İzzet İzcan: BM zemininde resmi görüşmelerin başlamasını talep ediyoruz.

Birleşik Kıbrıs Partisi Genel Başkanı İzzet İzcan, Cumhurbaşkanı Ersin Tatar’ın Kıbrıs Rum tarafıyla gayri resmi toplantıda bir araya gelinebileceğini, ancak taraflar arasında ortak zemin olmadığı için, resmi müzakereye girmelerinin mümkün olmadığını açıklaması, iyi niyetten yoksun, çözüm iradesi olmayan bir yaklaşım olduğunu vurguladı.
“ Kıbrıs’ta ayrı devlet talep ederek, görüşmelerdeki ortak zemini berhava eden Ankara’daki AKP iktidarı ve statükocu güçlerdir “ diyen İzzet İzcan, “ Hem ortak zemini yok edeceksiniz, hem de zemin yoktur diyerek görüşmelerden kaçacaksınız, böyle tutarsız bir siyaset olamaz “ dedi.
Kıbrıs Türk toplunu rehine olarak kullanmaktan vazgeçin.
Türkiye’deki AKP iktidarının yapmakta olduğu, Akdenizdeki menfaat ve çıkarlarını korumak için Kıbrıs Türk toplumunu rehine olarak kullanmak olduğunu dile getiren BKP Genel Başkanı İzzet İzcan, TC Cumhurbaşkanı Tayyip Erdoğan’ın bunu açıkça dile getirdiğini belirtti.
“ Kıbrıs Kıbrıslıların ortak vatanıdır “ diyen İzzet İzcan, yapılması gerekenin Kıbrıslı yurtseverlerin BM zeminindeki ortak vatan mücadelesini birlikte vermeleri olduğunu vurguladı.

ΤΟ ΤΕΡΜΑΤΙΚΟ ΒΑΣΙΛΙΚΟΥ: ΣΚΑΝΔΑΛΟΛΟΓΙΑ ΚΑΙ ΣΚΑΝΔΑΛΩΔΗΣ ΑΠΟΣΙΩΠΗΣΗ ΚΛΙΜΑΤΙΚΗΣ ΑΛΛΑΓΗΣ

Kρίσης ηγεμονίας της άρχουσας τάξης και η Αριστερά

ΝΑ ΚΑΤΑΡΓΗΘΕΙ Η ΥΔΡΟΓΟΝΑΝΘΡΑΚΙΚΗ ΚΑΙ ΠΟΛΕΜΙΚΗ ΣΥΜΜΑΧΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΚΥΠΡΙΑΚΗΣ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑΣ ΜΕ ΕΛΛΑΔΑ, ΙΣΡΑΗΛ ΚΑΙ ΗΠΑ

Know Your Rights (EN, TR)

Guide to Activism in the northern part of Cyprus to support yourself and each other 

1st edition: 13 – 04 – 2023

[Türkçe açıklama devamında yer almaktadır]

Avli, with support of a legal expert, Aslı Murat, conducted preliminary research for those in organising roles in activities, events, protests and activism in general, and for anyone wanting to know more about their rights.

Why? Simply because we want to enable peaceful and non-violent activism to take place in the northern part of Cyprus, by knowing rights to assembly and speech, and being in a position to protect everyone who is taking part of it. 

As the tendency to limit and violate fundamental freedoms is gaining more force, specifically in the northern part of Cyprus. The types of problems that have been increasingly experienced/faced include legal texts and interventions against freedom of speech, policing in various civil society activities negatively affecting freedoms of assembly and association, limitations and violation of data protection, etc.

In the recent past, there have been instances that the authoritarian interventions of “the police” have negatively affected our activities and actions including but not limited to demands for personal data during environmental peacebuilding summer camps. Based on these previous experiences, it was crucial to respond if we want to carry on our existing and future actions that take place in the northern part of Cyprus. Thus, we wanted to Know Our Rights in cases of assembly, public speech, and non-violent direct action by drafting a Guide to Activism for the northern part of Cyprus. The guide can be used by any activist and civil society group on the ground, who fights for a peaceful and sustainable island.

Avli and Aslı Murat presents two important documents:

The brief ‘Guide to Activism in the northern part of Cyprus’ 

This guide aims to help us understand the general aspects of the criminal law system in the northern part of Cyprus during the investigation phase, and the powers and duties of the police in peaceful assemblies and protests in particular. With the “freedom of thought, speech and expression”, the Constitution regulates that everyone has the freedom of thought and the right to express and disseminate their ideas individually or collectively, without censorship, through speech, writing, pictures. It also enumerates the grounds on which the right may be legally restricted. On the other hand, the right to assembly and demonstration also regulates that citizens can take peaceful actions without obtaining prior permission from any authority . Even though the police tried to prevent meetings and demonstrations involving foreigners from time to time , there was generally no intervention to halt the activity.

