Government backs farmers in land dispute

By Charlie Charalambous

THE BRITISH authorities have been taken to task by Foreign Minister Yiannakis Cassoulides over the right of Lysi farmers to cultivate their land within bases areas.

The government said it strongly supported the rights of Greek Cypriot farmers, following Saturday’s abortive attempt by Dhekelia SBA police to escort five of them to their property in the Pergamos area.

“The Cyprus government’s position is clear: we strongly support the restoration of the basic human rights, not only of the people from Lysi, but of all refugees,” Cassoulides said on Sunday before leaving on a tour of European countries.

SBA police vehicles detailed to escort the Lysi farmers had to beat a hasty retreat when they were faced by a group of angry Turkish Cypriot protesters, who attacked the vans with stones.

Bases spokesman Rob Need said plans to bring Greek Cypriot tractors on the land had had to be shelved for the foreseeable future because tensions were running high and the threat of injury loomed large.

Farmers blame Saturday’s about-turn on the reluctance of the bases authorities to enforce the law when it could mean a confrontation with Turkish Cypriots.

But, however much the government supports the farmers, it seems the issue of securing their safety is a major stumbling block.

Cassoulides said he had spoken with British High Commissioner David Madden on the issue and had been given assurances that the SBA “would accompany the farmers so they could exercise their legal rights.”

However, this statement was tempered with a proviso:

“If (the bases) believe they should not go ahead because their is a risk to their safety, this is an issue which is being examined.”

Nevertheless, Cassoulides said the issue was still an open-ended affair.

Lysi farmers, who have waited 24 years to gain access to their land – which is currently cultivated by Turkish Cypriots – are now seeking redress through the European Court of Human Rights.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.