The five arrested and the lack of response
Source: in-cyprus.com
Many years ago, a teenage girl living trapped in the occupied territories fell in love with a Turkish settler. Due to the reactions this provoked, they fled their homes. In the free areas, there was an uprising. Crowds took to the streets for days demanding the girl’s liberation.
The girl was 17 and the young man 24 – an age gap that by today’s standards, regardless of the young man’s nationality, could result in charges for statutory rape.
At the time, however, such legal frameworks were unclear. The uprising was not about their ages. Whatever their ages, it would have been considered abduction.
Today, five Greek Cypriots aged 60-65 have been arrested in the occupied territories. Two have already been sentenced to three months imprisonment, whilst the remaining three will face military court proceedings. Almost no one cares.
What reactions do exist, are entirely lukewarm. The prevailing attitude is roughly “they asked for it. Anyone who goes to the occupied areas, to an unrecognised state, takes a risk”.
The Turkish version of events claims the men were acting suspiciously and illegally on private property without permission, and that property deeds were found in their possession. The private property belongs to those arrested – land conquered by the Turks 51 years ago, upon which housing developments were subsequently built.
Their arrest clearly constitutes a response to the detention of third-country nationals who purchase occupied land and make investments there. Tatar had indeed warned he would take retaliatory action.
In May, following his meeting with UN Secretary-General envoy María Ángeles Holguín, he announced reprisals against arrests of those appropriating Greek Cypriot properties. “If these steps do not stop,” he said, referring to arrests of appropriators, “there may be retaliation, accidents may be caused, and everyone may suffer as a result, which is a separate issue”.
The arrested men originate from Trikomo, where Israeli businessman Shimon Aykut – who has been arrested by Greek Cypriot authorities – is making substantial investments.
Beyond him, hundreds of Israeli-interest companies reportedly operate in the occupied areas, engaging in property transactions and development of stolen land.
Since Aykut’s arrest creates a precedent that inevitably affects the pace of development and inflicts economic damage, it represents a major issue for the Turkish side.
It is abundantly clear that the arrest of the five is not coincidental. On our side, however, we do not view them as victims.
Years ago, a youthful romance was capable of provoking an uprising, yet not the arrest and imprisonment of five middle-aged refugees who went to see their properties.
It is even suggested that the property deeds imply intent to engage in property transactions. So then… Times have changed.
The original article: belongs to in-cyprus.com .
