ALITHIA: “Occupying authorities arrest 43-year-old” Authorities in the north have arrested a 43-year-old Greek Cypriot man after his young son opened the door of an abandoned house, the paper reports. Costas Ioannou, a mechanic from Larnaca had been visiting Kantara village with his family on Sunday when one of his sons opened the door of the house, but did not enter it. On returning to the Pergamos checkpoint, ‘police’ in the north arrested Ioannou. The United Nations has said Ioannou is to be brought before a ‘court’ for breaking and entering a property.
HARAVGHI: “Occupying authorities strike again” According to the communist mouthpiece, authorities in the north yesterday uprooted two Rizokarpaso teachers from their home, after ‘police’ quizzed them at the local station. ‘Secret police’ accompanied the couple and their children to Pergamos where they were told they were ‘unwanted’. Ministers in the south and representatives from the Karpasia Coordinating Committee have joined voices in condemning the incident. The Committee claims Serdar Denktash, son of Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf, is bent on ensuring the Rizokarpaso Gymnasium does not operate under any circumstances.
PHILELEFTHEROS: “Harsher checks at checkpoints” The paper reports that tougher police checks on people returning south after visiting the occupied areas will be in force soon. The decision follows several incidents where foreigners have entered the free areas unseen via checkpoints. A Greek Cypriot man was able to smuggle a Turkish couple — including an officer for the occupying forces — into the south earlier this year, after which checks were initially stepped up. Many Greek Cypriots have objected to police asking for personal details on their return to the free areas, claiming their privacy was being violated.
SIMERINI: “Free for all at Education Ministry” According to the daily, the Education and Culture Ministry is a free for all, after unknown thieves broke into the building for a second time on Sunday, using the same window to enter as was used in the past. The thieves’ entered the first floor window and made their way to the fourth floor, where they tried unsuccessfully to break into the office of the head of Middle Education Andreas Skotinos. They then managed to enter his office by opening a hole up in a dividing wall next to Skotinos’ office. He said nothing had been taken from his own office, but noted that a five pound note and an envelope containing letters was removed from his secretary’s desk.
POLITIS: “Painful increases” The paper reports that water charges in Paphos will double next year. The Paphos water board currently pays out 16 cents per cubic metre of water, but this figure is likely to double, as the sewage board has had to modify charges, according to European Union regulations, which state that water must be bought at its actual value. Increases to water charges are likely to be gradual though. The first increase for the water boards of Famagusta, Larnaca, Nicosia, Limassol, will be 10.5 cents per cubic metre of water.
THARROS: “Meat prices to rise” Dramatic increases in the price of meat are foreseen by the Meat Sellers’ Association. President of the Association Costas Livadiotis warns that consumers will be asked to fork out up to £7 a kilo for lamb, £6 for beef and £4 for pork. Butchers say the rises will go ahead if their recommendations that slaughterhouse fees be regulated go on being ignored by the government. Livadiotis said meat sellers would take action if the situation remains unchanged by the end of next week, blockading roads leading to the town hall, the Kofinou abattoir, the House of Representatives and the Foreign Ministry.
