Last Saturday at the Ledra Street crossing point, Bağımsızlık Yolu protested the Republic of Cyprus by making a press release on the prevention of receiving of the award of Berilsu Meral, who is the world leader in International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) program- Turkish branch, for being a “Turkey origin”.
The statement had been read in both Turkish and English. While Mustafa Keleşzade, the Secretary of Organization, was reading in Turkish, Cemre İpçiler the deputy Secretary of Foreign Relations read in English. “May your nationalism and your dirty politics that make children cry die out!” statement is expressed very loudly for the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus.
Also, it is reminded that 2 years ago when Serbian children came to Cyprus from Larnaca airport for the 23 April ceremonies, the Republic of Cyprus authorities did not let them into the island. It is stated that the Republic of Cyprus authorities did not move any forward from racism and nationalism.
Lastly, in the statement it is said that “raising nationalist tensions as well as moving away from the path of federation, that shall render peoples the subjects of their own futures, is most likely to harm migrants who are part of Turkish Cypriot people, the most.”
Release says:
Two days ago, a young 15-year-old arrived at the check point with a view to cross over to the southern part of Cyprus to attend the award ceremony as she came first in an international exam. However, she was told that she will not be able to do so because she originates from Turkey. The girl had to come back by crying. This issue occurred at the last-minute, although the necessary applications for her to be granted with permission to cross had already been made. In the face of such an attitude, as Bağımsızlık Yolu what we wish to say to those authorities of the Republic of Cyprus, who had a share in this decision: “May your nationalism and your dirty politics that make children cry die out!” Two years ago, the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus did not allow the children from the Serbian delegation who came to Cyprus via Larnaca to attend the 23rd of April celebrations, into the territory and caused many children’s tears. As Bağımsızlık Yolu, we protested against this attitude in front of the the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Cyprus together with Workers Democracy from the southern part of Cyprus. We are protesting once again the chauvinist understanding of the authorities in the Republic of Cyprus who have been unable to move one step further from racism and nationalism after two years. We also want to indicate that, people who migrated to the northern part of Cyprus from Turkey as well as from different parts of the world who cannot obtain the citizenship of the Republic of Cyprus, are also part of the Turkish Cypriot people and they suffer the consequences of the division. They are stuck at one half of the island; they are already marginalised both by the people of their country of origin because they are perceived as Cypriot and by the authorities in the northern part of Cyprus, by whom they are continuously reduced to sourced of votes during the elections or a leverage during the negotiations. On the other hand, many are subject to the most abusive forms of labour explotiation. Migrants are also subject to racism from the authorities in the northern and southern part. Migrants are continuously victimised by the current statusquo. For this reason, raising nationalist tensions as well as moving away from the path of federation, that shall render peoples the subjects of their own futures, is most likely to harm migrants who are part of Turkish Cypriot people, the most.
