Ακολουθεί η παρέμβαση του Γρηγόρη Ιωάννου στη συζήτηση "Χώροι της (επανα)προσέγγισης. Παλιά και Νέα κινήματα στη Νεκρή Ζώνη"
Gregoris Ioannou – From Gardash to the buffer zone protests with the
Teachers' Platform United Cyprus. Tracing the historical background of the OBZ
movement
Gardash: 2003-2005-2006-2007
2004-2005
the first systematic/continuous attempt
of non structured/autonomous (not in the conflict resolution context) youth
re-approachment
- at the social and entertainment
level through everyday interactions, film screenings and parties
- at the professional and
educational level through language lessons, seminars and the project of the
mixed primary Sunday school ending in a summer camp.
- to a lesser extent at the
political level through some public discussions and articles
I will not focus too much here, just to
say that for many then young Greek Cypriots this was the space where they first
came into contact with Turkish Cypriots, with the idea and practice of
self-management and with radical politics. This was where they discussed about
the nationalist crimes of the past, this was where they started their groups and
planned their protests and had their parties, this is where they first saw
uniformed and secret police around them.
Teachers Platform United Cyprus:
2004-today
Bi-communal protests and assemblies
in the buffer zone 2009-2010
1st September 2008 – two parallel
protests meeting outside an empty building, the one that today hosts the Home
for Cooperation and lighting candles for the dead of the Cyprus wars and for
peace. A few hundred people but it was a new start. A start of a new tradition,
of two marches from north and south respectively meeting in Ledra Pallace
street.
7 March 2009 – attempt to carry this in
Ledra street (from a march beginning from Eleftheria Square) with the long black
ribbon strip that unites north and south Nicosia. Hundreds of Greek Cypriots
participating, a few dozen Turkish Cypriots that were harassed by the police in
the northern checkpoint. So eventually the assembly takes place in the Greek
Cypriot side, outside this room, that is, but then a group of Greek Cypriots
crosses to the north with the Turkish Cypriots to have a small ceremony and
statements there as well.
1st May 2009 – the first bi-communal
Mayday celebration since 1958 in Ceting Kayia football ground opposite Ledras
Pallace. This is an interesting and revealing moment. First the relatively small
number of Greek Cypriots participating – just the usual few hundreds, not
managing that is to build upon the success of the previous event. Second the
large number of Turkish Cypriots (more than one thousand) with their loud
slogans. Third the presence of other Turkish speaking protesters on the northern
walls – primarily Kurds who could not cross the checkpoint and enter the buffer
zone but watching with their flags from above and chanting. Fourth the strict
almost unbearable stance of UN military sitting on the neck of the organisers
imposing dozens of “safety” rules and bureaucratic controls.
1/9/2009 – again two parallel protests
meeting outside Ledra Pallace but this time a stage is set up, there is a small
concert and at the end of the evening some young Turkish Cypriots set up tents
in an attempt to stay there. However UN soldiers complain and threaten them, it
is obvious that this initiative was not really planned, some of the other
protesters are already leaving, some of them just watch the incident, eventually
the tents are removed before everybody leaves.
early 2010 another peace initiative
emerges trying to be an umbrella for many groups including the teachers'
platform but doesn't manage to do anything at the street level besides a small
symbolic protest in Ledra when Ban Ki Mun came to Cyprus.
What had developed by then in the south
and was significant for OBZ later was the Faneromeni phenomenon with its
alternative and libertarian spirit, its street parties and parades, its
anti-nationalist and anti-racist politics and its anarchist and anarchist
leaning groupings tendencies and activism.
15/7/2010 – in a presentation I make
about history teaching in a POST conference in the CCMC in Ledra Pallace yard I
make public the idea already being discussed about establishing a bi-communal
school in the buffer zone. Some people thought then that I meant the HCH that
was under-construction. Actually what I had in mind was Ayios Kassianos school
which we were thinking to occupy but did not proceed as the Turkish Cypriot
trade unionists though that the risk was high.
1/9/2010 – AKEL joins in the
1st September event,
abandons that is the separate event it traditionally did with Devish and takes
the lead and the control of the organisation. [this was essentially because CTP
and then Talat lost the elections in the north, went in opposition and this
allowed the unity of the left of parties+trade unions in the north raising the
pressure also on AKEL] There are more people but not many more – there were a
few hundred more Greek Cypriots in the march and another few hundred coming
later for the concert. A big event, it reaches the media for the first time
although the sense prevailing among activists is that this too little too late.
There was also some tension between CTP and the more radical Turkish Cypriot
groupings with the former complaining about a banner with the word “occupation”.
The tension was extended through the UN to AKEL and the small radical groups and
exploited later on substantially by Greek Cypriot nationalists. It was the last
such event.
19/9/2010 Politis mentions as a semi
joke the idea of the peace movement occupying the buffer zone and dividing
Cyprus into three, not just two parts. I comment on my blog if Politis comes to
say this, then it is time to happen.
In early 2011 there were two important
developments – the communal existence rallies which gathered huge crowds in the
streets demanding Turkish Cypriot autonomy from Turkey and the free Cyprus fires
in Kogulu park from a group of young Turkish Cypriots independent from unions
and parties both developments reminding and imitating the spirit of the
2002-2003 revolt.
1/9/2011 – now 1st of September last year was an
interesting thing. Already hopes for a solution had become by then 0 and this
was clear to everyone. The HCH had started to operate and the UN was not
prepared to allow a street event and wanted the organisers to agree to a limit
of 200 people. PEO suggested to have the event in the south. The Turkish Cypriot
trade unionists insisted to have the protest in the street outside Ledra Pallace
despite UN not giving authorisation. Some Greek Cypriots followed and the
protest took place with hundreds of young Turkish Cypriots coming from the more
radical left groups and trade unions and making this the first anti-UN protest
in Cyprus with the main slogan chanted being “United Nations out!”. This is just
2 months before the occupation of the buffer zone in Ledra street.
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