THOUSANDS OF Turkish Cypriots angry at an Ankara-inspired economic austerity package and what they perceive as direct rule over the north by Ankara are expected to take part in a mass rally in north Nicosia today.
“The real message behind the rally will be Turkish Cypriots’ demand for self determination,” political analyst Ahmet Sozen from the Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) in Famagusta said yesterday.
“This is not necessarily in the sense of wanting their own state, but in the sense of ruling themselves, either in a federation with Greek Cypriots, if Greek Cypriots endorse it, or until a federation is formed, without the interference of Turkey,” Sozen said.
Many Turkish Cypriots say they are also angered by growing immigration to the northern part of the island from Turkey.
The official population of the north is 264,000, but many say the figure is probably much higher, boosted by Turkish immigration. The number of indigenous Turkish Cypriots, according to a 2006 census, is around 130,000.
Today’s rally will be backed by a general strike of all ‘state’ employees, and has the backing of virtually all political parties in the north bar the ruling National Unity Party (UBP). Even Serdar Denktash’s Democrat Party (DP), known for its love of the “Turkish motherland”, will join the rally calling for Ankara to allow Turkish Cypriots to govern themselves.
Left-wing parties and trade unions have long called for Ankara to stop meddling in Turkish Cypriot affairs. A previous rally on January 28 against economic austerity led to heated exchanges between north Cyprus and Ankara after Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan took offence at banners calling for Turkey to “get your hands off the Turkish Cypriots”.
Turkish Cypriots then took offence when Erdogan questioned the right of the community to protest against austerity while being “fed and maintained by Turkey”. Erdogan further raised the ire of Turkish Cypriots by replacing his ‘ambassador’ to the north with Halil Ibrahim Akca, the chief architect of the austerity package.
Despite the protests, the authorities in the north and Ankara insist the breakaway state will “go bankrupt” if austerity is not implemented. Speaking to the Cyprus Mail yesterday, ‘finance minister’ Ersin Tatar said “If you don’t take austerity measures, and keep on borrowing, we’ll end up not being able to pay public sector salaries. We want to be able to create a sustainable economy so we can stand on our own feet without taking aid from Turkey”.
In preparation for the rally, all police leave in the north has been cancelled. It was also rumoured yesterday that police were confiscating banners deemed insulting to Turkey being made in sign shops in Nicosia.