The Bust card ‘Know your rights on peaceful protest and other relevant events in the northern part of Cyprus’

The Bust Card is a pocket-sized cardboard slip produced by legal supporters which includes phone numbers for a friendly solicitor and legal support, as well as other information useful in situations where there is a risk of arrest.

[TR]

Avli, hukuk uzmanı Aslı Murat’ın da desteğiyle, aktivitelerde, etkinliklerde ve protestolarda organizator rolü olan aktivistler veya toplanma ve ifade özgürlükleri hakkında daha fazla bilgi edinmek isteyenler için ön araştırma yaptı.

Neden? Basitçe, toplanma ve ifade haklarını bilerek kendi ve etrafındakilerin haklarını koruyabilecek bir konumda olup Kıbrıs’ın kuzey kesiminde barışçıl ve şiddet içermeyen aktivizmin gerçekleşmesini sağlamak istediğimiz için!

Temel özgürlükleri sınırlama ve ihlal etme eğilimi, özellikle Kıbrıs’ın kuzey kesiminde daha fazla güç kazanıyor. İfade özgürlüğüne yönelik yasal metinler ve müdahaleler, polisin çeşitli sivil toplum faaliyetlerinde toplanma ve örgütlenme özgürlüklerini olumsuz etkilemesi, veri korumasının sınırlandırılması ve ihlali vb. giderek artan bir şekilde yaşanan/karşılaşılan sorun türleri olmuştur. Yakın geçmişte “polis”in otoriter müdahalelerinin, çevresel barış inşası yaz kampları sırasında kişisel veri talepleri dahil olmak üzere faaliyetlerimizi ve eylemlerimizi olumsuz etkilediği durumlar olmuştur.

Geçmiş deneyimlere dayanarak, Kıbrıs’ın kuzey kesiminde yer alan mevcut ve gelecekteki eylemlerimizi sürdürmek istiyorsak olup bitenlere bir karşılık vermek çok önemliydi. Bu nedenle, hem kendi faaliyetlerimizde ve hem de genel olarak barışçıl ve sürdürülebilir bir ada isteyen aktivistler ve sivil toplum tarafından kullanılabilecek bir rehber oluşturmak amacıyla Kıbrıs’ın kuzeyinde bir Aktivizm Rehberi taslağı hazırlayarak toplanma hakkı ve ifade özgürlüklerini koruma ve savunmanın yasallığı konusundaki Haklarımızı Bilmek istedik.

Avli ve Aslı Murat iki belge sunar:

Kısaca ‘Kıbrıs’ın kuzey kesiminde Aktivizm Rehberi’ 

Bu kılavuz, genel olarak Kıbrıs’ın kuzeyindeki ceza hukuku sisteminin soruşturma aşamasındaki genel hatlarını, özelde ise barışçıl toplantı ve protestolarda polisin yetki ve görevlerini kavramamıza yardımcı olmayı hedeflemektedir. Anayasa “düşünce, söz ve anlatım özgürlüğü” ile, herkesin düşünce özgürlüğüne sahip olduğunu ve fikirlerini, sansürsüz bir şekilde söz, yazı, resim aracılığıyla tek başına veya toplu olarak açıklama ve yayma hakkını düzenler. Ayrıca hakkın yasal olarak sınırlanabileceği gerekçeleri de sayar. Diğer yandan toplantı ve gösteri yürüyüşü hakkı da, yurttaşlara önceden herhangi bir makamdan izin almaksızın barışçıl eylem yapabileceklerini düzenler. Zaman zaman yabancıların dâhil olduğu toplantı ve eylemleri polis engellemeye çalışmış olsa bile, genellikle etkinliği durdurucu bir müdahale ile karşılaşılmamıştır.

‘Kıbrıs’ın kuzeyindeki barışçıl protesto ve diğer ilgili olaylarda haklarınızı bilin’ bustcard

Bustcard, yasal destekçiler tarafından üretilen, yasal destek için ulaşılabilecek cana yakın avukat ve telefon numaralarının yanı sıra tutuklanma riskinin olduğu durumlarda yararlı olabilecek diğer bilgileri içeren cep boyutunda bir karton sliptir.

