Civilian casualties and displacements during the Cyprus conflict
This article covers the civilian casualties and displacements that occurred between 1963 and 1975—from the outbreak of the intercommunal fightings until the end of displacements following the Turkish invasion on Cyprus.
Intercommunal violence, displacements and terrorist activities 1963-1974
In 1963, Turkish Cypriots withdrew from all levels of government. While Greek Cypriots hold that this happened voluntarily, Turkish Cypriots claim they were forced out of government and its agencies by the Greek Cypriot authorities. During this and the following years, fightings occasionally flared up between the two communities, more and more enforcing a separation and alienation of Greek and Turkish Cypriots.
Greek Cypriot casualties and displacements
Greek Cypriots living in majority Turkish Cypriot areas such as the village of Louroudjina (turkish: Lurucina) and the town of Lefka (turkish: Lefke) were displaced as TMT gained control of those areas.
Turkish Cypriot casualties and displacements
During this period, Turkish Cypriots claim they were forced out of government and its agencies by the Greek Cypriot authorities and into enclaves amounting to no more than 3% of the island. Many faced poverty stricken conditions. Greek Cypriots hold that the withdrawal of Turkish Cypriots from government was voluntary and that the movement of people in enclaves was out of choice. Turkish Cypriots believe the Akritas Plan (devised in 1963 by Polycarpos Georgadjis (alternative spelling Yorgadjis), the Interior Minister, but not discovered until 1966) to be at the heart of the issue. The plan had the intention of amending the constitution of 1960 and to remove the power of veto of the Turkish Cypriots (which they thought was responsible for the stalling of governing matters). The plan foresaw possible defiance by Turkish Cypriots, and suggested measures to put a stop violent action as quickly as possible before outside intervention "would be either justified or possible" and as a last resort declare enosis (union with Greece).
Violence began on December 21st 1963 when Turkish Cypriots clashed with the plain clothes special constables of Yorgadjis. This was followed by an immediate attack by various Greek Cypriot paramilitaries on Turkish Cypriots in Nicosia and Larnaca. During this period 700 hostages were taken from the northern suburbs of Nicosia, including women and children. Nikos Sampson led a full scale attack on Omoprphita directed against the Turkish Cypriot population, though he claimed it was to rescue stranded Greek Cypriots. In early 1964, Greek Cypriot paramilitary forces besieged the north-western coastal village of Erenköy, which was at that time the last remaining Turkish Cypriot link to the outside world. After several days of indisciminate bombardment of the town, the poorly armed defenders were relieved when Turkish Air Force jets attacked the beseiging forces, forcing them to break the siege. Further violence erupted in 1967, with attacks launched on Turkish Cypriots in Ayios Theodoros and Kophinou, this time led by General George Grivas backed by up to 20,000 mainland Greek troops, in violation of the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee.
In 1968 a UN survey of Turkish casualties from the outbreak of violence since December 21st 1963 found 273 Turks killed, 205 missing, believe dead. 527 Turkish houses had been destroyed and a further 2,000 damaged. By 1967 102 Turkish and mixed villages had been evacuated by their populations. In the summer of 1974 mass graves containing hundreds of Turkish Cypriots were exhumed; these were found in Alloa, Maratha and Sandallaris, three small villages surrounding the predominantly Turkish Cypriot enclave in the old walled city of Famagusta. By 1974 500 Turkish Cypriots had lost their lives. Had they not mounted an effective resistance in the form of the TMT (led by Rauf Denktas) and supported by Turkish troops, Turkish Cypriots believe casualties would have been far higher.
A smaller number of casualties are Turkish Cypriots with different political affiliations (leftist or in favour of independence) killed by TMT. Examples of such cases are PEO member Fazil Onder killed in 1958, reporters Hikmet and Gurkan, publishers of Cumhuriyet, killed in 1962 and Dervis Ali Kavazoglu, member of AKEL killed in 1966.
Turkish intervention/invasion 1974
On 15 July 1974, the Cypriot government was overthrown by Greek Cypriot militant circle under the lead of Colonel Grivas, under the order of the Greek military junta and with help of Greek army officers, installing the long-time EOKA activist Nikos Sampson as new president. The attempt to murder president Makarios failed, however, and he fled Cyprus with the help of the British army. In response to this, the Turkish government tried to convince the British government to intervene jointly with the Turkish army on Cyprus. Due to several political and practical reasons, Britain refused its support.
On 20 July 1974, Turkish troops landed near Kyrenia, forcing a narrow corridor to Nicosia within 2 days, until a ceasefire was negotiated on 22 July. In August of the same year, the three guarantor powers, together with representatives of the two communities, met in Geneva. The Turkish Cypriots under Denktash demanded for a federal state with 34% of the territory ceded to Turkish Cypriots (who made up 18% of the population). Clerides - the Greek Cypriot representant - asked for 36 to 48 hours in order to consult with his superiors. This was downright refused by Turkey, and shortly after the conference, a new Turkish attack began on Cyprus. When a ceasefire was declared, more than 36% of the territory was occupied by Turkish forces. The ceasefire line of 1974 today still separates the two communities and is generally referred to as the Green Line, which also runs through Nicosia, making it the only divided capital in the world.
The intervention/invasion - codenamed 'Atilla' - by the Turkish Military, is known in Northern Cyprus as 'the 1974 Peace Operation', while the Greek Cypriots refer to it as 'the Turkish Invasion and Brutal Occupation of the north of Cyprus'.
Greek Cypriot casualties and displacements
The Republic of Cyprus Government stated that in the process of the 1974 intervention/invasion, about 200,000 Greek Cypriots living in the north became refugees; many of them were forced out of their homes, the rest fleeing at the word of the approaching Turkish army. About 5,000 Greek Cypriot civilians were killed. Approximately 1,600 Greek Cypriots are still reported missing, and their whereabouts have not been disclosed by the Turkish Cypriot authorities.
In 1975, 20,000 Greek Cypriots remained enclaved on the Karpass peninsula; nowadays, only 600 have remained there.
Turkish Cypriot casualties and displacements
In retaliation to the intervention/invasion of the Turkish army, about 250 (?) Turkish Cypriots were killed by Greek Cypriots.
On 1 September 1974, evidence of a massacre on the inhabitants of the two villages of Murat Ağa and Sandallar on 15 August, 1974 was found. Both villages had been burned, and at least 44 persons are confirmed dead.
A mass grave in Atlılar was found on 21 August, 1974. On 15 August, 1974, 57 persons were shot and dumped into a mass grave.
In 1974, 70 Turkish Cypriots (aged 13 to 74) were gathered in Tokhni (Turkish: Taşkent) and killed in retaliation for the invasion by Turkey.
In response to the intervention/invasion, the greek cypriot national guard and paramilitaries took control of all turkish cypriot enclaves south of the green line. Following the cease fire, most turkish cypriot civilians living in those enclaves moved to the north.
See also
External links
- Greek Cypriot Author Antonis Angastiniyotis talks about Turkish Cypriot Genocide
- 'Turkish Cypriot Genocide' in British Assembly — by the Turkish Press Review (the Directorate General of Press and Information)
- The Cyprus Conflict — an educational web-site
- The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office
- The TRNC Press and Information Office
- . ISBN 0-95-144642-8.
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