By Martin Hellicar
POLICE were yesterday investigating death treats against Paphos’ Russian Greek, or Pontian, community. The threats to “burn alive” all Pontians came from a hitherto unheard of organisation calling itself ‘Golden Dawn’.
Ombudswoman Eleana Nicolaou meanwhile issued a report condemning the “racist” deportation of the head of a Russian Greek family in Paphos.
The Pontian community in Paphos has a bad reputation, often shouldering the blame for rising crime in the coastal town. This bad name is now apparently leading to racist abuse against the community.
On Saturday night, ‘Golden Dawn’ posted its threatening proclamation on the front doors of the local television station, Paphos TV.
Interior Minister Christodoulos Christodoulou condemned the racist statement as “irresponsible,” while Paphos police chief, Spyros Koniotis, said the threats did not appear to be serious. Both Christodoulou and Koniotis promised Paphos Pontians would be protected.
Police spokesman Stelios Neophytou yesterday said it was too early to say whether ‘Golden Dawn’ posed a real threat or not. “The threats are condemnable,” Neophytou said, adding that police had stepped up patrols in the area of Paphos where Pontians lived some time back, and would contin
The foot patrols were introduced after persistent complaints that Pontians were harassing passers-by.
Among the most vociferous of the Pontians’ detractors is Paphos deputy Nicos Pittokopitis of Diko. Pittokopitis has labelled Paphos Pontians thieves and rapists.
Socialist Edek yesterday issued a statement condemning the death treats from ‘Golden Globe’ and calling on “certain” politicians to stop “cultivating a climate of xenophobia.”
But, according to the Ombudswoman, politicians are not the only ones guilty of blatant racism.
In a report released yesterday, Nicolaou describes how a Pontian man was deported for no reason at all, even though he has a wife and two young children on the island.
Nicolaou said the Paphos police chief had justified the deportation on the grounds of “the Pontian problem in Paphos.”
In November 1998, the Ombudswoman’s report states, the Pontian and two fellow-nationals were arrested in connection with the theft of a bottle of wine and two small bottles of coke.
The father-of-two was later released without charge. But, three months later, he was arrested, held for almost a month without charge, and then deported.
Nicolaou is scathing in her condemnation of the Immigration department’s part in the ill treatment of the Pontian.
“The Immigration department contributed to complete this blatant injustice with the shoddiness and indifference it showed, something not unusual for this department,” the report states.
Both police and immigration officials completely ignored the fact that the man had a wife and two young children on the island, Nicolaou states.
An appeal by the Pontian to the Supreme Court was scuppered by police and the immigration service.
“He was arrested like a common criminal, kept in Paphos police holding cells for almost a month and then deported six days before his case was heard by the Supreme Court,” Nicolaou states.
The Ombudswoman suggests the state pay for the Pontian’s immediate return to Cyprus.
