ALMOST two dozen refugees, mainly from the Famagusta district, are preparing to file a class action suit against the Republic of Cyprus demanding the equal division of burden of the 1974 invasion.
According to Politis, the refugees’ basic argument is that although they lost everything and received some state aid, numerous non refugees prospered from the situation and were enriched at the expense of refugees’ losses.
The paper said an initiative group, made up of over 20 people mainly from the Famagusta district, had already held several meetings and sought legal advice.
Plans for more meetings to be organised in all districts to enlist the largest number of refugees from all occupied towns and villages possible to participate in the action are expected to be held soon.
The daily said the first phase of the campaign was expected to conclude by the end of June with the next step preparing the suit against the Republic.
The refugees said the action did not exempt refugees who had already sued Turkey in the European Court of Human Rights. They say they do not wish to politicise the issue, inviting refugees with any political affiliations to join the initiative.
The paper said a register had opened in all districts where interested parties could sign up, presenting information regarding their occupied property.
The refugees’ arguments centre round the fact that they were the ones to suffer most from the invasion and that despite efforts to help them, no effort was made for the equal division of burden following the invasion and occupation, with the result that it is they who are made to pay for the cost of the occupation.
The refugees also believe non-refugees profited at their expense, with land prices in the free areas escalating unfairly and disproportionately.
Because the state had not managed to divide the cost of the occupation fairly, the refugees claimed they were unfairly discriminated against.
The initiative group is not asking for property, which it knows the state is not to blame for them losing, but for compensation of loss of income during the past 33 years.
According to Politis, the refugees’ lawyer, Pavlos Angelides, believes his clients have a case based on a precedent involving German refugees following World War II, which found that the burden of the war had to be shared among all Germans.
Their lawyer was not yesterday available for comment.
