THE BI-COMMUNAL Rockathon was a day to remember as over a thousand screaming teenagers partied on the Green Line at the Ledra Palace, but the climate was marred by police refusal to allow a group of Pakistani youths to cross into the buffer zone to attend the event.
Greek Cypriot police turned the Pakistanis back, arguing there was no way of ensuring they did not end up in the occupied north.
Sheila Fenton, Co-coordinator of Rockathon, yesterday expressed her anger at the way police had behaved, saying they had been informed that young people of many different nationalities would be attending the event.
“I heard that children were not being allowed through the border and found that 15 Pakistani children were turned away because they might escape to Kyrenia. The police told me to be responsible for them, but how could I be? A Russian boy was also barred. The police asked me if I would be calling the Pakistani consul. I thought I would be arrested because I was so angry that they could isolate the Pakistani children from other races.”
Fenton discussed the issue with the UN, who assured her that police were not discriminating but acting from fear that the children might go north.
Dave Fenton, inventor and organiser of Rockathon, stressed that apart from the problem at the Green Line, the day had been a huge success. “The kids did really well. Some bands from the north had amazing talent,” adding “We gave a prize of 16 hours in a recording studio to a Turkish band ‘Bemol’, as they were the most deserving. What impressed us most was that they had no instruments of their own but were musically brilliant.”
Zak Fenton, the youngest member in the band ‘Draft’ stole the show with an amazing display and admits: “I think we were good to be honest. I felt really good playing in front of many people,” adding “The Turkish Cypriots are just like everyone else there is no difference.”
Teenagers fought their way to the front of the stage when the band ‘Distorted Crucifix’ played explosive heavy metal music.
The Rockathon wound to an end at 10pm after seven continuous hours of hard rock.
Dave Fenton said the event had been the best Rockathon ever: “It was fantastic and it couldn’t have been any better,” he said.
