I always wondered what the whole story was. I've heard Greek Cypriots claiming that while EOKA B were violent extremists, that EOKA wasn't too bad and only wanted freedom from the British occupation and in fact only targeted Turkish Cypriot law enforcement that were collaborating with the British. Also a bunch of stuff about TMT (not sure if I got the acronym correctly) targeting Greeks first and doing false flags against Turkish Cypriots to stir up blame. Also that Greek Cypriots voted majority against unification with Greece and wanted an independent Cyprus. That's one side of the story but I wanted to hear from Turkish Cypriots, which I now have a chance with you here.
The opposition to the Annan Plan makes somewhat less sense to me because the main Greek Cypriot objection seems to be that a) Turkish settlers post-1974 will stay (but, uh, doesn't Cyprus have immigrants from Greece too?) and b) Turkish Cypriots will get an equal vote to the Greek majority instead of it being all democratic where majority rules apply, which would inevitably mean Greek Cypriot domination of politics and, well, I figured it was kinda obvious why Turkish Cypriots don't want that given the uneasy history between the two sides. Also, opposition to Turkey AND Greece as guarantor states that would protect the rights of each minority. I can sorta see why they wouldn't like it but it also seems like sticking your head in the sand regarding the last 60 or so years.
Well after Brits acquired the island in 1878, Turkish Cypriot population started to decline, and after WW1 this has increased. During 1960s the ratio was nearly 1 to 4 but we were controlling one third of the republic's offices and has equal veto right to every law which was main objection of Greeks at that time.
EOKA or EOKA-B they are just same shit. It started as a rebellion against Britain back in 1930s and yes they were targeting only Brits as a starting point, however UK punished both sides after first rebellion. After 1930s UK started to recruit Turkish Cypriots as auxiliary security force and successfully deteriorate relations between two sides, however knowing how Greece became independent or what events happened in Crete and the independence war of Turkey (which has supported by Turkish Cypriots strongly) my people knew that a time would come that we will face similar things so even before TMT, Turks here were organized and militarised. Even if the population ratio was 1 to 4, strength was equal. Some TMT guys I talked also said that we had more guns and better trained before 1960/63. Greek Church has always had great influence over GCs, they have always been more religious while Turkish Cypriots instantly applied Ataturk reforms and never been so religious. And Greek Church has always dreamed of Enosis which is becoming part of Greece ( even their leader was a bishop as you know). So eventually they will point their guns to us. They didn't wanted to be an independent state, wanted to become part of Greece (in fact throughout history Cyprus always had autonomy or independence and never been a part of Greece) But today, GCs don't like Greece so much and they don't consider becoming a part of it either but still want whole island to be under their control.
Returning to false flags and first blood, I am afraid Turks killed Greeks first before everything has started with British false flag to Turks. Many years before Republic has founded Turks deceived by Brits attacked Greek farmers which started events after it and revenges. And bombing of statues or etc, there are many conflicting reports and ideas, hard to understand what is reality. Both sides were not pure innocent before 1960 but Turks suffered much more between 1963 -1974, literally living in Ghettos without proper supplies and under harsh embargoes.. Even getting pipes was forbidden as they were making guns. It was just like the movie the pianist, and many mass murders massacres against my people. There were two TMT guys missing for 55 years (but just civilians) they were just found 3 years ago!.. Greeks buried them with their Car, alive, back in 1963. UN documented all these things, thanks to UN soldiers many Cypriots were also saved as well because some of them were helping us secretly or blocking Greek murderers. What Syrians, Yemenis faced today is similar to my family's childhood memories.
In 1974 we got some revenge may be that's why we don't have grudge like them. My people also never been racist like them but that does not mean you will sit and wait them to kill you. Well armed and fought well for 11 years until cavalry came.
Regarding immigrants, back in 2003 our population was 220k theirs was 700k something and they never had many immigrants as they are already overpopulated. 90% of their population is Greek Cypriot and rest is some foreigners. Back in 2003, in Annan plan, They accepted 50k Turkish mainland immigrants which was nearly all at the time. Today our population is around 400k and mainland immigrants rose from 50 to 150-200k. I am repeating again, those 50k accepted as new republic's citizens by them! on the table but rejected in referandum, and today TRNC is very different, they lost a big opportunity imo. They don't want guarantees because of 1974, and we want because of the same reason. But tell me, if there is no guarantee and they attack us.. do Turkey need any permission to intervene? I don't think so. In all possible solutions, it will be two region (splitted) any future war mean direct separation. And back in 1960s, unfortunately Turkey and our guys were not so upset about conflict, they wanted to turn it to opportunity for separation. Nobody wanted that republic but oddly it still exists.
We had veto rights back in 1960 for a good reason! after they forced TCs to ghettos and UN came to island, they got access to full control and changed constitution and removed TCs rights. So in any federation or in any previous draft agreements we want that political equality. It is a major reason that they don't want a federation because They are already 100% in charge of their recognized country, why would they want to share? These peace talks are just a clown show. They don't want to live with us, they are just dreaming to get control of more land. Everyone knows there is no turning back, it has been 50 years and they are skyscrapers towers over Greek properties.
