Statement of the Presidency with regards to the use of the photograph showing EOKA terrorists on the National Lottery ticket that was printed with the aim of commemorating the Erenköy Resistance
“Such disrespect towards our Erenköy Freedom Fighters (Müjahideen) and our national resistance struggle is not acceptable. . .there is an ugly campaign being staged that is aimed at creating an impression”
The Statement of the Presidency on the unfounded claims of some malicious circles and politicians with regards to the use of a photograph of EOKA terrorists is as follows:
“Whilst reactions continue against the use of a photograph of Greek-Greek Cypriot troops and EOKA terrorists instead of Erenköy mujahideen in the National Lottery tickets issued by the State Lottery Administration to commemorate the Erenköy Resistance, some malicious circles and politicians, who are manipulation experts, have sought to create an impression with claims the same photograph was used on the pages of the Presidency as though it commemorated the Freedom Fighters of Erenköy. This claim is completely unfounded. The photo in question was used whilst an explanation was being made with regards to the attacks by Greek Cypriots against Turkish Cypriots and no statement or reference was ever made in the respective video clip that these people were Turkish Cypriot Erenköy fighters.
In the video prepared by the Press Office of the Presidency for the commemoration of the anniversary of July 20 Peace and Freedom Day, President Ersin Tatar was talking about the attrocities committed against the Turkish Cypriot People by Greek-Greek Cypriot military troops and EOKA terrorists. The video also played an rousing speech by late Founding President Rauf Denktaş, who described the inhuman conditions endured by Turkish Cypriot People and the attrocities lived in that period, and how Turkish Cypriots were forced to migrate from their villages due to Greek-Greek Cypriot inflicted attrocities and aggression.
Amongst the photographs of a crying woman and our children, the photograph in question was used to show the Greek-Greek Cypriot atrocities and aggression. Furthermore, there was no reference, comment or suggestion that the photograph in question was that of Turkish Cypriot Erenköy freedom fighters. However, those with ulterior motives and biased mentality claim that the 'photographs of Greek Cypriots who migrated from their villages were also published on the Presidential web page'.
This photograph was used to condemn the EOKA terrorist organisation in the same manner as the photograph of Nikos Sampson, one of the leaders of the EOKA terrorist organisation, who held a Turkish flag during the Kaymaklı attacks, which has also been used many times to show the Greek-Greek Cypriot inflicted attrocities against the Turkish Cypriot People. In the online news pages of the Presidency, there are also photographs of the brutality and massacres committed by the Greek-Greek Cypriot troops that act as a reminder so as not to forget the atrocities and the recent past.
Whilst these undeniable facts exist, it is unacceptable that some malicious circles and politicians are using this photo to launch a smear campaign against President Ersin Tatar, which is nothing less than a provocative act with the sole aim of creating an impression that is aimed at completely misleading the public. Whilst we know very well that our people will not show any regard to the unfounded and unethical allegations, we invite those who make them to come to their senses and conscience.”