DESPITE a government plea for calm, the fur flew yesterday afternoon as the House Defence committee discussed Akel allegations that Disy was harbouring a ‘paramilitary’ secretariat.
The head-on clash between the left-wing opposition and right-wing governing party continued outside the House of Representatives too.
Akel deputy Costas Papacostas repeated his ‘paramilitary’ claims before the committee, saying a clandestine secretariat had been tasked by Disy to keep tabs on the political persuasions of National Guard officers. The aim, Papacostas said, was to ensure favourable treatment for Disy men.
The allegations, first made on Friday, are being investigated both by the Defence Ministry and by police.
Yesterday morning, Attorney General Alecos Markides said police investigators had so far found nothing that would justify any criminal prosecutions. "We have in our hands certain unsigned documents… nothing beyond this," Markides said.
But National Guard chief Evangelos Florakis appeared to give credence to Papacostas’ claims yesterday. He told the packed committee that he had seen "documents" relating to an alleged "paramilitary" group and that they were "serious."
"I almost fell off my chair… I said this would have to be investigated or I would resign," he told deputies.
The army chief also said that three officers had yesterday come forward to testify in the investigation, though one of them had later ducked out.
Defence Minister Socratis Hasikos, a former Disy deputy, told the committee his Ministry had "never felt the presence of paramilitary groups in its workings."
He repeated that he had launched an investigation into the matter even before Papacostas’ claims – an assertion backed up by Florakis yesterday – and vowed to come down hard on anyone found guilty of intervening in army affairs.
Markides complained that Papacostas had not yet given a statement to police even though the criminal investigation had been launched on Saturday.
Disy deputies insisted there was nothing to link the alleged clandestine group to their party. Papacostas countered that he had documents naming well-known Disy supporters as members of the clandestine secretariat.
Disy deputies Antonis Karas and Sofoclis Hadjiyiannis tried to turn the tables on their Akel colleagues. "If you did not keep tabs on people how did you know those involved in the ‘paramilitary’ group were of Disy?" Karas demanded.
Hadjiyiannis asked that the Defence Ministry provide records of past army promotions, insisting this would prove no Disy men secured favours.
Despite chairman Takis Hadjigeorgiou’s efforts to keep things on an even keel, tempers frayed as the debate dragged on and the accusations flew.
Akel deputy and spokesman Nicos Katsourides erupted in loud protest when Karas nodded agreement and mumbled "Yes, that’s right," as Hadjiyiannis launched into another defence of their party.
Earlier, mindful of the potentially explosive nature of the debate, Hadjigeorgiou had banned television cameras from relaying live coverage of the debate.
Yesterday morning, Hasikos had met with House President Spyros Kyprianou in a failed bid to have the committee debate put off till investigations had been concluded. Findings are expected before June 5.
During his morning press briefing, Government Spokesman Michalis Papapetrou issued a plea for a "dampening of tones" in the Akel-Disy clash, suggesting a "minimum level of co-operation" was called for ahead of the upcoming third round of Cyprus settlement talks.
The plea fell on deaf ears, both within and outside the committee.
Disy leader Nicos Anastassiades alleged that Akel was funded by the Russian secret services and was guilty of "covering up" financial scandals in two of its sister organisations, the Peo union and the Co-operative bank.
Anastassiades hinted that he had more "on" Akel and would publicise it if the opposition party continued its assault.
Katsourides countered that Disy was harbouring fascists, a favourite Akel "jab" at Disy.
