The betrayal of 15th July 1974 can’t be washed away
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 15th July 2020, Nicosia
The Anastasiades government, ruling DISY party via its President Averof Neophytou, “Solidarity” party and ultra-right ELAM for yet another year paid tribute to and laid laurel wreaths to those who attacked the Presidential in the coup d’état of 15th July 1974. This annual provocation is nothing but an act that is an insult to our people and History, rubbing salt into the wounds of the families of all those who fell fighting in the ranks of the resistance against the coup d’état and invasion.
When they declare that they condemn the coup, but on the same day honor the perpetrators of the coup, then the truth is that they do not condemn the coup. The Right and the ultra-right are honoring precisely those who executed the order for the coup because they have never really denounced the content of that order. After all, to this day, they honor and lay laurel wreaths also to those who issued the order for the coup and assassination of Makarios, to those who planned the betrayal.
For decades now, the Right and the extreme-right have been trying to erase History and wash away the shame of their crime. They are trying to do that to no avail. The people remember the crime committed.
The Commando Sotiris Adamou Konstantinou is a hero who was murdered by the coupists because he refused to carry out the order to attack the Presidential Palace. The “4 of Ayi Yianni” are also heroes who were killed because they demonstrated in support of Democracy. Heroes are those who resisted and fought the fascism of EOKA B in battles, in prisons, in torture chambers and suffered under interrogation. And these Heroes cannot be equated neither with the instigators, nor with those who perpetrated the betrayal.