— 

Credits: Aslı Murat, legal expert  

Author/Συντάκτης/Yazar: Josef Boraei 

Çevirmenler/Μεταφραστές/Translators: Kemal Çufoğlu, Vijdan Şengör

Συντάκτες/Editors/Editörler: Vijdan Şengör, Myrto Skouroupathi

The Climate Crisis is an LGBTQIA+ issue

written by Avli’s members Myrto Skouroupathi and Josef Boraei

PRIDE

If you haven’t already heard, it’s Pride Month! June is established as the Pride month, a month to celebrate and uplift LGBTQIA+* communities. People are coming together in love, friendship, and solidarity to celebrate the wins, mourn the losses, and demand LGBTQIA+ liberation. 

The first Pride was held as an anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. The Stonewall riots were crucial protests in 1969 in the US, that started as a pushback to police brutality and discrimination experienced by queer people. Queer** feminist and activist Brenda Howard – also known as ‘The Mother of Pride’, together with other activists commemorated the Riots with a rally in July 1969 which become what we today know us pride. It is important, then, to remember that the first Pride was a riot. [1]

We, as environmental peace-building activists, have other identities, such as LGBTQIA+ identities that are intertwined with our climate and peace activism. With the climate crisis being the greatest threat to human rights, social justice, and ecosystems we wanted to take the opportunity of the Pride Month to explore why the Climate Crisis is a LGBTQIA+ issue.

CLIMATE DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACTS

Climate crisis is affecting every one of us. However, the impacts of it are not experienced equally. They disproportionately affect those that are already marginalised, either across the divide in Cyprus or across the world – including LBGTQI+ people.  

It affects each person differently based on  biological, social, and cultural parameters such as gender, race, social class, ability, age, sexuality and so on – perceived as norms. 

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), it is clear that the people who are already most vulnerable and marginalised will experience the greatest impacts of climate change. [2,3]

Marginalised people have higher chances to live in areas at most risk of climate change, and way less chances to access resources or ability to relocate. It is also crystal clear that in times of crisis (i.e. economical, political, social, climate, health), the most marginalised are the first to be impacted. LGBTQI+ people across the world are more likely to experience homelessness, lack of financial resources and support structures. In case of conflict and (climate) disasters, marginalised people are less mobile and receive less support. This is especially true for Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPoC) LGBTQI+ people. 

An example is Hurricane Katrina, during which trans people faced discrimination in emergency shelters, with some turned away, while the black gay community has yet to fully recover [4,5]. This can also apply in the case of Cyprus, where the right to change one’s legal gender is non-existence in the southern part [6] of the island, while in the northern it’s only possible with full gender reassignment surgery [7], which means that trans people are limited in their movement and the services they are able to receive in case of a crisis.

THE ROOTS OF INTERLINKED OPPRESSIONS 

Climate justice teaches us that the roots of the climate crisis are strongly connected with multiple oppressions. Several forms of power and systematic oppression interact on multiple and often simultaneous levels, through institutions such as racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, xenophobia, classism, ageism and others. Therefore, the climate crisis and other environmental and social struggles, are the results of capitalism, colonialism, racism, patriarchy, neoliberalism, and neocolonialism among others. [8] 

We recognise that these oppressive structures have brought us to the exploitation of the people and the planet, for human rights and environmental degradation respectively. 

This has been a struggle and a threat for the queer community and therefore queer liberation for a long time, that unfortunately pushes down the beauty of diversity. It is a danger for gender and sexual identities as much as it is for the planet, biodiversity, and natural heritage on the altar of money and profit. [9]

We strongly believe that there is one struggle and one fight. Thus, fighting against the oppressive systems of capitalism, colonialism, racism, sexism, neoliberalism and neocolonialism, is crucial to fight both the climate crisis and for queer liberation. 

QUEERS EXPERIENCE IN THE CLIMATE JUSTICE MOVEMENT IS BENEFICIAL 

The climate justice movement can also benefit from the contribution of the LGBTQI+ community while fighting against the climate crisis. By looking at the history of LGBTQI+ communities across the globe and the fights given against common oppressive systems, it shows how much experience we can offer on skills sharing, survival, practices of resistance and resilience. It hasn’t been an easy struggle for LGBTQI+ community, but we know how to struggle, how to organise, how to demonstrate and how to win. The queer community knows very well how a community of love and care looks like, and also how concrete solidarity should be. 

