Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 96-08-11 (3rd UPDATE)

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From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" <dist@hri.org>

CONTENTS

[01] President condemns murder of Greek Cyprio demonstrator

[02] Police account of anti-occupation

[03] Bikers' run bigger than European borders

[04] Anti-occupation rally fizzles out

2030:CYPPRESS:11

[01] President condemns murder of Greek Cypriot demonstrator

In a statement, issued here after the killing earlier today, the President said ''this criminal and abhorrent act is another example of the ruthlessness of the occupation troops and constitutes a blatant contempt of every principle of international law and violation of UN fundamental principles.''

The government, he said, will protest ''this new horrific crime internationally and to all directions.''

The statement also said ''the murder provides yet more telling evidence that the tolerance of the continuing occupation intensifies the provocative behaviour of the occupation troops and encourages the licence of these troops and the self-styled Turkish Cypriot state.''

The President noted that unfortunately the information made known to the government late last night and today had been confirmed.

The information, the President added, had led him to ask the Cyprus Motorcycle Federation leadership to modify today's last part of the anti-occupation rally, which is what happened.

Expressing ''shock and deep sorrow for the inhuman murder'' of the 24-year old Anastasios (Tasos) Isaac, from Paralimni, by the occupation troops and the Turkish Cypriot pseudostate, the President extended his ''condolences and sympathy'' to his widow and his family.

The government has announced that the funeral of the dead Greek Cypriot will be at the state's expense.

CNA MM/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2050:CYPPRESS:12

[02] Police account of anti-occupation

Health Minister Manolis Christofides, who visited the injured persons in hospitals in Larnaca and Paralimni, said a total of 56 persons were injured during the demonstrations.

Police said in a statement, here late today, the dead person, Anastasios (Tasos) Isaac, a newly married 24-year-old man whose wife is pregnant, from Paralimni, ''was trapped in barbed wire in the buffer zone and was beaten by the Turkish occupation troops with stones and batons.''

The statement said police ''implemented a contingency plan, prepared to deal with tension and serious danger, which could possible arise from undisciplined events.''

The statement said demonstrators withdrew from all points in the UN-controlled buffer zone they had gathered at earlier today.

Increased tension was notable at various points along the 180-kilometre long buffer zone and ''the police were trying to avoid any confrontation with the demonstrators on the one hand and avert the danger of entering the buffer zone on the other.''

Police have acknowledged that their task was made even more difficult by the great length of the ceasefire line and the line's border with the British base of Dhekelia where the Cyprus police has no jurisdiction.

There was increased trouble in three specific areas, in ''Sopaz'', on the eastern side of Nicosia, near Achna village in close proximity to the British bases and in the village of Dherynia, on the eastern end of the dividing line.

More than 2,000 people were involved in scuffles in all three locations, it added.

CNA MM/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2135:CYPPRESS:13

[03] Bikers' run bigger than European borders

Around 200 bikers, in their greatest majority Europeans who took part in the pan-European ride which started from Berlin on August 2 and which aimed to finish in the Turkish-occupied northern coastal town of Kyrenia gathered at Ledra Palace and attempted through the UN Peace-keeping Force on the island (UNFICYP) to cross into the occupied areas.

Thirteen representatives of the bikers coming from 13 different European countries, accompanied by UNFICYP members reached the Turkish occupation army check point and asked for permission for all bikers to ride to Kyrenia.

''They (the Turkish forces) asked us to fill in a written application for ourselves and the bikers with us to go through'', a British representative of the European motorcyclists, told reporters.

''This we refused to do'', he said, adding the Turkish occupation forces asked ''what the point was all about'', a question he refused to answer.

''This run is bigger than European borders'', the British motorcyclist stressed, noting that in their ride from the ''ex divided city of Berlin to the currently divided city of Nicosia'' they crossed ''many borders and failed to cross only one, that, of Serbia.''

''Now'', he added, ''the Turkish authorities have refused to let us pass without this written authority'' and noted that the occupation army has ''no problem'' with the foreign bikers but had emphatically stated that ''on no account were they going to let the Greek Cypriots through, no matter how many applications they wrote. This was made clear to us'', he said.

''Again, I made the point, I do not care where anybody comes from, or where they are intending to go. The point is freedom of movement for all bikers, throughout the world, across all borders'', the British representative said noting that this is the message he will take back to Britain.

On his part former General Secretary of the Federation of European Motorcyclists Ricardo Forte, expressed disappointment with the fact that they failed to ride to Kyrenia.

He did however express the hope that the ride would prove useful towards the resolution of the Cyprus problem where two communities are kept separated by forces, who are over their head.

He added ''the mission has been accomplished because the media have been paying very much attention to this and the news has spread out throughout the world.''

Support towards the people of Cyprus was also expressed by a representative of the Greek motorcyclists participating in the ride, who stressed that today's event reminded the world of the problem of Cyprus and of the human right of freedom of movement.

CNA MCH/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

2145:CYPPRESS:14

[04] Anti-occupation rally fizzles out

Motorcyclists have withdrawn from different points where they had gathered to protest the continuing Turkish occupation of Cyprus' northern areas and people are pondering the repercussions of today's events, which left one Greek Cypriot dead and 41 injured.

The aborted ride, which set off from Berlin on August 2, was meant to finish in the Turkish-occupied town of Kyrenia, but the last leg of the ride was cancelled hours before it was due to start after a presidential plea by President Glafcos Clerides.

The President cited reasons of national security for his decision while the President of the Cyprus Motorcycle Federation George Hadjicostas quoted ''security and political'' reasons for his decision to call a halt to the ride.

Scores of disappointed bikers have expressed indignation at the end of their long-awaited ride and many formed groups which moved back to the original positions they held early this morning as they gathered to start the rally.

Scuffles broke out when Greek Cypriot protesters were confronted with Turkish Cypriots and Turks in the buffer zone, who were waving large wooden sticks and iron rods.

Trouble at different spots erupted between stone-hurling youngsters from both sides.

After the killing of a Greek Cypriot, protesters abandoned the area near Dherynia village and relative calmness was returning to the area.

CNA MM/GP/1996

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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