Hundreds attend memorial service

A YEAR on from his death, hundreds of people gathered in a rain-soaked Deftera village yesterday to attend the first annual memorial service of former President Tassos Papadopoulos, while police continued the search for his stolen remains.
In the most morbid of circumstances, family, friends, political leaders and members of the public stood over the former president’s desecrated tomb as clergymen sang the Divine Liturgy.
The country remained stunned and shaken yesterday by what is widely seen in Cyprus as the most bizarre and despicable crimes, one for which the maximum penalty is two years in prison. 
Between Thursday night and Friday morning, unknown individuals dug up the grave of Papadopoulos, stealing his remains in an act of desecration that has left police scratching their heads as for motive.
According to reports, four unknown people are suspected of taking part in the act, which was carried out in a highly organised manner. No mechanical equipment was used to lift the 250kg granite slab lying over the tomb, or to dig deep into the muddy grave. On reaching the coffin, the perpetrators were able to remove the body of Papadopoulos, leaving the coffin behind. Depending on the time of the crime, they may have been assisted by heavy rains and an electricity blackout which affected many regions of Cyprus between 4am and 5am, Friday morning. The work of investigators was made even harder by the bags of lime thrown over the grave and tombstone to neutralise any possible traces of DNA.
However, the cemetery, slightly elevated, is in clear view of a number of houses in the surrounding area, begging the question, who could see what? Following reports that a military ambulance had been seen at the cemetery on that night, three soldiers believed to be Greek nationals, were questioned on Friday and later released. More people were brought in for questioning yesterday, said a police source, who did not wish to elaborate, saying the decision had been taken “to keep a little information for ourselves”.
Justice Minister Loucas Louca said yesterday certain scenarios have been ruled out and said he was confident the authorities would get to the bottom of this unprecedented case. “It is a very difficult case, where it’s hard to find a motive, and that’s where the police are having difficulty too,” he said. 
Rumours abound yesterday as to who could have done it and why. There was talk among press and politicians that such an act, where the body was taken, as opposed to simply vandalising the grave, was not part of Greek Cypriot or Greek culture. One paper suggested two alternative scenarios were being investigated, one, that a group of extremists from the Balkans were responsible, and another, that a gang from Eastern Europe, known for robbing graves and seeking ransom, had committed the crime. 
The theft of the former president’s body on the eve of his first annual memorial service made the headlines around the world, coming on all major channels and news sites, including the front pages of all papers in the north.
In a released statement, UN Special Adviser Alexander Downer strongly condemned “this abominable act”, saying he hoped “the perpetrators of the desecration will be brought swiftly to justice and punished to the full extent of the law.”
Hundreds of people packed the Ayios Nicholas Church and yard in Deftera in the pouring rain yesterday to pay their respects to the man who is widely remembered for his rallying call to the people to reject the Annan plan in 2004.
The memorial service was led by Archbishop Chrysostomos II, in the presence of the family and political leaders from Cyprus and Greece. The government was represented by Commerce Minister Antonis Paschalides while AKEL deputy Panicos Hambas turned up for the ruling party. 
In a memorial service address, close friend of Papadopoulos, Dr Kypros Nicholaides referred to the fact that the family had lost their beloved for a second time. He described the former president as a leader who was aware of the fact that he was managing the future of a whole nation and did not buckle to threats or pressure.
Around 500 people then walked to the cemetery to lay wreaths and take a look at the now-empty grave, with the overturned granite slab. The tombstone was splattered with white lime, while underneath a bronze-coloured relief of Papadopoulos’ face were the engraved words: “I call on you to defend your right, your dignity and your history.”
Outside the cemetery, banners were posted, saying: “It is not just a body, it is the soul we carry within us”; “When the leader leaves, his vision for Cyprus and Hellenism is inherited” and “He won even in death”. 
Politicians spoke in unison after the event, calling on Cypriots to remain united. “The important thing is to remain united and not blame each other,” said former foreign minister Georgios Lillikas. His thoughts were echoed by Hambas and EDEK leader Yiannakis Omirou.      
Among the crowd, people were overheard discussing his absence and those who may be responsible. One man said to another: “Did you know there were Turkish Cypriots nearby, working on the perimeter of the cemetery?” Another said: “I don’t want to believe that Cypriots were involved.”
An old lady expressed disbelief that he would ever be found: “He’ll be found, just like the missing persons will be,” she said, adding: “We are not safe in this place.”
Daphne Hadjichristou, 67, said her biggest concern was where this would all lead. “On Friday I felt like we were in 1973 again, before the coup and invasion. It’s down to foreign elements, I doubt whether a Cypriot could do something like this,” she said. 
As the people moved away from the packed graveyard, a few stayed on to get a closer look at the desecration, while the sun showed its face for the first time that morning.