Great examples of recognition of struggles and concrete solidarity by the LGBTQI+ community towards other communities are the “Lesbians and Gays support the Miners” [10] and “Lesbians and Gays support the Migrants”. [11]

Another example are the “disable and trans people of colour, who have a lot to teach us on how to deal with climate catastrophe and as they say ‘welcome to our world’. Even in the moments when we’re in pain, when we’re uncomfortable, when the task ahead feels overwhelming, and we feel defeated by the sheer scope of everything that’s wrong in the world, we don’t have to give up on life or on humanity. Queer and trans disabled people know that, because that’s how we live. At this moment of climate chaos, we’re saying: Welcome to our world. We have some things to teach you if you’ll listen, so that we can all survive.” [12] 

Queer communities are already providing support on survival skills, spaces to host people in times of crisis, and even mobilise their communities to fight against the climate crisis. The legacy of LGBTQIA+ people is so rich with experience on activism, resistance, campaigns which can be shared, used and strengthened when fighting for climate justice. We, as queer people, are already part of the fight.

QUEER LIBERATION and CLIMATE JUSTICE go hand in hand.

Finally, we would like to conclude that Avli members are standing for a truly intersectional movement fighting for collective liberation and justice. 

There is no climate justice without queer liberation, and there is no queer liberation without climate justice. The fight against the climate crisis and queer oppression are strongly linked and its roots are the same oppressive systems. We do not stand for neither a queer-exclusive climate movement nor for a capitalist “rainbow washed” pride. We stand together, united against all kinds of oppression.

*LGBTQIA+ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, intersex, asexual. The + is an inclusive symbol to mean ‘and others’ to include people of all identities.

**Queer is a reclaimed slur which some but not all people in the LGBTQIA+ community use.

INVITATION TO JOINS US IN THE CLIMATE JUSTICE BLOC led by Avli

On Saturday, 18 June 2022, LGBTQI+ people from all around Cyprus and beyond are gathering and marching for their rights, in Nicosia. 

For the first time in Cyprus, LGBTQIA+ organisations and communities across the island are coming together and joining forces for an intercommunal, self-organised, self-funded, grassroots Pride with the slogan “United by Pride”.

Co-hosts: Queer Collective Cy, Queer Cyprus Association, LGBT PILIPINAS, LGBT Africa and the LGBTQIA+ & Allies Students Club of the University of Cyprus.

Avli, as an initiative working on environmental peace building also recognises the multidimensional form of the climate crisis, thus we are launching an open call to all environmental and climate organisations and initiatives across the island to support the upcoming march ‘United by Pride’.

As we have explained,  there is no Climate Justice without Social Justice and Queer liberation. Therefore, we would like to invite you to support and participate within the climate justice bloc of the march on June 18, 2022 at 18:00. Our main message will be ‘No pride on a dead planet – Save Akamas’. The climate justice bloc also aims to offer space for anyone who identifies as queer but is not able to participate in the march as an individual in fear of discrimination. Anyone is welcome to join us!

Author/Συντάκτης/Yazar: Myrto Skouroupathi, Josef Boraei
Çevirmenler/Μεταφραστές/Translators: N/A
Συντάκτες/Editors/Editörler: Myrto Skouroupathi, Nikolas Michael

Μπορώ να μεν πάω στρατό; NAI (EN, EL)

Δικαίωμα ελεύθερης σκέψης τζαι συνείδησης: Κύπρο του 2022 

Αντιρρησίες συνειδήσεις που το βορρά ως το νότο

English: Can I avoid the army? YES

Όταν ήμασταν ακόμα σχολείο – δηλαδή ανήλικοι, στα 17 μας – ήρταν τζαι είπαν μας ότι καλούν μας να ‘υπηρετήσουμε’ την πατρίδα μας, ότι εννα την προστατεύσουμε που τον εχθρό τζαι ότι εννα βάλουμε νου τζαι να γίνουμε αδρώποι, τάχατες άντρες με τα όλα τους. Είπαν μας ότι εν χρέος μας να το κάμουμε τζαι ότι εν έχουμε επιλογή αλλιώς εννα πιάμε πελλό-χαρτο ή ε να πκιερώνουμε πρόστιμο ή τζαι φυλάκιση.

Εμείς λοιπόν, ως νέοι τούτου του τόπου που παλεύκουμε για την ειρήνη σε τούτο τον τόπο, εν μας βρίσκει σύμφωνους τούτο το αφήγημα τζαι ε να βάλουμε μια τελεία δαμέ. Είμαστε νέοι άνθρωποι που ανησυχούμε τζαι ενδιαφερούμαστε για τούτον τον τόπο, τζαι γνωρίζουμε τόσο τις υποχρεώσεις μας αλλά τζαι τα ανθρώπινα μας δικαιώματα. 

