Fifty years have passed since the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, the darkest chapter in the island’s history marked by ongoing illegal military occupation, separating and dividing the island of Cyprus and its people.
In observance and commemoration of the 50-year occupation, the Cyprus Community of South Australia (CCSA) in collaboration with the Justice for Cyprus Coordination Committee SA (SEKA SA), is holding a series of important events from 14 July – 22 July 2024 dedicated to the memory of those who lost their lives in Cyprus and acknowledging the continued struggle for freedom and democracy.
On Sunday 21 July 2024, the commemorations of CCSA and SEKA SA commenced with a memorial service in honour of the fallen in the Turkish invasion of 1974, held at Saint George Greek Orthodox Church in Thebarton.
Following the service, a wreath laying ceremony was held at the National War Memorial on North Terrace in Adelaide. Greek, Cypriot and multicultural community groups joined together to lay wreaths in remembrance.
The Hon. Tom Koutsantonis MP, addressing the crowd, delivered powerful remarks on the plight of Greek Cypriots effectively becoming “refugees in their own country.”
“…Since 1974, more than 160,000 Turkish settlers have been transferred to the occupied parts of Cyprus, in an attempt to artificially alter the demographic makeup of that enslaved island. Turkification is the official policy of the occupying forces of the North. They have changed the names of suburbs and cities, changed the names of roads and bridges, they have desecrated our churches and holy relics,” the Minister said.
“Each and every one of us that gather every year on the 20th July, are a light in that darkness that the Turks have attempted to put over that island.
Minister Koutsantonis later defiantly proclaimed: “Here we are, in cultural costumes that the Turks hoped they could snap out forever. Here we are holding a light to their illegality. Here we are holding a light to their murderous regime. Northern Cyprus and Turkey can never become legitimate civilised parts of the world until they acknowledge the atrocities they have committed on the people of the free island of Cyprus…”
Minister Koutsantonis continued by highlighting the responsibility of Greek Australians and Greek Cypriots to remember the experiences of the generations that have come before, and to never forget the invasion.
“…Our homeland [Greece] was occupied for 400 years, we did not lose our language, we did not lose our culture, we did not lose our faith. We cannot and must not lose hope. Today we remember and mourn, and we remember the code left by those martyrs – Eleftheria I Thanatos (Freedom or Death),” he concluded.
Following the ceremony and speech, attendees joined in a peaceful demonstration walking from the War Memorial to the steps of the South Australian Parliament, to protest the continued illegal Turkish occupation of Cyprus.
Professor Andreas Evdokiou, President of CCSA, addressed demonstrators and supporters by firstly conveying a message of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus, who expressed a deep appreciation to the Cypriot diaspora for their continued support for the Cypriot struggle for freedom.
Prof. Evdokiou continued his address by focusing on the current state of the Cyprus Problem and demystifying commonly perpetuated rhetoric.
“It is true to say that there is quite a lot of propaganda around by the other side. We know very well that Turkey and some Turkish Cypriots call the invasion a “peace” military occupation. What an insult that is to the people of Cyprus; A “peace” operation that displaced 200,000 Greek Cypriots, together with many thousands of Turkish Cypriots, becoming refugees in their own homeland; A “peace” operation which killed nearly 9,000 people, including young children, women and non-combatants; A “peace” operation for which, even to this day, we seek the whereabouts of nearly 800 of our compatriots; A “peace” operation that has destroyed our cultural and religious heritage; A “peace” operation for which they destroyed churches and all monuments…” he said.
Prof. Evdokiou concluded by bolding proclaiming that: “It was not a peace operation; it was an invasion. The continuous occupation must end… What we demand is the reunification of Cyprus, where Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots live in peace… There is no such thing as Northern Republic of Cyprus. There is only one republic, that is the Republic of Cyprus, and that is Cyprus.”
The next and final event in the calendar for CCSA and SEKA is a community discussion on the Cyprus Problem and an update on current developments, delivered by His Excellency Mr Antonis Sammoutis, High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus in Australia, accompanied by a representative of the Republic of Cyprus. You can find more information on the event via Facebook or the CCSA website.
*All photos copyright The Greek Herald / Peter Tantalos.
