Commemorations continue in line with the 21-26 National Struggle and Martyrs Week and those who were martyred in the Turkish Cypriot people’s struggle for existence and freedom continue to be commemorated.
A ceremony was held on Sunday in Lefkoşa Tekke Bahçe for the martyrs of Türkeli- Ayvasıl.
The ceremony started with the laying of wreaths, a minutes silence and flags were raised to the National Anthem.
Delivering a speech at the ceremony the President of the Martyrs’ Families and Disabled Veterans’ Association Gürsel Benan spoke about the massacre of civilians in Ayvasıl village 61 years ago.
“10 year old children, 17-19 year old youths and 90 year old elders were massacred. They killed women, children and the elderly. We need to understand the genocide applied to the Turkish Cypriot people, what happened in the past, we need to protect our sovereignty, we need to make good use of it. If we can live in these lands under our own flag, it is thanks to our martyrs,” said Benan.
“Peace came to our island in 1974. Türkiye and the Turkish army is the biggest guarantee of peace on this island” said Benan and added that a lasting solution can be achieved by protecting sovereignty and wished that such suffering would never happen again.
President Ersin Tatar in his speech during the ceremony stated that bloody Christmas was carried out to connect Cyprus to Greece and that the Turkish Cypriot presence on the island was wanted to be destroyed with the Akritas plan.
He said that the Turkish Cypriot people, who were subjected to attacks, will never forget their past.
“The UK, the guarantor country, and the international community stood by and the UN remained insensitive to the massacres 61 years ago. 103 villages were burned and destroyed. Our people resisted against all kinds of difficulties and an epic was written on July 20, 1974 when Mehmetçik (Turkish soldiers) landed on the island. Now we are struggling for the recognition of the TRNC. Our message to the world is that we did not give so many martyrs in vain” said Tatar.
“They massacred defenseless civilians. The Turkish Cypriot people, who have been subjected to attacks, will never forget their past. People that do not know their past and history will perish. Our national and new policy is sovereignty and we will not compromise” he added.
Noting that they are well aware of what is happening in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East Tatar said “If we want to be strong, if we want peace to continue, there can only be a two-state solution together with Türkiye. Türkiye’s guarantees and the presence of the Turkish army on the island is our red line. I wish that such pain will never happen again, I commemorate our martyrs with mercy and wish patience to their families” said Tatar.
The ceremony ended with a tour of the martyrdom.