Με βάση το ευρωπαϊκό δικαστήριο τζαι το άρθρο 9 της Ευρωπαϊκής Σύμβασης για τα Ανθρώπινα Δικαιώματα, ούλλ@ μας έχουμε κάθε δικαίωμα στην ελευθερία σκέψης, θρησκείας τζαι συνείδησης.

Για τους διαμένοντες στο νότο, δηλαδή στο έδαφος κάτω υπο τον αποτελεσματικό έλεγχο της Κυπριακής Δημοκρατίας , ‘Ο περί Εθνικής Φρουράς Νόμος του 2011 (19(I)/2011)’ στο ΜΕΡΟΣ VIII σου δίνει το δικαίωμα να κάμεις αίτηση για να αναγνωριστείς ως αντιρρησίας συνείδησης με εναλλακτική κοινωνική υπηρεσία (για στρατεύσιμους τζαι έφεδρους). 

Για τους διαμένοντες στο βορρά, το αυτο-ονομάζεται Τουρκική Δημοκρατία της Βόρειας Κύπρου (ΤΔΒΚ) και μη αναγνωρισμένη από τη διεθνής κοινότητα, δυστυχώς εν ισχύει το ίδιο αφού ακόμα εν υπάρχει το νομικό πλαίσιο που να τους καλύπτει τούτο το ανθρώπινο δικαίωμα και συνεπώς δεν αναγνωρίζεται. 

Πριν πούμε την διαδικασία που μπορείτε να ακολουθήσετε για να αιτηθείτε, να πούμε λίο γιατί είμαστε αντιρρησίες συνείδησης τζαι όι επειδή απλά βαρκούντε να παν στους στρατούς.

Αρχικά ως Αυλή, έχουμε ως όραμα ένα ενωμένο, ειρηνικό τζαι αειφόρο νησί που σέβεται τα δικαιώματα ούλ@. Οι αρχές μας, μεταξύ άλλων, ενι η προσβασιμότητα, η δημοκρατικότητα, η πολυπολιτισμικότητα, η οικολογική αειφορία, η ειρήνη, η ισότητα τζαι η αλληλεγγύη. 

Οι λόγοι που εν συμφωνούμε με το στρατό εν πολυδιάστατοι τζαι άρρηκτα συνδεδεμένοι μεταξύ τους. Αρχικά θέλουμε να θίξουμε το θέμα του μιλιταρισμού, ότι πέραν που το ότι εν μας βρίσκει σύμφωνους στους πολέμους τζαι στο στρατό, εν γενικά ένα σύστημα το οποίο καλλιεργεί το μίσος που άνθρωπο προς άνθρωπο, που δυστυχώς διαχωρίζει τον κόσμο ανά έθνος, θρησκεία τζαι ούτω καθεξής. Παράλληλα, σχηματίζει μυαλά τζαι υποβάλλει σε πράξεις εχθρικότητας αλλά τζαι θανάτου. 

Τζαι όι εν θα εμπορούσαμε σε καμία περίπτωση να συναινέσουμε σε τέτοιου είδους πράξεις τζαι αρνούμαστε να μας επιβάλλουν οδηγίες που συνάδουν με το να σκοτώνουμε οποιονδήποτε άνθρωπο. Εν μπορούμε να φανταστούμε ότι ε να μας επιβληθεί να σκοτώσουμε τους φίλους μας π.χ. τον Μουσταφά τζαι τον Κεμάλ ή τον Γιαννή τζαι τον Κωστή γιατί έννεν ομοεθνής ή επειδή εν αλλόθρησκοι ή γιατί θεωρούνται εχθροί από το αφήγημα του εθνικισμού συγκεκριμένης μερίδας πληθυσμού.

Επιπλέον, οι εμπειρίες που κάποιοι που μας που είχαμε στο στρατό επιβεβαιώνουν τούτα που λαλούμε. Σε μια ταχάτες σύγχρονη τζαι ευρωπαϊκή χώρα του 21ου αιώνα καλλιεργείται η μισαλλοδοξία τζαι ο ρατσισμός, αντί να επενδύουμε στην ειρήνη που ενώνει τον κόσμο τζαι δυστυχώς συνεχίζει ο διαχωρισμός των κοινοτήτων. 

