Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi newspaper (22.12.14) reports that scuffles broke out between police and protestors at the Lokmaci (Ledra Street) crossing border during an event organized by the United Cyprus – Bi-communal Peace Initiative. Amongst the initiative participants was the Turkish Cypriot primary School Teachers Trade Union (KTOS).
The self-styled police tried to prevent the demonstrators who wanted to form a human chain using ribbons. The paper writes that “foreign minister” Ozdil Nami who “happened to be at the Lokmaci crossing point” indicated, that the human chain would not be allowed at the crossing point. The demonstration ended after the scuffles ended.
Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika (21.12.14) reporting on the issue writes that KTOS General Secretary Sener Elcil was attacked and hit on the chest during the scuffles.
The paper also notes that the reaction of the self-styled police against the demonstrators was a result of a decision taken by the occupation regime with the instruction of Ankara, to harden its stance towards similar actions.
Afrika’s editor-in chief, Sener Levent writes on the issue the following: “How can we have solution and peace in this country if we cannot put up with a ribbon that unites the island? The message that the police sent yesterday was not a simple one. The Turkish side is hardening its stance following instructions from Ankara. It is obvious that they received instructions not to tolerate these kinds of behavior anymore. They want to do here what they have done in Turkey with their stubbornness. However, what they are doing is not important, what is important is what we are doing”, Levent notes.