TRNC Martyrs were remembered with three separate ceremonies in Kumsal – Lefkosa, Turkeli (Ayvasil) and Iskele (Larnaka Martyrs Monument).
Kumsal Martyrs commemorated
Turkish Cypriots, who fell martyrs on December 24, 1963 in the Kumsal region of Lefkoşa by Greeks and Greek Cypriots, were commemorated yesterday (24th December) with a ceremony organised in front of the Martyrs memorial at the Museum of Barbarism in Kumsal, Lefkoşa.
Speaking at the commemoration ceremony, Secretary General of the Association of Martyrs Families and War Veterans, Mehmet Kasabalı, said that Greek Cypriots started to enforce their dream ‘Enosis’ 54 years ago everywhere on the island, and Turkish Cypriots were stopped and kidnapped from various regions every day.
Adding that a Greek military officer carried out an attack with about 150 Greek Cypriots in Kumsal on 24 December, 1963, Kasabalı said that Major Nihat İlhan’s wife and his three children were killed on that day. Kasabalı also said that Erdoğan Rifat, Tuncer Hasan, Muhip Hüseyin, Aziz Güner, Mustafa Hasan, Mustafa Mehmet and the owner of the house, where İlhan’s wife and his children were killed, Feride Hasan, also fell martyrs on 24 December, 1963.
Türkeli Martyrs remembered
Türkeli (Ayvasıl) Martyrs were remembered with a ceremony held in Türkeli (Ayvasıl) village last Friday (22nd December).
Delivering a speech at the ceremony, the Deputy Secretary General of the Society of Martyrs’ Families and Disabled War Veterans, Ceyhan Cambaz, said that they will never forget the barbarism of Greek Cypriots that caused deep wounds on the hearts of Turkish Cypriots. Stating that 21 people were martyred in Ayvasıl, Cambaz said that people who were murdered in Alaminyo, Muratağa, Sandallar, Atlılar, Taşkent, Terazi, Geçitkale, Boğaziçi and other regions had no other crime except being a Turk.
Larnaka Martyrs remembered with a ceremony
Turkish Cypriot fighters who fell during the struggle for existence in the Larnaka district between 1963 and 1974 were remembered with a ceremony at the Larnaka Martyrs Monument located in İskele.
Speaking at the ceremony, İskele Mayor Hasan Sadıkoğlu stressed that 173 people were martyred in Larnaka and villages around Larnaka during the struggle against the Enosis dream of the Greek-Greek Cypriot duo.
“The past should not be forgotten. If we have a peaceful and secure life in the TRNC now it is because of struggle and sacrifices given by our martyrs and veterans,” said Sadıkoğlu.
Source: TRNC Public Information Office
