THE SPAT between Akel and Disy continued without letup yesterday as the two parties exchanged fire over the alleged existence of a ‘paramilitary’ group that Akel claims is harboured by Disy.
The allegations were first made last Friday by Akel deputy Costas Papacostas, who claimed a clandestine paramilitary group 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 sympathisers.
Yesterday, Papacostas described how he got hold of the documents, which he said proved the existence of the group.
He said Colonel Loizos Fesas, who was also named as being a member of the group on a document presented on Friday, had forgotten the dossier containing the documents at the office of Colonel Avraam Marangos, whom he visited for coffee.
Marangos found the dossier, Papacostas said, copied the documents inside and subsequently informed the National Guard’s former second in command, General Leonidas Economopoulos.
"After failed efforts — I do not know why and how — to brief the army’s commander, he came to me," Papacostas said.
The matter began during Easter, and the documents were handed over to him on Sunday May 14, 10 days after the army’s second in command was informed, the Akel deputy added.
"When I saw the documents my blood pressure went up. I cannot describe how upset I was," Papacostas said.
He added: "It is good things came this way. Imagine if this conspiracy had not been exposed, where the island would be led to."
Commenting on Monday’s statements by the Attorney-general that he needed the original documents to proceed with the case, Papacostas said: " I realise the investigator’s difficulties, but you can easily see who wrote the notes on the documents."
Papacostas charged that the writing along with the dossier and the documents, all belonged to Fesas.
Disy deputy Antonis Karas disputed the accusations, wondering why Papacostas had not informed the army or the Defence Ministry earlier, since he got the documents on May 14.
Karas further questioned the decision of Colonel Marangos to hand the documents over to Akel.
Disy claim Marangos is an Akel sympathiser.
According to Economopoulos, said Karas, Marangos was told to write a report and submit it along with the dossier.
But instead, he bypassed the army’s hierarchy and gave the ‘conspiracy’ documents to Papacostas.
Karas claimed Akel held on to the documents until May 26, studied them, and chose the best time to go public, having in mind only the party’s interests.
Meanwhile, Disy Chief Nicos Anastassiades yesterday maintained that what had been heard at Monday’s House Defence Committee session proved his party to be right.
During the emergency Defence Committee meeting called to discuss the issue, Defence Minister Socratis Hasikos told deputies he had launched an investigation into the matter even before Papacostas went public with his claims.
The minister’s assertion was supported by Army Chief Evangelos Florakis.
Hasikos vowed to come down hard on anyone found guilty of intervening in army affairs.
During the meeting, Disy deputies insisted there was nothing to link the alleged clandestine group to their party.
Papacostas fought back, saying he had documents naming well-known Disy supporters as members of the group.
