During a modest and emotionally charged event held on 26 November 2008 at a packed wıth Kyrenıan people Bank of Cyprus’ “Solon Triantafyllides” events hall, the Kyrenia Municipality honoured 62 citizens of Kyrenia who have either sacrificed their life or have been missing since WWII (1939-1945), the bicommuncal unrest (1964-1965), the coup d’état and the Turkish invasion.
Of the 62 citizens honoured by the Kyrenia Municipality, five of them fell during WWII and two of them during the bicommuncal unrest. A citizen on Kyrenia has been missing since 1965, while one of them was murdered on 15 July 1974, during the coup d’état. Fifty-three people of Kyrenia were either murdered during the Turkish invasion and the period between July, August and September 1974 or have been missing since then. In particular, 23 of them are civilians, including four female citizens. Of the ten soldiers and reservists who fell during the Turkish invasion, only four of them were killed in battle fighting against the invaders. The other six were murdered in cold blood by the Turkish army or by members of the TMT. Unfortunately, the circumstances of how the remaining 37 missing Kyrenian citizens got arrested, captivated or possibly even executed have yet to be determined.
As a tribute to those who fell or have been missing since the Turkish invasion, the families, citizens and friends of Kyrenia continue and will continue to demand to be informed about what has happened to their loved ones, spouses, fathers, mothers, siblings, friends and classmates.
Editing: Dr Ersi Demetriadou, Historian – Researcher
http://mkp-archive.blogspot.com.cy/2012/05/1940-1974.html (CYPRUS HISTORY NOTCH)
