Civilian casualties and displacements during the Cyprus conflict: Difference between revisions
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==Turkish invasion 1974== |
==Turkish invasion 1974== |
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On [[15 July]] [[1974]], the Cypriot government was overthrown by Greek Cypriot militant circle under the lead of, under the order of the Greek military junta and with help of Greek army officers, installing the long-time EOKA-B activist Nikos Sampson as new president. The attempt to murder [[Makarios III|president Makarios]] failed, however, and he fled Cyprus with the help of the British army |
On [[15 July]] [[1974]], the Cypriot government was overthrown by Greek Cypriot militant circle under the lead of, under the order of the [[Greek army|Greek military]] [[junta]] and with help of Greek army officers, installing the long-time [[EOKA-B]] activist [[Nikos Sampson]] as the new president. The attempt to murder [[Makarios III|president Makarios]] failed, however, and he fled Cyprus with the help of the [[British army]], in response to this and news of [[ethnic cleansing]]. |
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On [[20 July]] [[1974]], Turkish troops landed near [[Kyrenia]], forcing a narrow corridor to [[Nicosia]] within 2 days, until a [[ceasefire]] was negotiated on [[22 July]]. In [[August]] of the same year, the three guarantor powers, together with representatives of the two communities, met in Geneva. The Turkish Cypriots under Denktash demanded |
On [[20 July]] [[1974]], Turkish troops landed near [[Kyrenia]], forcing a narrow corridor to [[Nicosia]] within 2 days, until a [[ceasefire]] was negotiated on [[22 July]]. In [[August]] of the same year, the three guarantor powers, together with representatives of the two communities, met in Geneva. The Turkish Cypriots under Denktash demanded a federal state with 34% of the territory ceded to Turkish Cypriots (who made up 18% of the population). Clerides - the Greek Cypriot representative - asked for 36 to 48 hours in order to consult with his superiors. While still in talks, a second Turkish invasion was launched on Cyprus. When a [[ceasefire]] was declared, more than 36% of the territory was occupied by Turkish forces. The ceasefire line of 1974 today still separates the two communities and is generally referred to as the [[UN Buffer Zone on Cyprus|Green Line]], which also runs through Nicosia, making it the only divided capital in the world. |
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The invasion - codenamed 'Atilla' - by the Turkish Military, is known in Northern Cyprus as 'the 1974 Peace Operation', while the Greek Cypriots refer to it as 'the Turkish Invasion and Brutal Occupation of the north of Cyprus'. |
The invasion - codenamed 'Atilla' - by the Turkish Military, is known in Northern Cyprus as 'the 1974 Peace Operation', while the Greek Cypriots refer to it as 'the Turkish Invasion and Brutal Occupation of the north of Cyprus'. |
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Revision as of 20:51, 19 August 2005
This article covers the civilian casualties and displacements that occurred between 1963 and 1975—from the outbreak of the intercommunal fightings until the end of displacements following the Turkish invasion of Cyprus.
Intercommunal violence, displacements and terrorist activities 1963-1974
In 1963, Turkish Cypriots withdrew from all levels of government. While Greek Cypriots hold that this happened voluntarily, Turkish Cypriots claim they were forced out of government and its agencies by the Greek Cypriot authorities. During this and the following years, fightings occasionally flared up between the two communities, more and more enforcing a separation and alienation of Greek and Turkish Cypriots.
Greek Cypriot casualties and displacements
Greek Cypriots living in majority Turkish Cypriot areas such as the village of Louroudjina (Turkish: Lurucina) and the town of Lefka (Turkish: Lefke) were displaced as TMT gained control of those areas.
Turkish Cypriot casualties and displacements
During this period, Turkish Cypriots claim they were forced out of government and its agencies by the Greek Cypriot authorities and into enclaves. Greek Cypriots hold that the withdrawal of Turkish Cypriots from government was voluntary and that the movement of people in enclaves was out of choice. Turkish Cypriots believe the Akritas Plan (devised in 1963 by Polycarpos Georgadjis (alternative spelling Yorgadjis), the Interior Minister, but not discovered until 1966) to be at the heart of the issue. The plan had the intention of amending the constitution of 1960 and to remove the power of veto of the Turkish Cypriots (which they thought was responsible for the stalling of governing matters). The plan foresaw possible defiance by Turkish Cypriots, and suggested measures to put a stop violent action as quickly as possible before outside intervention "would be either justified or possible" and as a last resort declare enosis (union with Greece).
However the Turkish Cypriot organization TMT was already active and liberal Turkish Cypriot voices and any Turkish Cypriots that had dealings with Greeks were told to sever their links.
