The Isaac-Solomou Memorial Initiative on Saturday continued its annual event in memory of Tassos Isaac and Solomos Solomou who were killed during anti-occupation rallies in 1996.
The main part of the event, which sees the participation of thousands of motorcyclists from around Cyprus, begins on Sunday morning and culminates a Paralimni Cemetary via the Derynia check-point.
Twenty-four-year-old Isaac was killed by a mob of Turkish nationalist ‘Grey Wolves’ in the United Nations Buffer Zone on August 11, 1996 as he was taking part in a civilian demonstration against Turkey’s military occupation of Cyprus.
Isaac’s funeral was held on August 14, 1996 and was attended by thousands of people. Protests after the funeral led to the death of Isaac’s cousin, Solomou, 26, who was shot in the head by a Turkish officer while trying to climb a flagpole in order to remove a Turkish flag from its mast in the United Nations Buffer Zone near Deryneia.
The effort is held in two parts, the first of which began on Friday and sees a number of motorcyclists and a support vehicle travelling along the length of the Green Line, stopping at the various check-points and crossings along the way.
On Saturday, the group visited Nicosia sites of national and historical importance including the military cemetery at Tymvos Makedonitissa and the site where Eoka fighters were imprisoned and executed. They also visited the Ledra Street check-point, symbolically closing it off for a short time. The group will reach the Derynia check-point by Saturday afternoon.
Participants Sunday’s main part of the event will see participants in Nicosia will set off from Octagono Kiosk at 7.30am, or the Astromeritis –Troodos road by Drosia Restaurant at 6.30am.
In Limassol, participants will set off from the K-Cineplex parking lot at 7.30pm.
In Larnaca, the starting point is the Rizoelia roundabout at 8am while participants in the Famagusta district will set off at 8.30am from the Ayia Napa roundabout.
From Paphos, the starting point is the Paphiakos Stadium parking lot at 6.30am.
Cyprus Weekly
