RECORD NUMBERS of people gathered outside the Presidential Palace yesterday for the eighth night running, repeating calls for the resignation of President Demetris Christofias over the Mari naval base disaster.
Last night was by far the biggest demonstration yet with well over 12,000 people gathering in and around the three avenues leading off from the palace roundabout.
Thousands of candles were distributed to arriving protesters between 8pm and 9pm which were lit when the names of the 13 dead from the Mari explosion were read out. This was followed by a minute’s silence and the singing of the national anthem.
Many turned up at the protest directly while others marched from an earlier protest gathering at Eleftheria Square.
The massive protest remained peaceful throughout, with now-familiar chants for Christofias’ resignation being heard across town. One slogan that could be heard was: “Christofias – imagine if it was your children”.
Like on previous nights, the open-mike policy remained with the floor open to anyone wishing to speak. One man took the microphone and said politicians better not ask for a single cent from the people unless they’re prepared to give up their benefits and have their property mortgaged.
Many shouted Christofias was a murderer who had to go to jail.
“It’s very peaceful but you get the feeling that anger runs deep and strong here,” one protester told the Cyprus Mail.
“It is our generation that’s going to pay for all this,” another protester, Andreas Gregoriou, 22, said.
Family members of the deceased were also at the mass protest. A cousin of fireman Vasilis Krokos who was killed at Mari also spoke.
Vasilis Constantinides said the pain of loss was unbearable. “It will only ease when people go to jail,” he said.
Another protester warned of the dangers of setting up a kangaroo court. The large crowd also called for a referendum on whether Christofias should stay in power or not. Signatures for a petition requesting the government to step down were also being collected.
The palace gates were locked with a thick chain, though across the palace walls and railings, banners and placards were strung up, reading: “Christofias resign, the responsibility’s all yours” and “You clowns, you’ve made us a Banana Republic”.
People held up posters with the president’s face on them, which read: “WANTED for crimes against the people. Reward: Nothing, he’s emptied the coffers.”
In a sign that the call to hold tonight’s protest at Eleftheria Square was not heeded, leaflets were found on the ground calling on citizens to attend another demonstration tonight at the palace at 9pm. The leaflet said this was the only chance protesters had to be heard by Christofias who will be at the palace for an annual event marking the coup and invasion.
The crowd began to disperse quietly at around 11pm, with protesters seen holding bin liners and cleaning up rubbish in the street.
Earlier at Eleftheria Square, around 1,000 women demonstrated holding candles and demanding: “the safety of (our children) who are currently serving in the National Guard, respect from all politicians, a stop to the arrogance, the punishment of those people responsible for the tragedy (and) answers”.
