THREE YOUTHS were remanded in custody for six days yesterday by the Nicosia District Court in connection with an attack on a student election process at the University of Nicosia last Tuesday.
The three youths join a 26-year-old second lieutenant working in the National Guard who was remanded in custody for eight days on Wednesday. Reports suggest police found leaflets at the 26-year-old’s house belonging to far-right groups Chrysi Avgi and the National Popular Front (ELAM). The latter has denied any involvement in the attack.
Defence Minister Demetris Eliades said yesterday the National Guard is in contact with the police and is waiting to hear evidence to decide on whether to proceed with disciplinary action.
He said such “fascist phenomena” from soldiers of a democratic European country cannot be accepted.
The army’s mission is to defend the freedom, independence and territorial integrity of the Cyprus Republic. “Other activities do not exist and if by exception they appear, they will be dealt without a second thought,” he added.
Four other youths were also arrested by police and taken to court for remand but were released by the court yesterday, due to a lack of evidence supporting their detention. An arrest warrant is still pending for a ninth person in connection with the case.
Police told the court they have a written testimony connecting all four remanded suspects with the incident. The remaining four who were released plus the wanted person were named by a police source.
According to police, last Tuesday around 15 black-clad people stormed the university hall after 5:15pm, wielding bats and wearing helmets.Students were holding elections at the time for the various student union bodies.
The assailants terrorised people with bats and threw furniture around before making off with four ballot boxes. One of the group sprayed a student in the face who tried to stop him, burning his eyes and then hitting him on the neck with a bat while he was down, said police.
Five students went to hospital with difficulties in breathing and burning eyes from the gas.
The assailants left the hall in formation and walked towards the nearby Mall of Engomi. Some of them put the ballot boxes in a car and got in while the rest dispersed on foot.
Police spokesman Michalis Katsounotos yesterday confirmed that police were investigating as a major motive for the attack that a Turkish Cypriot student was standing in the elections.
President of the Council of the University of Nicosia, Nicos Peristianis, told the Cyprus Mail yesterday that a significant number of Turkish Cypriots had registered at the university after the crossings opened in 2003, taking advantage of the “spirit of the time”.
Since then, these numbers have halved, with around 50 Turkish Cypriots now studying at the higher institute, partly because more courses are now available in the north.
“We have never had a problem up to now with the presence of Turkish Cypriots,” he said.
Asked about the possible motive behind the attack being related to the participation of a Turkish Cypriot in the student elections, he said: “Turkish Cypriots are perfectly entitled as students of the university to take part in elections.”
Peristianis highlighted that none of those arrested so far are enrolled with the university.
He said initially attention turned to the far right-wing party ELAM due to the manner of the attack, style of clothing and marching which bore similar resemblance to the way ELAM presents itself at public gatherings.
However, ELAM released a statement immediately denying their involvement and condemning the police for trying to smear their name.
Also, ELAM supporters at the university denied any involvement in the incident, saying they were being targeted and victimised. They also denied reports that they were interested in taking part in these elections, saying they would wait for the April elections when students elect their department representatives. The students had been told prior to elections that they would have to set up a youth body in order to take part.
Peristianis suggested two possible reasons for the attack: “Either there was incitement from within, that is, these people were invited to do that for a reason. Or, some people who are not students probably hanging out in the canteen, heard the debates going on around them decided on their own accord to take action.”
Assuming students are involved, Peristianis questioned whether their outlook was in line with the principles of the university which include multiculturalism and tolerance.
