From: v999saum@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu (Varnavas A. Lambrou)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.greek
Subject: Turkish invasion to Cyprus cont...
Date: 5 Jan 93 03:02:00 GMT
Organization: University at Buffalo
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41

In the ensuing ten year the refugees have struggled to overcome the losses
they suffered. Whether workers, businessmen or housewives, they played a central
role in the reconstruction of the Cypriot economy which has enabled the free 
part of Cyprus to survive.

The Cyprus Government has not used the refugees of Cyprus as bargaining 
counters, nor has it allowed political expediency to predominate over the need
to relieve human suffering and provision for the basic needs of the refugees.

They have temporarily rehoused in two ways. Thousands of new low cost houses
have been built in a number of refugee settlements near the towns of the free 
area of Cyprus. And the houses left by the Turkish Cypriots who moved to the
occupied area have been taken in trust by the Government which allocates rent 
for them to a special fund. Meanwhile they have been allocated for use by Greek
Cypriot refugees.

Today all over the free part of Cyprus the names of the towns and villages of
occupied Cyprus appear on the businesses, restaurants, settlements. And they 
remain engraved in the minds of the people who were so violently uprooted in
1974. In the occupied area the names of their villages have been changed into
totally unrecognisable Turkish substitutes.




CLEARING THE LAST GREEK CYPRIOT FROM THE OCCUPIED AREA

Most of the Greek Cypriot population of the occupied area fled as the Turkish
occupation troops advanced, terrorized by the attrocities which the troops
perpetrated. But, twenty thousand remained in their homes and ancentral lands,
mainly in the Karpasia area of north-eastern Cyprus. By now less than one
thousand Greek Cypriots have remained.(records of 1980). The rest were harassed
and intimidated until they left for the free area of Cyprus.


"I ordered a drink at the Greek Cypriot tavern and when the proprietor brought
it, I followed him into the kitchen to talk to him in private. The grey-haired
man avoided my eyes and evaded every question. "Speak freely" I urged him.
"That would be the end" he whispered. Outside, in a covered market place I found
that several hundred Greeks, mainly wrinkled old people had gathered together.
When their clothing is distributed their names are called out and the items of 
charity are thrown to the recipient".

Peter Schmid, "Die Weltwoche", 30 August 1978, after visiting a village in the
			       occupied area still inhabitated by Greeks.



"c) The conditions of life of the Greek Cypriots in the north are particularly
 oppressive as they are deprived of their basic human rights. We established 
 these facts on visiting the Karpass Area and talking to many persons on May 3rd
 1977.

In particular -
ca - they are deprived of the freedom of movement and trade,
cb - they live under permanent fear for their life and property because of
     continuous harassment by the mainland Turks and lack of protection,
cc - they are deprived of secondary education and of sufficient elementary 
     school facilities,
cd - they are deprived of proper medical services,
ce - they are not allowed to look after their fields freely and in many cases
     not even at all,
cf - homes and other properties are often the object of theft and the people
     themselves are being beaten and generally inhumanly treated."

Press Conference of the West German Humanitarian Organisation
"Asme Humanitas" on 5 May, 1977.