[1] Turks fire shots at British soldiers - no injuries
[2] Cypriot police are closing in on killers of Solomou and Isaac
[3] Rauf Denktash reportedly was present at Cyprus' latest violent incident
[4] Turkish doctors are cooperating with torturers, according to British newspaper "The Observer"
[5] Arrest warrants issued against Turks
[6] Warrants of arrest issued for the murder of Solomos Solomou
[7] State Department protests shooting against British soldiers by Turkish troops
[8] International warrants for the arrest of six suspects in the killing of Greek-Cypriot Tasos Isaac were issued by the Greek-Cypriot police
[9] Arrest warrants issued for murder of Tassos Isaac
[1] Turks fire shots at British
soldiers - no injuries
Nicosia, Oct 29 1996 (CNA) -- Shots, fired from the Turkish occupied areas of the Republic, hit a vehicle, carrying two unarmed British soldiers on routine work near Dhekelia base, on the south east of the island, Sean Tully, a spokesman for the bases told CNA.
The vehicle was a couple of metres into the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus, the spokesman explained.
Nobody was injured but the British High Commission in Nicosia has already made representations to the self-styled Turkish Cypriot regime about the incident, he added.
The men and their civilian vehicle, a rented pick-up truck, were ''just a couple of metres into the occupied areas,'' a spokesman for the High Commission told CNA.
''One of the bullets fired hit the vehicle, but it is not known how many shots were fired,'' the bases spokesman said.
Today's incident occurred only two-weeks after Turkish troops shot and killed in cold blood an unarmed Greek Cypriot, Petros Kakoullis, who mistakenly strayed into the occupied areas while collecting snails.
The shooting today took place about one metre from the spot where Kakoullis was murdered. The shots were fired at around 0940 local time (0740 GMT) when the soldiers were checking out concrete pillars marking the British Sovereign Base Area (SBA) northern boundary.
After their vehicle was hit, the soldiers drove off, the spokesman explained.
The two soldiers, who belong to the 42nd Survey Engineers Group, were visiting Cyprus on routine work.
The SBA police, Tully said, will conduct an internal inquiry into the circumstances of the incident.
[2] Cypriot police are closing
in on killers of Solomou and Isaac
Cypriot police forces are closing in on the Turks who killed Greek-Cypriot Solomos Solomou, having at their disposal the name of one of the four perpetrators.
According to police informations, the said man is an officer of the so-called "special forces" of Cyprus' occupied territory who is seen in video footage shooting beneath the turkish flag's mast, while the man who shot Solomou from the balcony was wearing civilian clothing and is thought to be an agent of Turkey's secret service.
According to data provided by Cypriot police, most of those who beat Greek-Cypriot Tasos Isaac to death are believed to be members of Turkey's ultra right-wing organization "Grey Wolves."
[3] Rauf Denktash reportedly was
present at Cyprus' latest violent incident
New reports have surfaced adding weight to the belief that the murders of the two Greek-Cypriots Solomos Solomou and Tasos Isaac were organized by the Turk-Cypriot government, as a television viewer has stated that Turk-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash was seen in the area when the incidents occured.
Speaking to the Cypriot Radio, a Belgian woman stated that she actually saw Denktash on the premises in footage broadcast by the Belgian state-owned television channel.
Moreover, the Belgian television viewer stated that the Turk- Cypriot leader is shown being on a balcony and watching the events through binoculars.
Other reports state that the German television stations also showed footage where Denktash is seen in the Derynia region during the days of the incidents.
[4] Turkish doctors are cooperating
with torturers, according to British newspaper "The Observer"
Turkish doctors give information and advice to torturers on how much those who are being tortured can withstand, according to british newspaper "The Observer" which writes, that this way turkish policemen are being trained to torture inmates.
The newspaper also writes that pressures are being exerted on doctors not to mention the cases of tortured people in the health certificates they issue after each medical examination, even if they find marks indicating torture.
As it is mentioned, the Association of British Doctors is getting ready to take measures against the turkish doctors and against the doctors in other countries who are cooperating with torturers.
In the newspaper is mentioned that Amnesty International has certified that tortures are taking place systematically in Turkey, while it also writes that among the countries where doctors cooperate with torturers are the Latin American and the Middle Eastern countries and also Bosnia.
[5] Arrest warrants issued against Turks
Nicosia, Oct 30 (CNA) -- Cyprus police have issued arrest warrants against five persons in connection with the murder of an unarmed Greek Cypriot in August by Turkish troops during demonstrations in the UN controlled buffer zone.
