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Famagusta Gazette, Cyprus
July 24 2011
Comment: Refugee Exploitation
by Andreas C Chrysafis
In accordance to the UN, `a refugee is a person who has been forced to
leave their home and seek refuge and protection elsewhere due to
persecution, acts of external aggression, occupation, and domination
by foreign powers'. During such a process, uncalled for violence
against innocent persons is the result of an ugly human trait.
This uncalled for behaviour can be solved by humans but unfortunately,
not enough effort has been put in motion to eliminate recurring war
atrocities from happening.
Without a doubt, refugees are the most affected people by these
brutalities. Vulnerable and terrified, victims who no longer control
their own destiny, develop a dependency on charity workers and
officials in which they often become easy targets for exploitation; be
it in the hands of enforcement officials, citizens of the host
country, and even United Nations peacekeepers.
Instances of human rights violation, child labour, mental trauma and
sexual exploitation especially of children are not entirely unknown.
On July 20, 1974 the nation of Cyprus shared the bitter experience of
such an aggression of terror - the mighty military invasion of the
Turkish army. As the 43.000 troops advanced forward, atrocities became
part of their duty.
With brains pumped up in amphetamines, soldiers captured civilians,
tortured, killed and buried them in mass graves, while others raped
young girls and women, but not before branding their breasts and
private parts by stamping the red Turkish flag on them; just like
branding cattle!
Yet, the world remained idle: a classic case of sheer indifference by
civilized nations!
Sadly, after 37 years of military occupation the tragedy continues
with no end in sight. Years from now, the invasion will most probably
turn into a bad memory and fade away into the history books - an
effective and well-recognized policy that always seems to work for
Turkey!
Adolf Hitler in August 22, 1939 cited Turkey's tactics on
exterminating 1.5 million Armenians by saying: `Who, after all, speaks
today of the annihilation of the Armenians?'
Equally, one can ask: who after all, speaks today of Turkey's
expulsion and ethnic cleansing of the Greeks in Asia Minor...or
Constantinople... or Smyrna? And, who after all, shall speak tomorrow of
Kerynia, Morphou, Vasoshia, Karpasia and Rizokarpaso whose fate is
about to be sealed by the present government who has entered into
negotiations to hand over another trophy to Turkish aggression?
Wedged between dogmatic political parties and foreign influences, the
hapless refugees are trapped right in the middle of a political chess
game. Unfortunately for them, they have failed to organize themselves
into one powerful lobby to demand their rights: - at the time, they
represented nearly half the population of Cyprus!
They had `vote-power', a precious democratic political commodity but
did recognize its power; instead, they put their trust in the
government! That was a mistake then and continues to be so today.
They should have been in the centre of the negotiating team from the
very start and not to be sidelined by politicians. If so, they could
have used their precious `refugee-veto' to ensure that no temporary
petty-politician signs away their properties and homes for political
expediency.
No-one and not even the government has the legitimacy or the mandate
to do that!
Covered in a cloud of darkness and secrecy, the ongoing negotiations
attempting to create a two-component state solution, based on a
Bi-Zonal, Bi-Communal Federation
(Partition) will certainly guarantee the abandonment of human rights
for thousands of refugees.
Without transparency or public approval, the president makes
irrational concessions and a string of bad decisions affecting the
nation. He simply does not have what it takes to make an effective
leader or a commanding opponent to Turkey's cunning diplomacy and
negotiating skills. Meanwhile, the refugees are in a limbo...
In response to the government's mishandling of a raft of issues,
thousands of people are now out in the streets each night rebelling
and calling for the president's resignation including his entire
cabinet. Such vociferous demand clearly shows how angry people have
become with the status quo. Historically, this has never happened
before in Cyprus.
Yet, the president (the ex-communist/socialist AKEL leader) who has
lost the confidence of the electorate believes that, it's his
god-given right to `negotiate' the Cyprus issue.
A weak leader - and a shunned one at that - should not be permitted to
face his adversary under such conditions and to pretend that he speaks
for the all the people.
The United Nations on the other hand, have had enough and finally
introduced a shotgun clause (a form of political blackmail) on the
table: if no agreement is reached by October of this year, the UN may
wash its hands from the entire issue. This will certainly provide a
bright green light for Turkey's next strategic political move.
