GREEK-CYPRIOTS
in DIASPORA
By
Andreas C Chrysafis
August
7, 2010
To
the Editor:
The
Greek Cypriots in Diaspora are soon to descent upon the island for the
twenty third-conference meeting in Nicosia on August 24. Fuelled with
patriotism they shall listen to the customary pep talk from politicians
and government alike, to uplift their spirits so they may dutifully go
forth to raise the consciousness of the Cyprus Issue abroad.
Years
ago I was one of those principled young men motivated by enthusiasm and
blind patriotism in search of Justice for Cyprus. We truly believed that
our wholehearted participation was necessary and a vital contribution
towards the liberation of our little island.
At
the very first meeting of Greeks in Diaspora, I happened to be one of
those founding members – Canadian Delegation – who set up the
foundation and put in place the cornerstone of two international
organisations of Cypriots and Mainland Greeks living abroad. The late
President Archbishop Makarios had officially opened that specific
Conference.
Remembering
back, those times were most disturbing; refugee camps with rows of tents,
strife, social upheaval, anger, desperation and hopelessness. One could
feel the fear in the air! But despite of all that, there was also a
strange sense of unity towards one common enemy: the Turkish army!
Unfortunately, Archbishop Makarios has passed away soon after that,
the social and political game on the island has changed forever. Petty
politicians took over!
Two
year later, (at our own expense again), hundreds of Greek-Cypriots in
Diaspora arrived in Cyprus to participate at the Second Official
International Conference. We were all anxious to meet with old friends,
compare notes; exchange views, ideas, and put in force a common plan of
action.
As
it happened, the official administration in Cyprus altered the rules
without informing the rest of us delegates, and one of the organisations
had been dropped; it was to include Mainland Greeks! We have never
received a proper explanation as to what right did they have to cancel
this organisation approved by His Beatitude.
However,
on my way here, my name was on the stop-list and was arrested at Athens
airport at 2 am (as a troublesome activist for the Cyprus cause) and was
interrogated by ten Greek police officials. To this very day, I have no
idea why I was apprehended; no one has given me an explanation. Strange
indeed!
At
Philoxenia Conference Centre, Delegates soon realised things did not seem
right somehow; something was wrong!
To
my astonishment, I soon discovered there were plain clothed armed agents
inside the Assembly Room mingling amongst the delegates without revealing
their identities. By sheer luck, I happen to spot a gun under the shoulder
of one of them and brought the matter to the chairperson, who adamantly
objected at my insinuation, and that: “no secret police, especially
armed, were planted inside the Assembly Room”.
Pandemonium
hit the roof the instant I exposed the identity of the agents. We all
recognised that government officials blatantly have lied to us all. On
principle, I immediately withdrew from the Conference and was soon
followed by many other delegates who refused to continue with the meeting.
Suffice to say, the Conference was at the verge of total collapse!
Panic
had set in, and officials did their utmost to get me back to the
Conference so they can save face. But, the mud was too thick! It would not
have been a problem if those officers were in uniforms but to spy on us
all, it was too much. In the name of reconciliation and “national
interest” – as officials put it - I reluctantly took my seat in the
Assembly Room the next day. From that day on I was constantly followed and
observed by the police…
That
experience, including my arrest at Athens Airport, left a bitter taste in
my mouth. It seems that we were not taken seriously but were used mainly
for propaganda purposes abroad and for tourism without the respect of our
rights. I suppose we all did our “bit” to help the futile propaganda
war.
Are
today’s hundreds of delegates treated any differently? But above all
else, is their devoted participation truly recognised by accepting them
and their families, as equal to the rest of Cypriots while staying here?
That is questionable!
It
appears that Turkish Cypriots living in the occupied area have more rights
in the Republic of Cyprus, than Cypriots living abroad. No government dare
to forewarn them or speak out the truth to them in case they kill the
golden goose…
A
good example of that is the unexpected need to have medical treatment
while staying here. As “foreigners” they have no right to such a
medical service or treatment in public hospitals, (I know from personal
experience) not unless they go private and pay for those services; yet
Turkish Cypriots have those rights carved in stone. Obviously
Greeks-Cypriots in Diaspora are less Cypriots than those living in the
occupied area of our country.
Andreas C Chrysafis (info@evandia.com)
PO
BOX 66355
8832
Polis, Paphos
Published Author of:
ANDARTES – Historical Novel
WHO SHALL GOVERN CYPRUS – Brussels or Nicosia? – Political analysis
PORPHYRA in PURPLE – Adventure/Metaphysical novel
All books
are available from bookshops, the Internet including Amazon.com.uk.
