despite the unprecedented provocativeness of its actions, is essentially proceeding unhindered with the colonisation of Varosha, just as it is unhindered in its actions in the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Republic of Cyprus.

Unfortunately, the UN Secretary General has also come to confirm our concerns and predictions with the Report he submitted on the renewal of the mandate of United Nations Peacekeeping Force (UNFICYP), which was published last Tuesday.

The Secretary General of the UB A. Guterres, in one of the worst Reports in recent years for the Greek Cypriot side, makes no reference to the agreed basis for a solution, to the Guterres Framework or to the future of the Cyprus problem. He also avoids assigning any responsibility on the Turkish side for its provocative actions in Varosha or the Turkish-Tatar declarations for “sovereign equality” and a two state solution.

What is most worrying is the picture reflected in the Report regarding the role played by the Secretary General himself, since it is now apparent that he himself is unable to find ways to resume the dialogue.

Unfortunately, the developments show that we are paying the price for the regressions and contradictions and the unwillingness of Nicos Anastasiades to make use of the UN Secretary General’s recommendations for the resumption of the negotiations from the point where they had remained at Crans Montana, but also the heavy price of the collapse of Crans-Montana, for which responsibility was apportioned on the Greek Cypriot side side, while Turkey was praised by the UN Secretary General for its stand.

On the other hand, Turkey has for decades been attempting to deepen the dependence of the Turkish Cypriot community on Ankara through its economic and political integration. The recent Ankara-occupied territories “Protocol” further intensifies the overt interference in the Turkish Cypriot community and the de facto transformation of the occupied territories into Turkey. Economic dependence between the occupied territories and Turkey is increasing, cultural “adoption” is being promoted even more, while voices of political resistance and protest are being suppressed.

In its foreign policy, Turkey has recently witnesses a significant upgrade. Instead of paying a price for its attitude of pretentious neutrality, on the one hand, the occupying power has been promoted by the US as a “peacemaker” and “mediator” in the Ukraine conflict, while on the other hand, the recent NATO summit rewarded Turkey by providing it with provocative and unacceptable rewards in exchange for it to consent to the enlargement of the NATO Alliance and the further militarisation of the planet.

Comrades,

The debt to those who are no longer with us, but also the heavy responsibility towards those who are coming, demands that we continue to fight to the end to heal the wounds in the body of Cyprus and to at long last lead our long-suffering island and people to a safe harbor. Because the best memorial for Sotiris and for all our heroes and martyrs was and remains the liberation of Cyprus and the reunification of our homeland and people.

It is therefore the duty of every one of our compatriots, of each and every one of us who do not accept the occupation and partition, who want to live again in peace and stability in a reunited and prosperous country, together with our fellow Turkish Cypriots, Armenians, Latins and Maronites, to create the organic conditions for peace and to ensure a future of stability and security for our homeland.

Only then will the sacrifice of Sotiris Adamos Konstantinou and our heroes in general be vindicated.

Only then, within the framework of our peaceful-common homeland, territorially intact and demilitarized, will our children and grandchildren build their future in security. Making us proud with their lives, not their deaths.

May the memory of Sotiris Konstantinou live on forever!

Honor and glory to our Heroes