More missing people found in mass graves in Cyprus

The Guardian’s Angelique Chrisafis reports on the ongoing search for the Cypriots missing as a result of the 1974 coup d’etat and consequent Turkish invasion. July and August of 1974 marked the eruption of the volcano that was Cyprus and resulted in open warfare between Turkey and the Republic of Cyprus, the violent division of the island into ‘North’ and ‘South’ (for those who think that this is a natural arrangement) and the displacement of thousands from their homes in order to create ‘homogeneous’ sub-branches of Greek and Turkish nation states. Another tragic consequence of this period was the 2,000 or so missing persons. Many of these have been found recently, in mass graves with marks of execution. In a small place like Cyprus ‘people know’ who did these things and people have been calling independent hotlines anonymously to give information as to the whereabouts of these mass graves.

Finding their missing relatives’ remains achieves closure for the thousands of families who have been living in agony in the last 34 years.

“The chance of a proper funeral means closure.

But with it comes the nagging questions and imagined last moments.

Did he know his killers?

Did he die quickly? Did he suffer?

Was he made to dig his own grave?”

However, one must ask the question: who killed these people? And shouldn’t they be brought to justice? Although in Cyprus we like to consider things as ‘water under the bridge’ and carry on with our lives, in this case I believe we should make an exception. Closure can only be achieved when all those who committed war crimes are brought to justice. The tales of horror are endless. Both sides have suffered, but those who saw it fit to enter villages, round up civilians and rape, torture and execute them are the only ones who have not paid for their sins. Why? Why do we allow these people to work among us, participate in the democratic procedures, get elected and have public offices? Why do the people of Cyprus want to forget? Why don’t we follow the examples of Bosnia and S. Africa? We can easily launch investigations which will result in the prosecutions of all those who took up arms and used them against civilians. Then closure can be complete.

See the full article here.

Info on the 1974 events here.

Please feel free to comment.