48 YEARS AGO TODAY❗️The military junta in Greece decided to invade and overthrow Greek Cypriot leader Makarios, all in the name ENOSIS. Please keep scrolling for a historical breakdown of events ⬇️ #GreekInvasionOfCyprus#2statesinCyprus
By this point the Greek Cypriots already had unilateral control over the island following the coup of 1963 and subsequent Bloody Christmas massacres. The Turkish Cypriots were isolated and enclaved. However, Makarios had did not fulfil his promise of Enosis…
In 1971, a Greek Cypriot civil war broke out with EOKA-B clashing with Makarios’s forces. Abductions and assassinations of the Greek Cypriot Left were a regular occurrence. The battle was for Greek annexation or an independent Greek Cypriot state…
By 1974, Makarios began publicly condemning EOKA-B and Greece. This would soon lead to the eventual Greek invasion and the overthrowing of his government…
Makarios’s military changes on the 2nd July 1974 is what caused the Greek junta to finally act and invade. The decision was finalised on the 11th and the coup would take place on the 15th. Greek army forces, the Cyprus National Guard & EOKA-B would all participate.
THE GREEK INVASION OF CYPRUS‼️ By the end of the 15th, Greek forces controlled all of Nicosia and fascist Nicos Sampson had declared the establishment of the “Hellenic Republic of Cyprus”. Meanwhile Makarios had managed to escape the attack on the presidential palace.
Makarios gave two infamous speeches following the invasion. The first in Paphos at a radio station and the second in front of the UN Security Council. In both he clearly states that the island has been invaded by GREECE #GreekInvasionOfCyprus
But what about the Turkish Cypriots? Unfortunately, many of the enclaves soon became encircled by EOKA-B forces and Turkish Cypriot men were taken to prison camps immediately. Thankfully, hope arrived once Türkiye initiated phase 1 of the Cyprus Peace Operation 🇹🇷👏
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49 years ago today the bodies of 126 Turkish Cypriots from Muratağa, Sandallar & Atlılar were discovered by the UN & international press.
Greek Cypriot troops had slaughtered women, children & elderly with the youngest victim being a 16 day old baby.
#TurkishCypriotGenocide
TIMELINE OF EVENTS:
20th July 1974 - All Turkish Cypriot men from the villages of Muratağa, Sandallar & Atlılar were taken by Greek Cypriot troops and placed into prison camps
For over 3 weeks, Greek Cypriot troops entered the villages and raped the women, girls and young boys.
14th August 1974 - Türkiye initiated the Phase 2 of the Cyprus Peace Operation.
The Greek Cypriot troops wanted to ensure that there were no eyewitnesses remaining after the atrocities they committed.
All Turkish Cypriot women, children and elderly were rounded up and massacred by the Greek Cypriot soldiers.
126 Turkish Cypriots were slaughtered in total: 89 from Muratağa & Sandallar and 37 from Atlılar.
The youngest victim was a 16 day old baby & the oldest was a 95 year old man.
Their bodies were thrown into mass graves with evidence of torture and mutilation.
1st September 1974 - their bodies were discovered with the UN and international press present.
On the 1st September 1974, a Turkish Cypriot shepherd saw a hand sticking out from the ground.
It was due to this that the mass grave of Turkish Cypriot women, children and elderly were discovered.
The UN and international press were present at the scene.
THE GREEK INVASION OF CYPRUS - 15TH JULY 1974 (Photo Archive)
In just the first 5 days of Greece’s invasion, over 450 Greek Cypriots had been killed with over 10,000 being arrested as “prisoners of the Greek state.”
👇 #GreekInvasionOfCyprus1974
ELDYK forces (Greek army stationed in Cyprus), elements of the National Guard and EOKA-B all carried out the invasion with direct orders and support from Greece.
Here are there tanks rolling through Nicosia/Lefkoşa 👇
#GreekInvasionOfCyprus1974
Below you can see Greek soldiers and EOKA militants attacking the Presidential Palace.
The Bloody Christmas massacres were carried out during this time on purpose.
The Greek Cypriot leadership hoped that because it was Christmas, foreign reporters would not be present to record the mass killings of Turkish Cypriots.
In August 2022 @RishiSunak left a bitter taste in the mouths of Turkish Cypriots as his anti-Turkish letter to the so-called “Conservative Friends of Cyprus” was released to the public.
In his letter, Sunak revealed his very misinformed and narrow minded view on the Cyprus issue. It was filled with historical falsehoods regarding the events of 1974 and a lack of awareness surrounding current issues such as Varosha and the drilling within the EEZ’s.
@BTCAOfficial The British Turkish Cypriot Association responded to @RishiSunak letter immediately after. However, the new Prime Minister never replied. Unfortunately this suggests his anti-Turkish views on the Cyprus issue are true…