A DISILLUSIONED ex-policeman went on hunger strike from noon on Tuesday, camping last night in Eleftheria Square, Nicosia, in protest at what he described as abusive and unfair treatment by the force.
The man sat in his tent in the busy street as coaches of curious tourists were dropped off in front of placards reading: “Cyprus: Motherland of Corruption” and “Human Rights Violator”.
Speaking to the Cyprus Mail yesterday, 33-year-old Andreas Konstandinou explained why he was willing to sacrifice his life to get the justice he has been searching for the past three years.
Konstandinou said that in October, 1999, he was described in writing by then Chief of Police, Andreas Angelides, as being unfit to perform his duties due to psychological problems. He was subsequently dismissed from his position -just three months after receiving his police diploma.
Next to the makeshift tent in Eleftheria Square, Konstandinou displays two enlarged photocopies of police medical council reports, one in November 1996 and the other in June 1999, both claiming that Konstandinou did not suffer from psychological problems.
“I have no criminal record, record of bad behaviour or psychological problems or anything to justify the way I’ve been treated,” he said. “After I was dismissed no one would hire me. I couldn’t pay my loans off and ended up getting kicked onto the streets with my wife.”
The couple spent 17 days on the streets until the Welfare Department and Nicosia Municipality arranged to provide them with a refugee flat.
Konstandinou said that a court case on the alleged “unfair dismissal” had been going on for three years, and seemed to be dragging on needlessly with no end in sight. His wife described her disbelief at the whole situation, “In Cyprus, anything can happen. Angelides probably doesn’t even know my husband”.
Asked why he felt he had been treated in this way, Konstandinou replied, “From the moment I arrived at the Police Academy, I was a thorn in their side. I refused to go along with their dirt, and reacted to them and their system”.
He maintained that his unwillingness to participate in alleged police corruption was a major factor in his untimely dismissal. “They labelled me problematic from the start and then made moves to be rid of me.”
He claimed continued intimidation from the police followed his dismissal and court hearings.
Konstandinou insisted he would continue the hunger strike until justice had been done and his name had been cleared.
