Front Page Headlines
We know who the killer is; the ‘state’ remains silent
The Turkish Cypriot writer and investigative journalist Kutlu Adalı who was slain 25 years ago was remembered yesterday throughout the day with various events. “This Country Is Ours’ Platform”: “We talk about an unidentified murder but we know who was responsible. The confessions made clear reveal the murderers. The state is silent!” The president, the prime minister and the police continue to remain silent. The appointment of a parliamentary committee by the minority government to investigate the murder is being delayed with various games.
- I was pressured into resigning – MP Bertan Zaroğlu resigned from the Rebirth Party (YDP) yesterday.
A tale of public tenders
TPIC, one of the three companies that bid for the procurement tender for 220,000 tons of fuel oil, which remains unconcluded since December 2020, was disqualified from the process after the Central Tendering Commission (MIK) discovered that one of the documents submitted was forged. Now all eyes have turned to the company that submitted the second-lowest bid. If the company Sideral Lines were to accept the condition to increase the amount of the blocked funds as a warranty, the company will win the tender; otherwise, the process will be cancelled.
- The crisis will be solved today – It has not been possible to appoint someone to the post of labour minister following Koral Çağman’s resignation even though a new appointment should be made within ten days according to the constitution.
- Fuat Oktay coming to the TRNC today – Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay, who is coming for a two-day working visit, will inspect the ongoing construction works at the northbound ring road and the restoration work at the Bilal Ağa Mosque.
- Bertan Zaroğlu resigned from the YDP (Rebirth Party) together with 2,011 members – Zaroğlu announced he will set up a new political party named, the Nation Party (MP).
Adalı Resistance
Kutlu Adalı remembered the 25th anniversary of his assassination. Hundreds of people placed red carnations at the point where Adalı was killed.
- Ali Bizden prohibited from entering Turkey – Former Coordinator of Communication and Press Affairs at the Office of the President Ali Bizden was not allowed to enter Turkey due to ‘security concerns.’ Bizden, who announced the incident on his social media account, said he has been banned from entering Turkey for five years.
- Mustafa Akıncı: “His (Ali Bizden) only crime is being a close colleague to me.”
- MP was born out of the YDP – Bertan Zaroğlu made a very harsh statement and resıgned from the Rebirth Party (YDP) with 2,011 members. He said they will form the Nation Party (Millet Partisi/MP).
This is how it is
The number of YDP members in the coalition has dropped to one, the situation within the Democratic Party (DP) is complicated; the new labour ministry appointment is pending approval, one National Unity Party (UBP) MP is in Istanbul and parliament in on a three-month recess. While the country continues to struggle with economic, political, social and infrastructural problems, the coalition is in disarray. No one knows when the early elections will take place.
- Does no one see this? – Famagusta’s historic walls crumbling away from neglect.
- Move that sets an example – Vaccinated Greek Cypriots staying at local hotels be given holiday allowance.
- The surge continues – 88 (Covid-19) cases in the north, 827 in the south.
- It’s been 25 years – Journalist Kutlu Adalı who was the victim of an unsolved murder remembered on the anniversary of his death with a ceremony at his graveside.
Filed a complaint with the police for Levent
Mesut Kazık, mukhtar of the old town district of north Nicosia filed a complaint with the police against Şener Levent for a video he posted on social media.
- A black wreath placed at the police who did not do what was necessary – Kutlu Adalı remembered and a protest was staged at the police general directorate and a march was organized.
- Not closing the crossings – Health Minister Ünal Üstel refuted rumours that the crossings will be closed due to a surge in the number of positive cases.
Main News
TC health officials rule out closure of crossings despite surge in cases
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Internal Security, CBMs
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot Health Minister Ünal Üstel on Tuesday said the Turkish Cypriot side will not close the crossings despite the surge in the number of coronavirus cases in the south.
Speaking during a web TV programme, he noted the Turkish Cypriot health officials will do anything necessary to keep the crossings operational however Üstel added he did not know what the Greek Cypriot health officials thought about this.
Üstel said the health officials from the north and the south had a videoconference meeting on Friday after the south side was moved to the red category. He noted the Turkish Cypriot side recommended making adjustments to PCR and rapid test requirements, making the PCR tests valid for 72 hours and the rapid antigen tests for 48 hours.
Touching on the delta variant of the coronavirus, the Turkish Cypriot health minister announced the north has decided to reintroduce the mandatory PCR testing at the Ercan (Tymbou) airport again. He added the new ruling will also apply to tourists who have been fully vaccinated.
“We are doing everything to prevent another lock-down,” Üstel said, noting that there have so far been only five cases of the delta variant identified in the north.
Meanwhile, the initiative established by privately owned labs staged a protest outside the Turkish Cypriot health ministry on Tuesday.
The initiative protested claims made by Turkish Cypriot daily Yenidüzen that attempts were being made to hand over PCR testing carried out at Ercan (Tymbou) airport and other control points to a private company in Turkey through the North Cyprus Red Crescent Association. It argued the government’s move will eventually result in the bankruptcy of all the privately owned labs.
We want Adalı’s murderers, & our country and political will back
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Human Rights, Internal Security
OVERVIEW
“This Country is Ours” Platform organised a march on Tuesday as part of events to mark the 25th anniversary of the murder of Turkish Cypriot investigative journalist Kutlu Adalı’s in an attempt to pressure the Turkish Cypriot authorities to investigate the case and bring the murderers to justice.