With the United Nations out of the way and no longer an obstacle, the
floodgates will be flung wide open for Turkey's `final solution' to
the Cyprus problem! That is: the official recognition of an
independent Turkish-Cypriot State, or alternatively, Turkey's
annexation of the entire occupied area.
The United Nations, America, Britain and the European Union most
likely will puff and huff, but will do nothing to stop Turkey.
As for the Greek Cypriot refugees, their destiny has been sealed long
time ago and its naïve to believe otherwise; no matter what happens to
the negotiations, most will not return back to their homes!
Regrettably, Cyprus does not have statesmen with a clear vision to
protect and lead the nation forward.
Ultimately, the island shall remain divided and the process of
Islamization shall begin systematically. There are already over
350.000 Anatolian settlers living in the occupied area. Ankara's plan
for Cyprus is to flood the northern part with more than one million
settlers.
As for the Turkish Cypriots, settlers have already overwhelmed their
community at the cost of losing their own identity. Ultimately, the
treasured demographic character of the island shall disappear forever.
A solution between the two people is desperately needed now, because
time is running out in favour of Turkeys' long-term geopolitical plans
of the area. Ankara is anxious to put it in force by next year, and
has announced that `Plan B' - whatever that means, but certainly
cannot be good - will be put in motion by January...
However, if an agreement is signed that does not allow for the return
of all refugees back to their ancestral homes, no-one can anticipate
the consequences of such a makeshift solution. The social consequence
of this happening is unimaginable!
Have the refugees in Cyprus been exploited? Absolutely, and in more
ways than one!
Andreas C Chrysafis is the author of:
WHO SHALL GOVERN CYPRUS - Brussels or Nicosia? -Political analysis
ANDARTES - a revolutionary riveting novel
PORPHYRA in PURPLE - a metaphysical spellbinding novel
All books are available from: Bookshops, Barnes & Noble, Amazon.co.uk,
Amazon.com, Waterstone's, Kindle and the Internet. Other published
articles can be found on Google under `Vanishing Cyprus' or under
`Andreas C Chrysafis'.
http://famagusta-gazette.com/comment-refugee-exploitation-p12579-69.htm
July 24 2011
Comment: Refugee Exploitation
by Andreas C Chrysafis
In accordance to the UN, `a refugee is a person who has been forced to
leave their home and seek refuge and protection elsewhere due to
persecution, acts of external aggression, occupation, and domination
by foreign powers'. During such a process, uncalled for violence
against innocent persons is the result of an ugly human trait.
This uncalled for behaviour can be solved by humans but unfortunately,
not enough effort has been put in motion to eliminate recurring war
atrocities from happening.
Without a doubt, refugees are the most affected people by these
brutalities. Vulnerable and terrified, victims who no longer control
their own destiny, develop a dependency on charity workers and
officials in which they often become easy targets for exploitation; be
it in the hands of enforcement officials, citizens of the host
country, and even United Nations peacekeepers.
Instances of human rights violation, child labour, mental trauma and
sexual exploitation especially of children are not entirely unknown.
On July 20, 1974 the nation of Cyprus shared the bitter experience of
such an aggression of terror - the mighty military invasion of the
Turkish army. As the 43.000 troops advanced forward, atrocities became
part of their duty.
With brains pumped up in amphetamines, soldiers captured civilians,
tortured, killed and buried them in mass graves, while others raped
young girls and women, but not before branding their breasts and
private parts by stamping the red Turkish flag on them; just like
branding cattle!
Yet, the world remained idle: a classic case of sheer indifference by
civilized nations!
Sadly, after 37 years of military occupation the tragedy continues
with no end in sight. Years from now, the invasion will most probably
turn into a bad memory and fade away into the history books - an
effective and well-recognized policy that always seems to work for
Turkey!
Adolf Hitler in August 22, 1939 cited Turkey's tactics on
exterminating 1.5 million Armenians by saying: `Who, after all, speaks
today of the annihilation of the Armenians?'
Equally, one can ask: who after all, speaks today of Turkey's
expulsion and ethnic cleansing of the Greeks in Asia Minor...or
Constantinople... or Smyrna? And, who after all, shall speak tomorrow of
Kerynia, Morphou, Vasoshia, Karpasia and Rizokarpaso whose fate is
about to be sealed by the present government who has entered into
negotiations to hand over another trophy to Turkish aggression?
