Antenna News in English 130896

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From: Antenna Radio <http://www.antenna.gr> - email: antenna@compulink.gr

News in English, of 13/08/1996

TITLES

• Turks kill a peaceful protestor in Cyprus.
• The prince of Wales is in Greece.
• And, Mikis Theodorakis gives a concert for peace.

CYPRUS

Determined to ride into the occupied territory in the name of freedom of movement, they met a military response: 24-year-old Tassos Isaac from Paralimni, Cyprus, was murdered by Turks who reigned blows down on him as he struggled to free himself from barbed wire in the neutral zone in Derinia separating free from occupied Cyprus.

As United Nations peacekeepers stood by, Isaac was beaten with clubs, pelted with stones for 15 minutes. Only after Greek-Cypriots managed to get him away from his assailants did UN forces intervene to stop the mob.

The head of the UN forces explained later that the inactivity on the peacekeepers part was a result of their being undermanned and inadequately trained.

In Derinia, Sopaz, and Nicosia, Turkish soldiers, paramilitaries, and members of the far-right Turkish organisation "Grey Wolf" launched vicious assaults on the young idealists who simply want Cyprus re-united.

One young man who saw Isaac lynched recalled afterwards: "A Turk hit him on the head with a huge rock". He believes that the tragic victim died on the spot, not three or four hours later as officials claim.

His view as to time of death was corroborated Monday. Video showed that the fatal blow came during the attack, from an ax.

Another witness watched in agony as Isaac cried out for help as he was being bludgeoned to death.

Isaacs relatives learned of the incident on TV. They saw his bloody body being driven away to the hospital. At the hospital, they learned the terrible news: Tassos had made the ultimate sacrifice for his country.

Some 40 other people were wounded in the onslaught, attacked mercilessly by Turks wielding clubs, boards with nails driven into them, and crowbars.

Andreas Dimitriou's hand was shot off.

Witnesses say a Turkish policeman opened fire on him from a distance of 6 feet, without warning.

Behind the raging mob that attacked the protestors at several points along the green line dividing Cyprus, lay cynical calculation on Turkey's part. 1500 members of the far-right Turkish organisation "Grey Wolf" had arrived in Cyprus Saturday. And well before the incidents started, groups of armed Turks assembled in many areas, awaiting the protestors' entry into the neutral zone.

The bikers, who began their journey in Berlin, were protesting the fact that Cyprus remains Europe's only divided country. They and their message were welcomed when they arrived in Cyprus Saturday.

Young people from Italy, Finland, Portugal, and Greece were greeted by tears in the eyes of relatives of those who have been missing since the bloody Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974.

In the aftermath of the bloodshed in Cyprus Sunday, the Greek government spokesman said the Turkish assault on peaceful demonstrators is a wake-up call to all people who believe in freedom.

Dimitris Reppas added that the attack shows how barbaric the Turks are, and expressed Greece's solidarity with the Cypriot government as it tries to resist Turkish militarism.

New Democracy leader Miltiades Evert phoned Cypriot president Glavcos Clirides to express his solidarity with the Cypriot people.

Political Spring president Antonis Samaras had hard words for the international community, saying its tolerance of Turkish brutality has made the Turks ever bolder. The result, he added, is that 24-year-old Tassos Isaac is dead. He hopes the international community will understands at last that Turkey and Europe don't go together.

The Cypriot government is protesting the Sunday incidents internationally. Cypriot president Glavcos Clirides expressed his deep sorrow over the death of Isaac. He called Isaac's murder a repulsive criminal act. The murder, he added, is yet another sample of the ease with which the Turkish occupation forces violate the principles of international law and the United Nations.

International tolerance of the Turkish occupation, he said, encourages the Turks in their brazen brutality.

The world was stunned Sunday, as international news networks reported the violence. CNN reported that Turkish troops had opened fire. And Euronews referred to the assaults with clubs.

TURKEY

100s of Islamic fundamentalists and members of the nationalist party "Patriotic Hearth" marched to the consulate, shouting "Cyprus is, and will remain, Turkish".

Greek consulate Leonidas Kontovounisiou said it was a small group of protestors, but is concerned that Greeks could be targeted in the future.

He's asking the Turkish authorities to provide the consulate, and the employees of other Greek organisations in Constantinople, greater protection.

The only damage in Sunday's protest was a smashed window in a car belonging to a consulate employee.

CHARLES

A guest on the yacht of Greek billionaire Yiannis Latsis, Prince Charles intends to take up an invitation to visit the monks on Mount Athos in northern Greece.

The area is renowned for its monasteries, Byzantine treasure-houses of Christianity. Athos is one of Orthodoxy's most sacred spots.

Charles's visit had to be delayed. Rough seas meant the yacht Alexander couldn't dock in the area.

No problem: the prince enjoyed the seas of Messinia in the southwestern Peloponese, swimming and water-skiing near Kalamata.

Charles's father, Philip, is an Orthodox Christian, and has visited Greece a number of times.

Like father, like son.

VACATION

The summer vacation exodus from Athens peaked over the weekend.

Cars were backed up for over a mile at the toll booth outside the port city of Patras in the northern Peleponese Saturday, as people headed Prince Charles's way, or maybe made their way to the Ionian islands.

There was another long line of cars waiting to board the ferry boat from Rio in the Peloponese, to Antirio on the mainland.

There was plenty of traffic out of Piraeus too, as well over ten thousand people boarded ferry boats for the fabled Aegean islands.

The summer vacation period peaks on August 15th. After the religious holiday, the trek back to Athens begins.

SOCCER

The game is known as the super cup, and is played between the two top clubs from the previous season each year.

Sunday night, Aek draws first blood, scoring a goal late...in the 88th minute of the contest. That would appear to be enough to win it, but there's lots more to come.

Pao gets the equaliser 2 minutes into injury time, and we end up with a penalty shoot out. 22 penalties are kicked, to be exact.

Aek wins the shoot out 9-8, and the match, 10-9.

This contest is supposed to be a friendly meeting, but the players want it badly. Aek coach Petros Ravousis says after its over winning is a question of prestige; not letting the fans down; and getting a psychological edge on your opponent to take into the regular season.

THEODORAKIS

Performing a mix of old and new songs, Theodorakis used music to express the desire of all Greeks for peace.

The Aegean should be a peaceful sea, bordered by good neighbours, says the composer.

Its no accident that he chose Kalymnos for this concert of peace. It is close to the Greek isle of Imia, which Turkey staged a military landing on in January, jeopardising peace in the area.

© ANT1-Radio 1996

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