DATE: 23
APRIL 2004
(Publication
Date: April 25, 2007)
Where were they yesterday, and where are they today?
What were they saying yesterday, and what are they saying today?
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Talking about the past does not always mean “living in the past”!
If it did, it would already be impossible to speak of a history institution.
Pay attention to those who say, “We’ve put the past behind us; we’re looking to the future now.” The main reason they say this is that they are trying to erase the mistakes they made in the past.
Yes, the past stays in the past; however, it is always a source to refer to when drawing lessons.
Yesterday was the third anniversary of the April 24 referendum.
I thought I’d take a look through my archives, and when I looked at the news from April 23, 2004, the day before the referendum, one story caught my attention!
I want to devote today’s column to it; in other words, I’ll take you back to April 23, 2004.
Here is a summary of the report about the “yes” rally held that day: “Nicosia, April 23, 2004—As the countdown continued to the referendum to be held simultaneously on both sides of the island on Saturday, on a solution based on the Annan Plan for Cyprus, citizens gathered at İnönü Square called on both communities to vote ‘yes.’ Tens of thousands of citizens, enthusiastically declaring ‘naturally, yes,’ stayed in the square for about three hours, in a festive atmosphere featuring performances by the SOS Music Group, a bi-communal choir of Turkish and Greek Cypriots, and a folk dance group.
The rally, organized jointly by the Republican Turkish Party, the Peace and Democracy Movement, the Communal Liberation Party, the Justice and Peace Party, and the Solution and EU Party, took place in an enthusiastic atmosphere.
The square was decorated with balloons in green, blue, red, and white—the colors representing the organizing parties—as well as banners. Banners reading ‘Naturally, Yes—NAI’ and ‘Yes, Mom!’ were particularly prominent, while ‘Peace in Cyprus Cannot Be Prevented’ was once again the dominant slogan. Groups made up mostly of young people chanted ‘Denktaş resign’ from time to time, and banners expressing reproach toward the Greek Cypriot Communist AKEL Party, which had decided to vote ‘no’ in the referendum, also caught the eye.
The rally attracted considerable interest from the press in the TRNC and Turkey, as well as from the Greek Cypriot and international media. Some television channels also broadcast it live.
CTP leader and Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat, who attended the rally briefly because of his busy schedule, said they were working for a secure future in peace. Talat emphasized that Turkish Cypriots would achieve peace through their own will.
Calling on the public to give an ‘overwhelming yes,’ Talat said, ‘Then no one will doubt that Turkish Cypriots are committed to peace and will implement the agreement... Then Denktaş will not be able to claim that he represents the community.’ Talat continued to send messages to Denktaş, saying, ‘As we overcome the obstacles to peace one by one, let us consign the last one to history as well.’
Pointing to the crowd gathered at İnönü Square, Peace and Democracy Movement leader Mustafa Akıncı said, ‘They call them “traitors going South”... If the traitors go South, who will be left in the North... Let them come and see for themselves...’
CTP Secretary General Ferdi Sabit Soyer also made a brief speech at the rally.
In an impassioned speech that fired up the crowd, Soyer said, ‘We don’t want to read the history that Denktaş and Papadopoulos want us to read. We want a new history filled with love and peace.’
Solution and EU Party leader Ali Erel said, ‘The difficult journey that began a few years ago is ending in victory. Our first mission on the road to a solution and the EU is being completed.’
In his speech, businessman Ramiz Manyera was mainly critical of President Denktaş. Saying that with a solution the Turkish Cypriot people would become Europeans in their sovereign state, Manyera addressed Denktaş as “the great leader” and said: ‘You swore an oath of impartiality, then broke your oath by taking sides... What will you do on the morning of April 25... Poverty, lack of recognition—everything is because of you. Step aside already...’
*
That, in brief, is what was said in the speeches that day.
I will not comment on “Why was there no message at the rally?” in relation to April 23, a very important date for the Turkish nation. I will say other things.
That day, Mr. Talat spoke of consigning Denktaş, the last obstacle to peace, to history. Today, Denktaş is not standing in the way of “peace”! Why, then, has peace still not been achieved? Or is Denktaş’s oft-repeated statement, “A solution with the Greek Cypriots is impossible,” more true?
On the subject of history textbooks, so hotly debated in recent months, Mr. Soyer had already made what amounted to the “final word” back in 2004. Mr. Soyer said, “We want a new history filled with love and peace.” If only he had shown the same honesty in the debates of recent months and stated his view without beating around the bush…
It is still unclear what Mr. Akıncı meant when he said, “If the traitors go South, who will be left in the North?” We would be glad if he explained!
Ali Erel, the most popular man of those days (people are still trying to find out where he is today!), said the “first mission” had been completed by voting yes. Completed it was, but what other “mission” did Mr. Erel have in mind? Even after three years, we still haven’t understood! I think he was just talking without really knowing himself. Could there have been some deception in this, too?
What does businessman Mr. Manyera, who argued that Denktaş was the greatest obstacle to overcoming poverty and lack of recognition, think today? Or was the TRNC recognized after Denktaş, the supposed obstacle, stepped aside—and did we somehow miss the news?
We cannot live in the past, but we cannot shape the future without understanding it either.
What was said that day, and who said it, is all there…
Will the policy of deceiving the public continue in the future?
Or will the public not fall for these tricks again?
We’ll all see—we are seeing…
Until Friday, I hope… Be respectful in traffic!
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