Wedged between dogmatic political parties and foreign influences, the
hapless refugees are trapped right in the middle of a political chess
game. Unfortunately for them, they have failed to organize themselves
into one powerful lobby to demand their rights: - at the time, they
represented nearly half the population of Cyprus!
They had `vote-power', a precious democratic political commodity but
did recognize its power; instead, they put their trust in the
government! That was a mistake then and continues to be so today.
They should have been in the centre of the negotiating team from the
very start and not to be sidelined by politicians. If so, they could
have used their precious `refugee-veto' to ensure that no temporary
petty-politician signs away their properties and homes for political
expediency.
No-one and not even the government has the legitimacy or the mandate
to do that!
Covered in a cloud of darkness and secrecy, the ongoing negotiations
attempting to create a two-component state solution, based on a
Bi-Zonal, Bi-Communal Federation
(Partition) will certainly guarantee the abandonment of human rights
for thousands of refugees.
Without transparency or public approval, the president makes
irrational concessions and a string of bad decisions affecting the
nation. He simply does not have what it takes to make an effective
leader or a commanding opponent to Turkey's cunning diplomacy and
negotiating skills. Meanwhile, the refugees are in a limbo...
In response to the government's mishandling of a raft of issues,
thousands of people are now out in the streets each night rebelling
and calling for the president's resignation including his entire
cabinet. Such vociferous demand clearly shows how angry people have
become with the status quo. Historically, this has never happened
before in Cyprus.
Yet, the president (the ex-communist/socialist AKEL leader) who has
lost the confidence of the electorate believes that, it's his
god-given right to `negotiate' the Cyprus issue.
A weak leader - and a shunned one at that - should not be permitted to
face his adversary under such conditions and to pretend that he speaks
for the all the people.
The United Nations on the other hand, have had enough and finally
introduced a shotgun clause (a form of political blackmail) on the
table: if no agreement is reached by October of this year, the UN may
wash its hands from the entire issue. This will certainly provide a
bright green light for Turkey's next strategic political move.
With the United Nations out of the way and no longer an obstacle, the
floodgates will be flung wide open for Turkey's `final solution' to
the Cyprus problem! That is: the official recognition of an
independent Turkish-Cypriot State, or alternatively, Turkey's
annexation of the entire occupied area.
The United Nations, America, Britain and the European Union most
likely will puff and huff, but will do nothing to stop Turkey.
As for the Greek Cypriot refugees, their destiny has been sealed long
time ago and its naïve to believe otherwise; no matter what happens to
the negotiations, most will not return back to their homes!
Regrettably, Cyprus does not have statesmen with a clear vision to
protect and lead the nation forward.
Ultimately, the island shall remain divided and the process of
Islamization shall begin systematically. There are already over
350.000 Anatolian settlers living in the occupied area. Ankara's plan
for Cyprus is to flood the northern part with more than one million
settlers.
As for the Turkish Cypriots, settlers have already overwhelmed their
community at the cost of losing their own identity. Ultimately, the
treasured demographic character of the island shall disappear forever.
A solution between the two people is desperately needed now, because
time is running out in favour of Turkeys' long-term geopolitical plans
of the area. Ankara is anxious to put it in force by next year, and
has announced that `Plan B' - whatever that means, but certainly
cannot be good - will be put in motion by January...
However, if an agreement is signed that does not allow for the return
of all refugees back to their ancestral homes, no-one can anticipate
the consequences of such a makeshift solution. The social consequence
of this happening is unimaginable!
Have the refugees in Cyprus been exploited? Absolutely, and in more
ways than one!
Andreas C Chrysafis is the author of:
WHO SHALL GOVERN CYPRUS - Brussels or Nicosia? -Political analysis
ANDARTES - a revolutionary riveting novel
PORPHYRA in PURPLE - a metaphysical spellbinding novel
All books are available from: Bookshops, Barnes & Noble, Amazon.co.uk,
Amazon.com, Waterstone's, Kindle and the Internet. Other published
articles can be found on Google under `Vanishing Cyprus' or under
`Andreas C Chrysafis'.
http://famagusta-gazette.com/comment-refugee-exploitation-p12579-69.htm