Front Page Headlines
Both are not registered anywhere
Details of the murder of Nigerian national Walsak Augustine Nhgok is slowly emerging. Nghok’s housemate Ezeh Christopher, who was a suspect, confessed to murdering him. Ezeh Christopher was living in the country for the past eight years but was not registered as a student. It emerged that Nghok, who first arrived in the country as a student, was also not registered anywhere.
- They formed a human chain – Anti-nuclear protest held at Lokmacı (Ledra crossing)
The public wants immunity of MPs to be lifted
Members of the public who spoke to Kıbrıs Postası support the idea of lifting the immunity of MPs.
Growing number of murders causing public outrage
The public is disturbed by the frequent number of murder incidents taking place in the country. The latest incident in which a black student was brutally killed has raised the number of murders in the past 11 years and four months to 62.
- Turkish Cypriots support participation in EP elections – CMIRS (Centre for Migration, Identity and Rights Studies) creates an additional section in its March 2019 survey for European Parliamentary elections.
Not an investigation, a total disgrace
Hasan Yücelen, lawyer of police inspector Ali Özbayrak, who is being charged with having connections to FETÖ (Feytullah Organisation) and the PYD (Democratic Union Party-Syria) and could be expelled from the police force, spoke to Havadis newspaper. Yücelen gave shocking statements to the paper.
Economic crisis worked
Promising developments in the interest of Greek Cypriots towards the north after mutual crossings began 16 years ago.
- I strangled her during intercourse – Confession by murderer Lieutenant shocked everyone. ‘Filipino women like me.’
Turkish embassy oversteps boundaries
We are nearing the finish line in the cartoon case filed against our paper Afrika eight months ago. Our lawyers Tacan Reynar and Mine Atlı presented their closing statements to the court. The prosecution asked for a postponement for its closing statement. The final hearing will be held on April 25.
Main News
Death threats to Akıncı on social media
Havadis, Afrika
Internal Security
OVERVIEW
Nacak newspaper columnist Sabahattin İsmail’s social media platform has become a venue for hate speech and death threats against President Mustafa Akıncı. İsmail has been calling on Akıncı to resign almost from the day he was elected to office.
A person on Monday posted a comment below one of İsmail’s posts criticizing Akıncı, threatening to kill the president and all those who support a solution.
The papers report that the police have launched investigations on similar incidents in the past, going as far as seizing laptops and smartphones. However, Havadis notes, it is not known whether the police will take any action on the current death threats directed at Akıncı.
The Trade Union Platform, in a written statement on Monday, condemned the incident, stating that such threats directed at Akıncı and those who support a settlement were unacceptable.
Press Workers’ Union President Ali Kişmir issued the statement on behalf of the platform, saying that the struggle against those who harboured such backward minded and dangerous mentalities will continue.
Turkish Cypriots support participation in Euro-elections
Kıbrıs
EU Matters
OVERVIEW
The CMIRS (Centre for Migration, Identity and Rights Studies) has included questions on the upcoming European Parliament (EP) elections in its March 2019 survey.
According to CMIRS, 67% of Turkish Cypriots support Turkish Cypriot candidates running for a seat in the EP elections. The strongest support for EP elections was recorded in Nicosia, Kyrenia and Famagusta, while the strongest opposition came from Morphou and İskele (Trikomo).
CMIRS Director Mine Yücel said that 20% of Turkish Cypriots were opposed to Turkish Cypriots running in EP elections whilst 12.8% abstained from answering.
Yücel said that the majority who expressed support had a Republican Turkish Party (CTP) background while the majority who expressed opposition had a National Unity Party (UBP) background.
She also pointed out that in both cases, the number of men who responded was higher while women either chose not to reply or said they did not know.
Yücel said that women, particularly in a society where men are more interested and involved in politics, should be better informed on the European Parliament elections.
Economic crisis attracts more GCs to north
Diyalog
CBMs, Economy
OVERVIEW
Diyalog newspaper reported on Tuesday that for the first time since April 23, 2003, the number of Greek Cypriots crossing over to the north almost equalled the number of Turkish Cypriots crossing over to the south.
According to information obtained by the paper, a total of 467,723 Greek Cypriots crossed over to the north in the first three months of this year compared to the 477,210 Turkish Cypriots who crossed over to the south in the same period.
The paper reports that the cheaper prices in fuel, cigarettes, vegetables and clothing, as a result of the loss in value of the Turkish Lira against foreign currencies, is the biggest factor for Greek Cypriots crossing over to the north.
It said that dental treatment and hairdressers are also considerably cheaper in the north resulting in a higher number of Greek Cypriots crossing over to the north in the past two years.
The paper also provides figures regarding the number of people who used the crossing points since 2003.
Chamber of Architects to reject any project without TC involvement
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs Postası, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Afrika
Property, Territory
OVERVIEW
The Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Architects and Civil Engineers on Monday said that the exclusion of Turkish Cypriot engineers, architects and town planners in the city park project has led to serious disappointment among its 4,557 members. The Chamber added that they will reject any project that does not involve Turkish Cypriots.
The Chamber said the project designer mentioned in the statement issued by President Mustafa Akıncı is not among the 4,557 members of the Chamber.
It also pointed out that the project design office in charge of drawing up the plans is not registered in north Cyprus either. The Chamber underlined that implementing a project like this through such a design office is a blatant violation of existing laws.
The Chamber emphasized it will reject such a project, which is launched by the authorities tasked to protect the rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriots, and which ignores Turkish Cypriot architects.
Instead, there should have been a nation-wide design competition for the city park project, the Chamber concluded.
Cyprus Peace Council supports Sevgül Uludağ’s Nobel nomination
Yenidüzen
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
The Cyprus Peace Council (KBK) on Monday declared its support for Sevgül Uludağ’s nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize. The KBK said that Uludağ, in addition to her efforts to uncover the fate of missing persons in Cyprus, has been instrumental in creating mutual understanding between the two communities and helping to overcome problems as a journalist on the island.
KBK underlined that Uludağ continues to contribute to the peace process and reconciliation efforts with her work.
Buffer zone protest held against Akkuyu nuclear plant
Yenidüzen
Human Rights, Regional/International Relations
OVERVIEW
Anti-nuclear groups and environmentalists from both sides of the divide staged a joint protest in the buffer zone at the Lokmacı (Ledra) crossing on Monday night against the construction of a nuclear power plant in Akkuyu, Turkey.
AKEL’s (Progressive Party of the Working People) European Parliament (EP) candidates Niyazi Kızılyürek and Marina Nikolaou, MEP Neoklis Silikiotis and Greens candidates Alexia Sakadaki and Efi Xanthou took part in the protest, held on the 33rd anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster.
A human chain was formed from one crossing point to the other.
A press statement read out at the protest drew attention to the risks of constructing a nuclear power plant so close to the island.
It gave examples of the nuclear disasters in Chernobyl and Fukushima, stating that thousands of lives would be at risk should something go wrong.
The protest was supported by over 50 political parties, trade unions and civil society organisations from both sides of the divide.