Front Page Headlines
Traffic to increase at Ercan (Tymbou)
(University) students start returning, the number of passengers is increasing. New measures are being discussed following an expectation in the increase of arrivals ahead of the start of the new academic year at universities. The number of arrivals at Ercan (Tymbou) has increased over the past few weeks and is expected to continue until November. Public Works and Communications Minister Resmiye Canaltay said that efforts were underway to ease the waiting period for arrivals at the airport.
A high density of nitrogen dioxide in the air
A high density of nitrogen dioxide was detected over the TRNC by the Sentinel 5P satellite, which measures air pollution levels as part of the European Space Agency’s Copernicus programme. Prof Dr Mete Tayanç said the pollution is caused by smoke from the Teknecik and Kalecik power plants as well as the high number of vehicles on the roads.
- Destroyed the half-century-old light-house – The light-house built at the Famagusta Port in 1966 has been vandalized by irresponsible people.
The public is tired
People are divided over the issue of early elections. Those who believe that nothing will change is just as high as those who think early elections are necessary.
- “I will cut your salaries” – Greek Cypriot Archbishop Chrisostomos gave a stern warning to clergy who refuses to get vaccinated.
- Use of Methamphetamine on the rise – 197kgs of drugs were seized in South Cyprus in the last eight months.
- Limassol meeting –US Ambassador Garber and Greek Cypriot Defense Minister Petridis watched a joint military exercise.
Unfair and unlawful police intervention
Turkish Cypriot Bar Association’s health committee evaluated the issue of treatment for 10-month-old Asya and the police intervention during the protest held yesterday in front of the health ministry. The Bar Association said the state needs to fulfil its responsibility to enable Asya to have access to medical treatment and benefits from her right to health. The Association also highlighted that the police unfairly intervened in the protest, arguing that such intervention is a violation of a constitutional right’ of people to stage protests.
- The news was exaggerated – According to a statement from the police department, reports that officers used excessive force during the protest were exaggerated and were aimed at harming the reputation of the police force.
- Turkish Cypriots to file lawsuits in the south – One of the cases is on those retired from the south and the other one is on denying giving ID and passports to children, whose one parent is not Cypriot.
Main News
TCs to file lawsuits, challenging rights denied to them in GC courts
Avrupa
Governance & Power Sharing, Migration & Citizenship
OVERVIEW
A Turkish Cypriot, Tanyol Çeribaşı has decided to legally challenge labour, pension and citizenship rights denied to Turkish Cypriots by Greek Cypriot authorities, Avrupa reports on Sunday.
Reprinting an interview carried out by HaberKıbrıs.com, the Turkish Cypriot daily writes Çeribaşı is planning on filing five lawsuits on pension rights after having worked in the south and reached the age of retirement. One of the cases is on citizenship rights and on the Republic of Cyprus’ (RoC) refusal to grant citizenship to children, with one Turkish parent but born in Cyprus.
Çeribaşı also called on Turkish Cypriot RoC citizens, who might be in the same situation as he is in, to come forth and join forces with him. He also asked for financial support from donors as the legal fees are high in the south. He said he has contracted Achilleas Demetriades to represent him.
The Turkish Cypriot pensioner recalled that the Turkish Cypriot Teachers’ Union (KTÖS) had filed a lawsuit on the citizenship issue. He added that the case is now at the appeal’s court after losing the initial case. Çeribaşı added he will decide whether to file a new lawsuit or not depending on the outcome of the appeal’s court.
He provided details of the five cases on labour and pension rights. He said the first case will be on social security salaries being transferred to the spouse when the insured passes away. He said the RoC however does not transfer the payment if the insured and his/her spouse were married after 1974.
The second case will be on Turkish Cypriots not being able to benefit from the health system in the south even though a deduction is made from the workers’ or pensioners’ salaries.
The third case will be to demand from the courts that the Greek Cypriot administration increases the salaries for some of the Turkish Cypriots to the mandatory minimum amount of €710. Çeribaşı noted that the Greek Cypriot authorities had adopted a decision and amended the relevant law in 2020, increasing the lowest payable pension to €710.
He explained that the fourth case is related to social welfare, adding that the case will be to include the Turkish Cypriots aged 65 and above to the social welfare scheme of paying €400 monthly in the event the person does not have an alternative income.
Çeribaşı said the fifth case is also on the social security provisions, saying that the Turkish Cypriots must also be included in the scheme for the widowed. He explained that when the wife of the insured Cypriot passes away, the pension he receives from the social security department is increased a certain percentage however the Turkish Cypriots are not included in the scheme.