Saturday, May 23, 2009

Rizokarpaso/Dipkarpaz: cultural heritage and community

I've just posted photos of destroyed Greek Cypriot homes on Rizokarpaso: cultural heritage and community.

The ruins were not propaganda. UNFICYP 'confirmed... and protested' against the demolition (UNSG, 2007: 6 – Para. 28), and the New Cyprus Party defined it as a 'destruction policy' (Kanatlı, 2007). I cannot explain better than Turkish Cypriot Afrika journalist Murat Kanatlı (2007):
If the Maronites and Greek Cypriots did not return to their homes after a certain period (this was 6 months) their houses would be taken over. This is a big violation of human rights and this procedure is still continuing....

Under the pretext of renovation and cleaning up in the village, with the help of the military, some Greek Cypriot houses which have historical and cultural value are being destroyed or damaged severely. Permission was not given to 8 families who wanted to return....

[T]he aim is for Greek Cypriots from Rizokarpaso to be chased away from Rizokarpaso completely and their marks to be wiped out completely.
Recording Greek Cypriot 'marks', and the attempt to destroy them and the memory of them, is all I can do to help to preserve Cypriot memory and community.

Kanatlı, M. 2007: "YKP: 'We are worried about developments in Rizokarpaso (Dipkarpaz)'". Yeni Kıbrıs Partisi, 20th May. Available at: http://www.ykp.org.cy/index_eng.php?subaction=showfull&id=1179675986&archive=&start_from=&ucat=6&

UNSG (United Nations Secretary-General). 2007: Report of the Secretary-General on the peacekeeping operation in Cyprus [S/2007/328, 4th June 2007]. New York: United Nations Security Council. Available at: http://www.securitycouncilreport.org/atf/cf/%7B65BFCF9B-6D27-4E9C-8CD3-CF6E4FF96FF9%7D/Cyprus%20S2007%20328.pdf

[This note was also posted over on samarkeolog.]

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