THERE was widespread condemnation yesterday of ELAM’s actions both from private and political circles but while the parties expressed their disgust over the incident, some criticised the president’s decision to sack the police chief.
Main opposition party AKEL’s general-secretary Andros Kyprianou said his party had last year provided police with photographs of ELAM members participating in combat exercises at a mountain camp. “In a recent letter I received from the Attorney-general’s office, I was notified that ELAM members would not be prosecuted because the legal services claim they (ELAM) didn’t know they were breaking any laws at the time,” he said. However, AKEL said ultimate responsibility for the foul-up lay with Justice Minister Ionas Nicolaou, as the political head of the police force.
“Instead the minister and the president shifted exclusive responsibility on to the chief of police,” the party said.
It said that when AKEL highlighted the dangers of the far-right faction in Cyprus, Nicolaou had mocked them.
“He even recently denied the existence of organised right-wing factions in Cyprus. As for the even in question, despite knowing about the event itself a week before, no preventive measures were taken,” the party said.
“If they assigned responsibilities to the chief of police, because he knew and did not act, then how come there are no responsibilities assigned to the minister of justice, given that his ministry was informed and had also not acted.”