Q. Mr Salih, can you give us some information about how
EOKA was established, and how events developed after this?
The aim of EOKA at first was actually towards the English but
their real aim was to take the Turks under their control. For
this reason the Greeks formed EOKA and the Turks established
Volkan union (later this was changed to T.M.T). The aim of
T.M.T. (Turkish resistance organization) was to make the whole
world aware of the problem because there were many Turkish
Cypriots in Cyprus. In those days until 1960, meetings,
arguments, marches, etc. were done.
The delegation between the five countries England, Turkish (Cypriot) society, Greek (Cypriot) society, Turkey and Greece took place in London and Zurich. In these meetings, with the Zurich pact it was declared that England will leave the direction of the island to its citizens who are the Turks and the Greeks. In this way it was agreed that the Republic of Cyprus was going to be established.
In the direction of the island the Greeks had a right of 70% and the Turks had 30%. The municipalities had to be separated too. On the 1st of August in 1960. The Republic of Cyprus was established and the governing of the island was given from the English to the citizens of the island.
Between the years 1960 and 1963 there were no problems between the Turks and Greeks, but after the attack of the Greeks on the Turks on the 21st of December in 1963 the republic was destroyed. The Greeks wanted to make the whole world think that they were the legal owners of the island.
Q. Mr. Salih, how and why did the attacks on the Turks
happen on the 21st of December in 1963?
In 21 December 1963 there was an attack on the Tahtakale area
in
Lefkosa. The Greek police used this as an excuse and opened fire
on the students of the Turkish Lycee (secondary school). After
this the events happened rapidly and spread all over the island.
In 1964 many Turks were forced to leave their villages because of
the attacks of the Greeks, and they immigrated to other places
under very difficult circumstances.
From 1964 to 1974 the Greeks attacked the Turkish villages several times. For example, in 1967 there were great attacks on the Turks in the villages Kohunye and Tatlisu. Again in the years between 1964-1974 the Greeks formed barricades in many places. They killed the Turkish Cypriots that were travelling, or held them as hostages. We were scared of going from one place to another and this restricted our freedom of travelling.
For years we couldn't get out of our villages. We heard all the news and happenings on the island from the radios of Turkey and Radio Bayrak that was established in 25 December 1963 in Nicosia. The establishment of Radio Bayrak heartened us.
Later in 1967 the EOKA B organization was established too. The leader of this organization was Sampson and the leader of EOKA A was Grivas.
The aim of EOKA B was to destroy the Turks in only one attack. But the leader of the Greek society was Makarios and he was from EOKA A side. He wanted to destroy the Turks slowly.
Therefore in 15 July 1974 a coup was made on Makarios. Makarios managed to escape and Sampson was unsuccessful. After a while Makarios was ruler again.
Because Sampson destroyed the Cyprus Republic by attacking Makarios, Turkey used its rights of guarantor and sent soldiers to the island in 20 July 1974, and the Turkish Cypriots gained their freedom.
Q. What were your feelings or emotions at that time?
I was very pleased with the interference of Turkey. It formed
comfort and strength in people.
Q. Did these feelings or emotions help you in any way?
It helped me to look at the future with hope and pull myself
together.
Q. Did you have any questions or confusions at this
time?
Yes. We hoped that Turkey would send soldiers from at 4
sides of
the island and save the Turks of the whole island because the
Turks that were left at the south had very hard days.
Q. Was there anything that happened during this time that was
helpful for you?
No. Because we were the ones who always suffered. At the
time I
had finished my school and after this happened all the Turkish
young people were left unemployed.
Q. Was there anything that happened during this time that
hurt you or got in your way or was a problem for you somehow?
We had to leave our houses and villages, we lost our
relatives
and families. What worse could have happened?
Q. Was there anything during this time that might have
helped you or could have helped you?
No. There was only Turkey
Q. s there anything in your experience during this time
that you would say was a "lesson for life?"
I believe that war is a lesson in life for people.
Q. Is there anything you else you would like to say about
your experience during this time?
I hope that no one experiences war because it is a very bad
experience which makes people suffer a lot and leaves people in
pain.
DEMOGRAPHICS
Occupation (or life's work): Manager/secretary for
corporation.
Age: 53.
Sex: Male.
Nationality: Turkish Cypriot
Where now lives (country and city/town/village): Yesilyurt,
near Lefke.
Where lived during the events described during the interview:
Gokagac (Alektora), near Limassol.
What was the occupation (or life's work) of the main income
earner in the household when growing up: Farmer and mujahit.