The announcement was made by Attorney General Alecos Markides at a press conference here today who said the warrants will be communicated to Interpol asking the international police force to help in the arrest of the five suspects.
All five are believed to be involved in the murder of Solomos Solomou, shot and killed on August 14 when climbing a flagpole to lower the Turkish flag.
''The arrest warrants were issued in connection with the pre-meditated murder of Solomos Solomou. There are other suspects but no available evidence about their identity,'' Markides said.
The five were identified as: Kenan Akin, self-styled minister of the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime in Turkish occupied Cyprus, Erdal Emanet, commander of the so-called security forces in the occupied areas, Mehmet Karli, commander of the 29th division of the Turkish army, Hasan Kontaxi, former commander of the Turkish occupation troops in Cyprus, and Attila Sab, so-called chief of police of the illegal regime, who is believed to be a Turkish Cypriot.
''The portraits of all five suspects will be sent to Interpol. There is reasonable suspicion that they are involved in Solomou's murder,'' he said.
Referring to the case of a second Greek Cypriot, Tasos Isaac, also brutally murdered by the Turks during demonstrations in the buffer zone, Markides said evidence has surfaced in the past few days which may lead to the issue of arrest warrants of murder suspects.
''There are nine suspects in this murder case,'' he added.
Replying to questions, the Attorney General repeated that police investigations into the two cases were hampered by restricted freedom of movement because the legal authorities of the Republic are prevented from entering the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus from the occupation troops.
[6] Warrants of arrest issued for
the murder of Solomos Solomou
Oct. 31. -- The names of five suspects for the premeditated murder of Solomos Solomou were made public by the Attorney-General of the Republic, Mr Alecos Markides, during a meeting yesterday with media representatives.
Mr Markides said: "On Sunday, 20 October,
I had a meeting with the Assistant Chief of Police, Mr Andreas
Stephanou, and the Head of the Criminal Investigation Department
to examine the progress of the investigations into the murders
in Dherynia last August. We reached the conclusion that investigations
in the case of Solomou justified the issue of warrants of arrest
against five persons.
At the request of the Police, warrants were
issued for the arrest of:
(1) Kenan Akin, a settler from Turkey, and
so-called Minister of Agriculture and Forests of the pseudostate.
(2) Erdal Haciali Emanet, a settler from Turkey
and Commander of Special Forces of the so-called Turkish Cypriot
Police.
(3) Attila Sav, Chief of Police of the pseudostate.
(4) Hasan Kundakci, from Turkey, Lieutenant-General
in the occupying army.
(5) Mehmet Karli from Turkey, Major-General
and Commander of the 28th Division of the Turkish Army.
There are also other suspects, but there is no evidence yet as regards their identity.
As for the case of Tasos Isaac, investigations are still continuing. In this particular case, the Police has now got sketches of the suspects. These sketches were made by specialists and will be distributed, together with related photographs, to Interpol.
The case of Tasos Isaac has not proceeded as far as Solomos Solomou's for the simple reason that it was not possible to collect right from the start the information concerning the identities of those who appeared in the relevant films. In the past few days, however, there has been significant progress in this respect and we have reason to believe that we will soon have the necessary evidence regarding the identities of those who appear in the photographs".
[7] State Department protests shooting
against British soldiers by Turkish troops
Oct. 31. -- US State Department Spokesman Nicholas Burns said the US join Britain in protesting the firing of shots by Turkish soldiers against two British soldiers who strayed about two metres beyond the ceasefire line while on duty for the British Sovereign Base {SBA} area Dhekelia on Tuesday, October 29.
Burns told reporters on Wednesday 30 October during his daily briefing: "We think that the Turkish Cypriot security forces ought not to be firing at people when they stray a metre or two over a line. Unfortunately, a young Greek Cypriot was murdered this way a couple of months ago. We think this kind of thing should not happen again in the future. We join the British in protesting this."
He also read out this statement:
"Yesterday two British military engineers in uniform but riding a rented civilian vehicle were shot at by Turkish Cypriot security forces. The engineers were adjusting markers demarcating the British Sovereign Base Area, when they apparently strayed a few metres into the other side of the Turkish forces ceasefire line. The vehicle was hit twice, no one was hurt.
"The United Kingdom High Commission in Cyprus has protested this action. The Commander of the SBA is investigating this incident. From the circumstances as we understand them, the firing appeared completely unjustifiable. This incident once more underscores the need for the implementation of measures to reduce the potential for violence along the ceasefire line and the UN buffer zone".
