Front Page Headlines
Who is next?
The list of those banned from entering Turkey grows. The President of Basın-Sen (Press Workers’ Union) Ali Kişmir was barred from entering Turkey and deported. Speaking on his return, Kişmir said his mug shot and fingerprints were taken. “I was treated like I was a terrorist,” he said.
- Tatar supports deportation
- Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Tufan Erhürman calls out to officials: “Do you not care whether or not your citizens will be able to enter Turkey?”
There is a massive economic gap between the North and the South
According to economist Kemal Derviş Deniz, income per capita in the south is $32,000 whereas it is $9,000 in the TRNC. Deniz pointed out that the gap has significantly increased in the last four to five years and said: “This will result in having a few rich people compared to many poor,” and warned, “This situation will turn the country into a model similar to the ones in the Middle East.” Deniz also reminded us that the income per capita in our country was $15,000 in 2007-2008.
AKP (Justice and Development Party) seeking revenge
Following the earlier deportation of former president Mustafa Akıncı’s communication consultant Ali Bizden and researcher Dr Ahmet An, journalist and head of Basın-Sen Ali Kişmir was detained by Turkish authorities and also deported.
Who is going to look after this place?
Even though the old Kyrenia harbour had a good day, the neglected state of the historic port draws criticism from tourists. The harbour and nearby shops experienced some revival yesterday as tourists flocked to the area. The restaurants, cafes and shops were able to do some business. Speaking to Diyalog, local shopkeepers said that business could return if tourism was developed but that currently, they were even finding it impossible to pay rent. Tourists visiting the area drew attention to the beauty of Kyrenia and its history. But tourists who were greeted by the poor state of the promenade and the crumbling state of some of the buildings expressed their disappointment.
- Greek Cypriots are rejoicing – 1,800 hectares of land located within the Sovereign Bases Area is to be opened for civilian settlement by the new year.
- ‘Strong defence’ against Turkey – Talks are being held between the Greek Cypriot administration and Israel on the purchasing of the Iron Dome defence system.
Fourth name on the blacklist
After Özay Hüseyin Kurtdere, Ali Bizden and Ahmet An, Basın-Sen President Ali Kişmir was also arrested at the Istanbul Airport and was deported after he was treated like a terrorist. Kişmir was treated like a terrorist on grounds he was a ‘threat to Turkey’s security.’
- KTÖS: AKP (Justice and Development Party) wants us to submit – Turkish Cypriot Teachers’ Union (KTÖS) said: “In the past, it was Makarios who had declared some of the Turkish Cypriots as terrorists and prohibited their entry into the island and now Tayyip Erdoğan is doing the same…”
- Journalists’ Association: Who’s next?
- Basın-Sen – We will launch legal action.
Main News
Ali Kişmir becomes the latest to be barred from entering Turkey
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Diyalog, Havadis, Avrupa
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
The entry ban imposed on Ali Kişmir, head of the Turkish Cypriot Press Workers’ Union (Basın-Sen) sent shockwaves through the Turkish Cypriot community on Sunday. It emerged that Kişmir was also included in the list of persons who are barred from entering the country, mainly for supporting former Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akıncı. A similar ban has been imposed on Akıncı’s former communication adviser Ali Bizden and other individuals who openly criticized Ankara’s interference and meddling in the north’s affairs.
Bizden is barred from entering Turkey on grounds he poses a threat to the country’s national security. Dr Ahmet Cavit, a well-known researcher was also deported in July for the same reasons. Despite an earlier statement issued by the Turkish Cypriot foreign ministry that an initiative had been launched to address the issue no steps have been taken.
Kişmir who was returning from a congress in Croatia organised by the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) said when he reached Istanbul he was told his entry had been disallowed and he was transferred to an area where people were being held before deportation. He reported his photograph and fingerprints were taken and he was treated like a terrorist.
Kişmir said he knew the reason he had been denied entry and will start a court case against it. He said he felt sorry for Turkey and its people and he would return to his beloved Cyprus. The decision to bar Kişmir sparked strong reactions in the north. Nicosia Turkish Municipality Mayor Mehmet Harmancı on Sunday expressed his disappointment over Ankara’s treatment of people expressing their views as terrorists.
“It was Ali Bizden yesterday and it’s Ali Kişmir today. But the Turkish Cypriot officials have nothing to say. They do not even dare to ask who else is on the list,” Harmancı said in a post on social media. He added that the Turkish Cypriots are free-spirited people and cannot be turned into a community that submits to the will and views of others.
Harmancı also accused the Turkish Cypriot officials of harming basic values such as human rights and democracy for personal gains. “We will continue to express our opinions freely. Even if we do not have the same opinion, we will continue to protect the others’ right of say,” Harmancı concluded.
Abdullah Korkmazhan, head of the Left Movement on Sunday also harshly criticized the way Kişmir was treated in Istanbul. “Such methods will not be enough to silence the Turkish Cypriots or scare the Turkish Cypriot community,” Korkmazhan wrote on social media. He concluded his post by writing the slogan: “Freedom not submission.”
The main opposition Republican Turkish Party (CTP) in a statement issued on Sunday, said “what had been done to Kişmir is not acceptable.” The CTP said that principles such as human rights, democracy, freedom of expression and rule of law are second nature to the Turkish Cypriots and urged the Turkish officials to accept it as a fact.