On December 21, 1963, serious violence erupted in Nicosia when a Greek Cypriot police patrol, ostensibly checking identification documents, stopped a Turkish Cypriot couple on the edge of the Turkish quarter. A hostile crowd gathered, shots were fired, and two Turkish Cypriots were killed. As the news spread, members of the underground organizations began firing and taking hostages. North of Nicosia, Turkish forces occupied a strong position at St. Hilarion Castle, dominating the road to Kyrenia on the northern coast. The road became a principal combat area as both sides fought to control it. Much intercommunal fighting occurred in Nicosia along the line separating the Greek and Turkish quarters of the city (known later as the Green Line). Turkish Cypriots were not concentrated in one area, but lived throughout the island, making their position precarious. Vice-President Kuzuk and Turkish Cypriot ministers and members of the House of Representatives ceased participating in the government.
Turkish paramilitaries captured the Lefkosa to Kyrenia main highway to use as a bridge-head for a Turkish invasion and Turkish commandos were parachuted into Cyprus to assist the paramilitaries.
Severe intercommunal fighting occurred in March and April 1964. When the worst of the fighting was over, Turkish Cypriots--sometimes of their own volition and at other times forced by the TMT--began moving from isolated rural areas and mixed villages into enclaves. Before long, a substantial portion of the island's Turkish Cypriot population was crowded into the Turkish quarter of Nicosia in tents and hastily constructed shacks. Slum conditions resulted from the serious overcrowding.
Turkish Cypriots with different political affiliations (leftist or in favour of independence) were killed by TMT. Examples of such cases are PEO member Fazil Onder killed in 1958, reporters Hikmet and Gurkan, publishers of Cumhuriyet, killed in 1962 and Dervis Ali Kavazoglu, member of AKEL killed in 1966.
Attempts of the Cypriot National Guard under control of General Grivas, who was acting under the mandate given to Cyprus by the UN, to re-capture a beach-head at Kokkina which would enable a Turkish military supply route caused the intervention of the Turkish airforce which bombed the area with rockets, bombs and Napalm. A Turkish naval invasion was being prepared.
Turkish invasion 1974
On 15 July 1974, the Cypriot government was overthrown by Greek Cypriot militant circle under the lead of, under the order of the Greek military junta and with help of Greek army officers, installing the long-time EOKA-B activist Nikos Sampson as the new president. The attempt to murder president Makarios failed, however, and he fled Cyprus with the help of the British army, in response to this and news of ethnic cleansing.
On 20 July 1974, Turkish troops landed near Kyrenia, forcing a narrow corridor to Nicosia within 2 days, until a ceasefire was negotiated on 22 July. In August of the same year, the three guarantor powers, together with representatives of the two communities, met in Geneva. The Turkish Cypriots under Denktash demanded a federal state with 34% of the territory ceded to Turkish Cypriots (who made up 18% of the population). Clerides - the Greek Cypriot representative - asked for 36 to 48 hours in order to consult with his superiors. While still in talks, a second Turkish invasion was launched on Cyprus. When a ceasefire was declared, more than 36% of the territory was occupied by Turkish forces. The ceasefire line of 1974 today still separates the two communities and is generally referred to as the Green Line, which also runs through Nicosia, making it the only divided capital in the world.
The invasion - codenamed 'Atilla' - by the Turkish Military, is known in Northern Cyprus as 'the 1974 Peace Operation', while the Greek Cypriots refer to it as 'the Turkish Invasion and Brutal Occupation of the north of Cyprus'.
Greek Cypriot casualties and displacements
Ιn the process of the 1974 intervention/invasion, about 200,000 Greek Cypriots living in the north became refugees, a third of the total population of the island; many of them were forced out of their homes, the rest fleeing at the word of the approaching Turkish army. About 5,000 Greek Cypriot civilians were killed many of them women and children. Many women and girls from as young as the ages of 12 were raped by the invading Turks. Approximately 2,000 Greek Cypriots are still reported missing, and their whereabouts have not been disclosed by the Turkish Cypriot authorities.
In 1975, 20,000 Greek Cypriots remained enclaved on the Karpass peninsula; nowadays after much prosecution and ethnic cleansing, only 600 have remained there.
Turkish Cypriot casualties and displacements
Turkish Cypriot causalities are around 2,000 persons. Turkish Cypriot villages were raided, men killed ,woman raped and some villages executed including infants by Greek Cypriot paramilitia and Greek Army units, based in Cyprus. Almost the whole population of Aloa, Sandallaris and Maratha near Famagusta and Tokhni, Zyyi and Mari at Larnaca district were massacred and wiped out. Turkish villains at south of Green Line imigrated to English bases to save their lives , leaving their belongings or held captive until population exchange at September 1974.
See also
External links
- Article from the U.S. Library of Congress
- The Greek-Cypriots missing since the Turkish invasion in 1974
- The Cyprus Conflict — an educational web-site
- Results of the Turkish invasion
- The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office
- The TRNC Press and Information Office
- — Turkish Cypriot History
Further Reading
- . ISBN 0-95-144642-8.
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