The platform also placed a black wreath outside the police general headquarters in Nicosia.
Speaking during the event at the police, Yenidüzen’s Editor-in-Chief Cenk Mutluyakalı argued that the Turkish Cypriot police take orders from the people, whose names are mentioned in the murder investigation case.
“We do not only want Kutlu Adalı’s murderers but want our country, which its political will had been sieged, its democracy nullified, and its identity had been rendered ineffective and its future had become darker, back,” Mutluyakalı stressed.
Also speaking during the event, Ali Kişmir, head of BASIN-SEN (Turkish Cypriot Press Workers’ Union) said the Turkish Cypriots will not be silenced and will continue to advocate for peace, and freedom of expression.
“Adalı had emphasized the need to put an end to Turkey’s political tutelage in the north but at the point, we have reached now under Ersin Tatar’s presidency, the relationship between the two is becoming worse,” Kişmir said, adding that the Turkish Cypriot community had never been insulted and belittled so much before.
The platform members then marched to Adalı’s home where he had been gunned down placing red carnations at the spot. Abdullah Korkmazhan, General Secretary of the Left Movement, which also supported the platform’s march, demanded that the police and prosecutor’s office find the murderers and punish them.
“Adalı’s murder is a state-sanctioned assassination,” Korkmazhan argued, condemning the police for not carrying out any arrests even though the names of the perpetrators had been revealed.
Social Democratic Party (TDP) leader Cemal Özyiğit on Tuesday also demanded the police to “do their job and arrest the murderers.” In a social media post to mark the 25th anniversary of Adalı’s assassination, Özyiğit highlighted that the police should be run by a civilian authority; must have democratic governance and must be autonomous to investigate the murder properly.
“The political tutelage regime in the north must end and the provisional article 10 of the north’s constitution must be revoked,” the TDP leader stressed.
Ali Bizden denied entry into Turkey, police investigation on Şener Levent
Yenidüzen, Avrupa
Human Rights
OVERVIEW
Ali Bizden, Director of the Communications and Press Office during Mustafa Akıncı’s term was denied entry into Turkey on Tuesday. Bizden announced the development with a social media post, noting that a ban had been issued on his name on September 8, 2020, for five years. He said he was accused of “making statements that were regarded in violation of national security.”
He said he will be deported back to the north on Wednesday morning. Bizden also stressed, “Neither the TRNC Consulate in Istanbul nor the TRNC Presidency had issued any official statements on the development.”
Former Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akıncı said the treatment of Ali Bizden, who had worked with him for five years was disgraceful.
In a social media post, Akıncı said he found out about what had happened to Bizden from the post he had shared, adding that Bizden’s only fault was being a close colleague with me. “I condemn this antidemocratic tyrannical behaviour against Bizden,” Akıncı said, urging everyone to raise their voice against such behaviour.
In the meantime, The Turkish Cypriot police have launched an investigation on Şener Levent, owner and Editor-in-Chief of Turkish Cypriot daily Avrupa. The investigation was launched upon a complaint filed by Mesut Kazık, who is the mukhtar of the old town district of north Nicosia.
Kazık in his complaint claimed Levent has instigated hatred and animosity against Turkey in a social media post-Levent shared. He also claimed freedom of media does not grant the freedom to anyone to throw insults at another one using the title of journalist before his/her name.
Tatar voices known position in favour of a two-state solution
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar on Tuesday said the Turkish Cypriot side must act together with Turkey in the struggle to protect its rights and interests in the Eastern Mediterranean. Speaking to Turkish broadcaster TRT Haber during his visit to the Turkish city of Diyabakır, Tatar voiced his known views in favour of a two-state solution.
“We can only continue to exist on the island if our sovereignty is accepted,” Tatar argued, adding that accepting the two equally sovereign states on the island could open the way forward for an agreement. Tatar has been touring cities in eastern Turkey for the past few days, visiting war veterans associations and delivering a speech at a conference organised by the Fırat University in Elazığ.
In the meantime, it was announced on Tuesday that Tatar will be accompanied by Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay on his return to the island on Wednesday.
Oktay will carry out a two-day working trip to the north but will mainly focus on the preparations underway for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit. The Turkish vice president will also visit the ongoing restoration work at the Bilal Ağa Mosque in Maraş (Varosha) and will inspect the ongoing construction at the northbound ring road.
KEY ACTOR
Tatar
>> TCs’ can only exist on the island if their sovereignty is accepted.
Zaroğlu resigns from Rebirth Party, announces new the Nation Party
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Goverance & Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
Bertan Zaroğlu on Tuesday announced his resignation from the Rebirth Party (YDP) and the formation of his new party, the Nation (Millet) Party.
Speaking to reporters outside the YDP’s headquarters after submitting his resignation, Zaroğlu said that he had been pressured by various individuals from within the party into resigning. He added that around 2000 members of the YDP had also resigned and joined the ranks of his new party which had offices in five districts.
Zaroğlu expressed his disappointment over the party’s actions, particularly within the coalition government. He said that he had opposed the idea of joining the minority coalition, stating that such a move had only served to weaken the party ahead of early elections.
“This is how the whole process of me leaving the party began,” Zaroğlu said, citing his disagreements with the YDP leader Erhan Arıklı as the main reason for leaving the party. The former YDP MP who had run for the leadership of the party had lost against Arıklı at the last party congress.