In Nicosia the daily Cyprus Mail quoted Thursday (31.10.96) diplomatic sources as saying that the British Deputy High Commissioner "has made official representations to the Turkish Cypriot so-called "Foreign Minister" but has not received an apology.
"The Turkish side are not very good at apologising", the source added.
[8] International
warrants for the arrest of six suspects in the killing of Greek-Cypriot
Tasos Isaac were issued by the Greek-Cypriot police
Nicosia 22 November (M.P.A.)
International warrants for the arrest of six suspects, two Turkish-cypriots and 4 Turkish settlers, were issued last night by the Greek-Cypriot police. The six are accused of taking part in the killing of Greek-Cypriot, Tasos Isaak on August 11 during the bloody incidents in Derinia.
Prosecutor General, Alekos Markidis stated in a press conference today that all the suspects have been identified in photographs. Responding to the remark that based on the available material the number of people who took part in the killing were more than six, Mr. Markidis said that warrants were issued for the arrest of the individuals who were possible to be identified based on reliable information. He also added that police efforts for the location of the rest of the suspects continues.
Arrest warrants have been issued for the following individuals: Hasim Yilmaz, Turkish settler who was member of the Turkish Secret Services and now owns a coffee-shop in the occupied Kerinia; Neifel Mustafa Ergun, Turkish settler, about 28 years old, who is a so-called "policeman" in the pseudo-state and came to Cyprus when he was very young after the Turkish invasion of the island; Polat Fikret Koreli, Turkish-Cypriot, about 17, who lives in the occupied Famagusta; Fikret Veli Koreli, Turkish-Cypriot, father of Polat, originally from Paphos who now lives in the occupied Famagusta and owns a motorcycles' repair shop; Mehmet Mustafa Arslan, Turkish settler, about 41, leader of the extremist organisation "Grey Wolves" in the Turkish occupied territories who lives in the occupied part of Nicosia and Erhan Arikli, Turkish settler about 40 years old, from the former Soviet Union who came to live in the Turkish occupied part of Cyprus 10 to 11 years ago.
[9] Arrest warrants issued for murder of Tassos Isaac
22/11/96
Cyprus Police have issued arrest warrants against four Turkish settlers and two Turkish Cypriots in connection with the murder of unarmed Greek Cypriot protester Tassos Isaac, on August 11 during a demonstration in the UN-controlled buffer zone at Dherynia village. The Cyprus Police requested Interpol's assistance for their arrest.
Attorney-General Mr Alecos Markides on Friday said that the arrest warrants were conveyed to Interpol on Thursday. Speaking at a press conference Markides said all six suspects were identified in photographs.
Isaac was beaten to death by extremists on August 11, when he was trapped in barbed wire in the buffer zone, erected by the Turkish occupation army.
The six persons against whom arrest warrants have been issued are:
- Hasim Yilmaz, a Turkish settler and former member of the Turkish Secret Service who now owns a coffee shop in the Turkish-occupied town of Kyrenia. He was identified in photographs beating Isaac.
- Neyfel Mustafa Ergun, 26 years old, a Turkish settler, serving in the illegal Turkish Cypriot police, who arrived in the occupied areas when he was child. He was identified at the scene of the crime.
- Polat Fikret Koreli, a 17-year-old Turkish Cypriot, living in the occupied town of Famagusta.
- Fikret Veli Koreli, Polat's father, a Turkish Cypriot from Paphos town and now in Famagusta, who works as a bicycle and motorcycle mechanic,
- Mehmet Mustafa Arslan, 41 years old, a Turkish settler, leader of the Turkish extremist organisation "Grey Wolves" in the occupied areas, a Nicosia resident. There is evidence that the suspect participated in Isaac's murder.
- Erhan Arikli, 40, a Turkish settler, from the former Soviet Union, living in the occupied areas for the last 10-11 years.
Mr Markides said more persons were involved in the murder but for the time being there is no evidence as to their identity. However, he said Police, were continuing investigations to identify the remaining suspects.
On October 30, the Cyprus police issued arrest warrants against five persons in connection with the premeditated murder of Solomos Solomou, shot and killed on August 14 while climbing a flagpole to lower the Turkish flag, during a demonstration to protest against the murder of his relative, Isaac.
Amongst the suspects are Kenan Akin, self-styled minister of agriculture of the illegal occupation regime, Erdal Emanet, commander of the so-called security forces in the occupied areas, Hasan Kundakci, former commander of the Turkish occupation troops in Cyprus and Attila Sab, so-called chief of police of the illegal regime.