Εν πολλά σημαντικό να πούμε ότι ο σχεδιασμός του συστήματος έσσιει ως κύρια βάση την ιεραρχία αλλά τζαι την επιβολή της ετεροφυλικής πατριαρχικής αντίληψης για το εν λόγω φύλο. Η ετεροκανονικότητα βλέπει τον χρωμοσωματικά γεννημένο ανδρα τζαι κατ’ επέκταση τον cis-άνδρα (το άτομο που αυτοπροσδιορίζεται με το φύλο που του εδόθηκε κατά τη γέννησή του) ως ανώτερο αλλά τζαι ότι η ετεροφυλία εν ο μόνος σεξουαλικός προσανατολισμός. Δυστυχώς, στο στρατό, επικρατεί η επιβαλλόμενη ετεροφυλική τούτη αντίληψη που διευκολύνει τα ετεροκανονικά άτομα με οφέλη του συστήματος εξουσίας του στρατού. Το συγκεκριμένο σύστημα θέλει τον άνδρα να μεν εκφράζει τα συναισθήματά του, να μεν κλαίει αλλά τζαι να υποτιμά το εύρος των υπόλοιπων ποικίλων ταυτοτήτων.

Ως άτομα της πρωτοβουλίας Αυλή, υπέρμαχα για την ειρήνη τζαι την περιβαλλοντική δικαιοσύνη, με καποι@ που μας να είμαστε τζαι άτομα της ΛΟΑΤΚΙ+ κοινότητας, αμφισβητούμε τζαι αρνούμαστε το γενικό πλαίσιο του μιλιταρισμού, όπου το θεωρούμε ως απειλή τόσο σε προσωπικό επίπεδο για τις δικές μας ταυτότητες, όσο τζαι για τις γυναίκες, αλλά τζαι ούλλες τις κοινότητες τζαι ανθρώπους της Κύπρου. Ο μιλιταρισμός, όπως αναφέραμε, εν ιεραρχικός σε εθνικιστική βάση τζαι αποκλείει οτιδήποτε άλλο πέραν του τι ορίζεται ως ετεροκανονικό που έρκεται σε ρήξη με τζίνα που πρεσβεύουμε τζαι αγωνιζούμαστε.

Πέραν των βιολογικών διαχωρισμών τζαι καταπιέσεων, ως ομάδα βλέπουμε τα πράματα μέσα που ένα φακό διαθεματικό. Η έννοια της διαθεματικότητας εν  η επεξήγηση πως διαφορετικές μορφές εξουσίας τζαι καταπίεσης αλληλεπιδρούν σε πολλαπλά επίπεδα, συχνά τζαι ταυτόχρονα.

Κάποιες παράμετροι εν οι βιολογικές, κοινωνικές ή πολιτιστικές όπως το φύλο, η φυλή, η κοινωνική τάξη, η ικανότητα, η ηλικία, η σεξουαλικότητα τζαι ούτω καθεξής. Συνεπώς, ο μιλιταρισμός εν μας βοηθά στο να λύσουμε την συστημική καταπίεση, ούτε τούτα που καλλιεργούνται τζαι εμφανίζουνται στο στρατό όπως ο σεξισμός, ο ρατσισμός, η πατριαρχία κτλ.

Ένα που τα μέλη της Αυλής, ο Josef, επρόσθεσεν ότι: ‘Ως διαθεματικός φεμινιστής τζαι περιβαλλοντικός ακτιβιστής, οραματίζουμαι τζαι υπερασπίζουμαι όι απλά μια δικοινοτική Κύπρο, αλλά μια χώρα τζαι έναν κόσμο που να περιλαμβάνει ούλλες τις φυλετικές ομάδες στην Κύπρο τζαι που αντικατοπτρίζει την πολυμορφία της χώρας με τις αρχές της ισότητας τζαι της ισονομίας. Ως εκ τούτου, υποστηρίζω τον αντιμιλιταρισμό.’

Έπειτα, ως ομάδα που παλέφκουμε για περιβαλλοντική δικαιοσύνη σε ούλλο το νησί αρνούμαστε να συμβάλλουμε ενάντια της οποιασδήποτε οικολογικής καταστροφής. Ο στρατός, εν πιστεύκει ότι ούλλα όσα μας περιβάλλουν εν ίσα με τον άνθρωπο εφόσον εν πιστεύει καν ότι ούλλοι οι άνθρωποι χρήζουν ίσης διαχείρισης τζαι σεβασμού. Η φυσική κληρονομιά, οι φυσικοί πόροι εν υπάρχουν απλά τζαι μόνο για να εξασφαλίσουν τις στρατιωτικές ανάγκες, αλλά του οικοσυστήματος που εναρμονίζεται τζαι ζει στους οικοτόπους.