“We as the CTP wish to reiterate, we will stand against anti-democratic mentalities,” the statement read, adding that they stand with Kişmir. The CTP also criticised the government and the Turkish Cypriot leader for “keeping quiet on this issue” and urged the officials to publicly announce who is on the list of banned Turkish Cypriots.
“Even though those responsible to announce the list of names are keeping quiet today, the Turkish Cypriots without a doubt will punish the anti-democratic mentality,” the CTP concluded. CTP leader Tufan Erhürman blasted Turkish Cypriot officials for allowing such treatment of its citizens and of submitting to Ankara’s policies.
He said the Turkish Cypriot community had a right to know who else was barred from entering Turkey.
People’s Party (HP) leader Kudret Özersay on Sunday said that many in the north were now worried whether they were included in the list of barred persons. He said this latest development added to the difficulties Turkish Cypriots faced when travelling abroad.
In a social media post, Özersay pointed out that the actual reasons why Bizdan, An and Kişmir were barred were still unknown to the Turkish Cypriot community. “Nothing has been done on this issue that triggers distrust to Turkey,” Özersay said, adding that it is not right to punish anyone for their political viewpoint.
Urging the Turkish Cypriot leader to “sit down and talk to Turkish officials sincerely,” Özersay said it is vital to explain the reasons as to why some are banned, and others are not. “The lack of transparency on this issue and in other areas will lead to erosion of trust between the countries, harming the relations,” Özersay said.
He also shared his party’s statement issued in July 2021 when Bizden and An were banned from entering Turkey. “We need transparent relations with Turkey that will give confidence to people instead of implementations that fuel distrust, and concerns,” Özersay said, expressing his hope that the people in power will take the necessary steps as soon as possible.
Social Democratic Party (TDP) Youth Branch said on Sunday it is unacceptable to punish anyone who does not think alike. In a statement issued, the TDP’s Youth Branch accused the government of “burying its head in the sand like an ostrich” when the problem emerged.
Noting that the treatment of the Turkish Cypriots is not acceptable, the statement urged the Turkish Cypriot officials to start acting to protect its citizens. The statement added that the TDP Youth will inform the Turkish opposition as well as the Turkish media on the treatment of the Turkish Cypriots.
The Turkish Cypriot Teachers Union (KTÖS) also criticized Turkish officials stating that Turkish Cypriots were being subjected to the same treatment they were subjected to by the late Republic of Cyprus (RoC) President Archbishop Makarios.
The Turkish Cypriot Journalists Association (KTGB) and Basın-Sen also issued statements condemning the incident.
Unsurprisingly, Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar issued a statement late on Sunday defending Ankara’s decision not to allow certain Turkish Cypriots into the country.
Responding to Erhürman’s criticism, Tatar said that it was disappointing to see how the barring of persons who accused Turkey of being an occupier in Cyprus was being exploited for political purposes.
He said Turkey, like all other countries, had a right not to allow foreign nationals who insulted and threatened its national security and existence. Tatar accused Erhürman of carelessness when holding him responsible for Ankara’s decision to bar such persons who repeatedly described Turkey as a colonizer.
“Erhürman’s actions only serve to support those who attack and insult Turkey at every opportunity. I urge him to exercise common sense and to be realistic,” he said.
TC leadership condemned being left out of Queen’s Baton Relay in Commonwealth games
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Diyalog, Havadis, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar on Sunday condemned the decision to leave the Turkish Cypriot side out of Queen’s Baton Relay in the build-up to the Commonwealth games.
The Queen’s Baton Relay began its epic journey across the globe with Cyprus – the first stop on the 140,000-kilometre relay. The relay is a tradition that celebrates, connects, and excites communities from across the Commonwealth during the build-up to the Games.
A special ceremony for the 16th official Queen’s Baton Relay was held at Buckingham Palace on Thursday, where Her Majesty the Queen placed her message to the Commonwealth into the Baton.
The Queen’s Baton will visit all 72 nations and territories of the Commonwealth – from Africa to the Americas, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, and Oceania, before travelling the length and breadth of England during the final days of the Relay. Ian Reid, Chief Executive Officer of Birmingham 2022, said: “The Baton embarks on a 294-day journey, connecting communities in every corner of the Commonwealth, embracing unique cultures and sharing stories,” and added, “We hope this collective journey will ignite hope, solidarity and collaboration for the next generation…”
In a statement issued from his office, Tatar said the decision by the UK, which is a guarantor state, to leave the Turkish Cypriots out from the commonwealth games despite its promise to “connect communities and embracing unique cultures,” is nothing but discrimination.
“This biased attitude raised the question whether the UK perceives the Turkish Cypriots as a member of the Commonwealth or not,” Tatar argued, stressing that it is UK’s legal and moral responsibility to treat both the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots equally on the island.
Tatar was also critical of the decision not to include the Turkish language in the posters designed for Queen’s Baton Relay. “We wish to remind that after the Turkish Cypriots with an overwhelming majority had approved the Annan Plan in 2004 and the Greek Cypriots had rejected it, the Tony Blair government had promised then to lift the isolations on the Turkish Cypriots,” Tatar said, stressing that the continuation of the isolations is not acceptable.
“The UK’s attitude is actually a positive development proving that the so-called RoC has turned into a Greek Cypriot state and that the UK perceives only the Greek Cypriots as part of the Commonwealth,” Tatar concluded.