SBA: we won’t arrest asylum protesters

EIGHT asylum seekers yesterday remained on top of a rooftop on the British base in Episkopi, refusing to come down until they received British passports.

SBA authorities yesterday stepped up security after a tip-off from Cyprus police that a group of about 100 Iraqi immigrants was on its way to Episkopi to express their support for the demonstration.

“There was a tip from the Republic’s police that a support group was on its way, but nothing actually happened. We conducted car checks, but found no cause to turn anyone around,” said Captain Nick Ulvert, SBA spokesperson.

Concerning the one demonstrator who has been wounded, after a self-inflicted blow to the head on Thursday, the SBA said that medical care was available, but only if the man came down from the roof.

“If he wants medical attention, it is available, but he needs to come down and get it. There is no way we would put anyone’s life in danger by entering the building and forcibly bringing them down,” added Ulvert.

The SBA said they would not be arresting the men when they came down. “We are not going to arrest them. In fact, we will help them process their applications for asylum from the Republic of Cyprus,” he explained.

Commenting on claims made by the protesters that the SBA had in the past promised to grant them British passports, Captain Ulvert pointed out that a military base was not authorised to offer such a service. “Anyone can make any sort of claim, but these are totally unfounded. There are no records of ever promising them such a thing.”

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.