Η υπερχρήση ορυκτών υλικών που την φύση για τον σχεδιασμό τζαι την παραγωγή όπλων τζαι πυρομαχικών που έχουν αποτέλεσμα τόσο την ρύπανση τζαι μόλυνση του περιβάλλοντος αλλά τζαι τον θάνατο του ζωικού βασιλείου (συμπεριλαμβανομένου του ανθρώπινου είδους) είναι απαράδεκτη. Πολλές φορές ακούσαμε για την ρήξη πυρομαχικών ακόμη τζαι στα θαλάσσια ύδατα είτε απλά για στρατιωτική άσκηση είτε επειδή έληξαν. Η παραγωγή τζαι χρήση ούλλων των τοξικών χημικών στοιχείων που περιέχονται στα όποια όπλα, καταλήγουν ως απόβλητα – μη διαχειρίσιμα στην φύση – τζαι επηρεάζουν άμεσα ούλλα τα είδη που ζουν στις περιοχές είτε εν ενδημικά, είτε προστατευόμενα είδη ή ακόμη καταλήγουν στη ρύπανση ή τζαι μόλυνση του εδάφους, της ατμόσφαιρας αλλά τζαι των υδάτων.

Το 2018, η Διακυβερνητική Επιτροπή των Ηνωμένων Εθνών (ΔΕΗΕ), έκδωσε μια εκτεταμένη αναφορά όσον αφορά την Κλιματική Αλλαγή. Με απλά λόγια, το επιστημονικό όργανο των Ηνωμένων Εθνών λαλεί ξεκάθαρα ότι έχουμε σχεδόν μια δεκαετία να περιορίσουμε την αύξηση της μέσης θερμοκρασίας της γης σε 1.5 βαθμό κελσίου με πιθανότητα 66%. Το 2020, η Ευρωπαϊκή Επιτροπή κήρυξε την Ευρώπη σε Κλιματική Κρίση λόγο έκτακτης ανάγκης. Το 2022 η ίδια επιτροπή, ΔΕΗΕ, είπεν ότι εν πολλα σημαντικό να δράσουμε άμεσα αναγνωρίζονταντας την σημαντικότητα της κοινωνικής δικαιοσύνης αλλά τζαι των διαθεματικών προσεγγίσεων. 

Με βάση τα παραπάνω τζαι σε συνδυασμό με την εκπομπή αέριων ρύπων που βρίσκεται σε μεγάλο ποσοστό στο στρατό, αλλά τζαι την περαιτέρω ρύπανση του περιβάλλοντος με τα τοξικά απόβλητα που παράγονται που το στρατό, υποστηρίζουμε τον αντιμιλιταρισμό.

Επίσης, σύμφωνα με την ετήσια έκθεση 2021 ‘Αντίρρηση συνείδησης στη Στρατιωτική Υπηρεσία στην Ευρώπη’ από το Ευρωπαϊκό Γραφείο για την Αντίρρηση Συνείδησης  ς, το 2020 η Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία είχε στρατιωτικές δαπάνες ύψους 418.8 US$  εκατομμύρια που ισούται με το 1.8% του ΑΠΕ. Τούτα τα ποσά θα μπορούσαν να χρησιμοποιηθούν ως δαπάνες για ειρηνευτικες τζαι περιβαλλοντικές δραστηριότητες που εννα έχουν ένα βραχυπρόθεσμο, αλλά τζαι μακροπρόθεσμο καλύτερο τζαι πιο αποδοτικό μέλλον.  

Η ίδια έκθεση του Ευρωπαϊκού Γραφείου για την Αντίρρηση Συνείδησης, (EBCO) μιλά για νομοθετικές παραβιάσεις τζαι συγκεκριμένα λαλεί «Στην Κύπρο, η ηλικία στράτευσης είναι τα 18, που σημαίνει, σύμφωνα με τον νομοθετικό ορισμό, ότι όλοι οι άνδρες καθίστανται υπεύθυνοι για στρατολογία στην ηλικία των 17 ετών. Αυτό αποτελεί σαφή παραβίαση του Άρθρο 2 του Προαιρετικού Πρωτοκόλλου της Σύμβασης για τα Δικαιώματα του Παιδιού σχετικά με τη συμμετοχή παιδιών σε ένοπλες συγκρούσεις (OPAC)».

