THE GOVERNMENT and political parties yesterday denounced the harassment of Turkish Cypriots by hooded thugs in separate incidents in Nicosia on Saturday.
No arrests have been made, but the attacks are believed to have been perpetrated by football supporters on their way to the Omonia versus Apoel football match.
According to eyewitnesses, youths on motorbikes and wearing balaclavas attacked a number of cars with Turkish Cypriot licence plates, smashing the windshields and removing the plates. The attacks occurred outside the Apoel football club building and near the Mall of Cyprus.
In at least one instance, Greek Cypriots witnessing the scenes rushed to the aid of the Turkish Cypriots, who later filed complaints with police. In one case, a baby on board one of the attacked cars was reported to have been slightly injured.
In another, a Turkish Cypriot reported that a group of around 10 youths accosted him while he was in his car on the traffic lights on Makarios Avenue near the Hilton Hotel and the Apoel building. After pounding on and damaging the car, the assailants fled the scene.
The government issued a strong condemnation of the incidents, which it said sought to scupper ongoing peace talks and the climate of reconciliation between the two communities.
“We need to denounce all such acts by extremist and nationalist circles…” President Christofias said.
Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou called on Greek Cypriots to “isolate the fanatic and extremist elements among us”, adding that such incidents undermined trust between the two communities.
Similar comments were made by all political parties, voicing “shock and disgust” at the incidents and expressing solidarity to “our Turkish Cypriot compatriots”.
Youth organisation EDON, linked to the left-wing AKEL party, released a statement lamenting the existence of “organised [football] fans who operate within far-right, fascist organisations which promote antisocial behavior and chauvinism.”
The remark was understood to be a dig at right-wing DISY and its affiliated football club, Apoel.
DISY itself condemned the attacks, with deputy Nikos Tornaritis calling the perpetrators “thoughtless and irresponsible”.
Nicosia police superintendent Kypros Michaelides said authorities are currently “assessing eyewitness information that would lead to the tracing, capture and punishment of the culprits.”
Meanwhile the Turkish Cypriot press afforded extensive coverage to Saturday’s incidents, with Kibris newspaper reporting that the Ayios Dhometios crossing point was unusually quiet on Sunday, as many concerned Turkish Cypriots cancelled planned trips to the south.
Star wondered how, in light of the attacks, it was possible for Turkish and Greek Cypriots to live together. And nationalist Volkan called for demonstrations in the north to protest against the attacks.
