Hüseyin Ruso, who courageously gave his life defending Turkish Cypriots fleeing from the bloodthirsty fascists bent on dismantling the Republic of #Cyprus and turning it into a Greek island, was returned to the place where he fell – exactly 55 years ago today.
He died defending the north-eastern Nicosia suburb of Küçük Kaymaklı (Omorphita), during what became known as ‘Bloody Christmas’, while residents fled north to seek safety in the village of Hamitköy.
Hüseyin Ruso was a talented athlete and footballer who was one of the founders of the Küçük Kaymaklı sports club. A stadium and school are named after him. He was just 28 when his life was cut short. google.com/amp/www.hurriy… @ykanli
His ailing sister Meryem Ruso Paralik, now aged 86, had pleaded with politicians, including President @MustafaAkinci_1, that her brother’s remains be buried in his own grave at the place where he fell. Today, that wish was granted.
The brutal assault against Turkish Cypriots across Cyprus between 21 and 31 December 1963 marked one of the darkest chapters in the island’s history. Scores were killed and 25,000 forced to take refuge in makeshift camps. Hundreds of homes were either destroyed or looted.
Turkish Cypriots spent the next 11 years living in fear and oppression until they were finally liberated by the Turkish armed forces in 1974, who intervened after a disastrous Greek-led coup attempted to annex Cyprus to Greece.
The arrival of Turkish forces resulted in today's geographical separation of #Cyprus and 44 years of peaceful coexistence.
Greek Cypriot propagandists continue, however, to unashamedly portray the events of 1963 as an 'uprising' by Turkish Cypriots. As one commentator put it: 'We still don't accept what we did in 1963.' cyprus-mail.com/2013/12/22/fif…