Στο νότο, η Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία αναγνώρισε 321 αντιρρησίες συνείδησης μεταξύ 2009-2018. Οι 119 στρατεύσιμοι τζαι οι 32 έφεδροι, εκ των οποίων οι 115 τζαι 20 αντίστοιχα ήταν για θρησκευτικούς λόγους τζαι οι υπόλοιποι για ιδεολογικούς λόγους (EBCO).

Παρακάτω παραθέτουμε σας σε πίνακα τους αριθμούς αιτητών για να αναγνωριστούν ως αντιρρησίες συνείδησης με εναλλακτική κοινωνική υπηρεσία (στρατεύσιμους τζαι έφεδρους), που το 2009 ως το 2018. (που δόθηκαν στο Ευρωπαϊκό Γραφείο για την Αντίρρηση Συνείδησης).

Στο βορρά οι συμπατριώτες μας εν έχουν την ίδια επιλογή αφού η νομοθεσία εν τους καλύπτει τζαι ο νόμος του στρατού 59-2000, της αυτο-ονομαζόμενης ΤΔΒΚ, θέλει να τους καταδικάζει με φυλάκιση. Παρόλα αυτά, οι τουρκοκύπριοι εν το εβάλαν κάτω τζαι που την δεκαετία του 90 μέχρι τζαι σήμερα υπάρχουν τουλάχιστον 17 άτομα που εν αντιρρησίες συνειδήσεις.  

Δυστυχώς οι Murat Kanatlı, Haluk Selam Tufanli and Halil Karapasaoglu είχαν κυρώσεις φυλάκισης τζαι πολλοί άλλοι αναμένουν να έχουν την ίδια κατάληξη. 

Επιπλέον πληροφορίες που την ετήσια έκθεση 2021 ‘Αντίρρηση συνείδησης στη Στρατιωτική Υπηρεσία στην Ευρώπη’ από το Ευρωπαϊκό Γραφείο για την Αντίρρηση Συνείδησης:

Εν σημαντικό να αναφερθεί ότι που το σχολείο κάθε εβδομάδα άτομα του του στρατού στο βορρά παν στα σχολεία τζαι επαναλαμβάνουν το ιδιο εθνικιστικό τζαι μισαλλόδοξο αφήγημα. Τούτο βέβαια έρκεται σε αντίθεση με την κοσμική παιδεία τζαι την ελεύθερη βούληση των ανηλίκων. 

Τέλος, παραθέτουμε μαρτυρίες που τον βορρά ως τον νότο  που άτομα που έχουν αναγνωριστεί ως αντιρρησίες συνείδησης ή αιτήθηκαν για ένα καλύτερο, ειρηνικό τζαι αντιμιλιταριστικό αύριο. 

Έρμαν Ντολμάτσι

«Ως αντιρρησίας συνείδησης πιστεύω ότι πρέπει να αγωνιζόμαστε ενάντια σε όλες τις καταπιεστικές δομές που σχετίζονται με τον εθνικισμό, τη λιτότητα, το φύλο και τη σεξουαλικότητα, την καταστροφή του περιβάλλοντος και τα οικολογικά και αστικά κοινά μας και να αρχίσουμε να δείχνουμε αλληλεγγύη και να είμαστε μέρος του αντιμιλιταριστικού κινήματος στο νησί».

«Η ειρήνη θα έρθει στην Κύπρο όταν φύγουν όλοι οι στρατοί».

https://wri-irg.org/en/story/2018/cyprus-island-beauty-turned-dust

Josef Boraei

«Ο ρατσισμός, ο σεξισμός, ο ετεροσεξισμός τζαι πολλά άλλα που υπάρχουν στο στρατό, τροφοδοτεί τις ίδιες προβληματικές ιδεολογίες τζαι αφηγήματα του προηγούμενου αιώνα. Με όλων των ειδών καταπιέσεων, άγχους τζαι υποτίμησης που επέρασα ως στρατεύσιμος τζαι ως έφεδρος, αποφάσισα να βάλω μιαν τελία τζαι να κάμω αίτηση για αναγνώριση ως αντιρρησίας συνείδησης. Κατά την διάρκεια της συνέντευξης η επιτροπή ήρτεν να μου πει ότι τούτα που λαλώ εν ουτοπικά τζαι άμαν έρτει ο τούρκος με το όπλο τι εννα κάμω; Εγώ σε αυτό απαντώ να επενδύουμε στην ειρήνη τζαι όι σε σφαίρες.

Είμαστεν ουλλ@ άνθρωποι με την ίδια αξία τζαι αγωνιζούμαι για μιαν Κύπρο ενωμένη, ελεύθερη που εγγυήτριες δυνάμεις, στρατούς τζαι όπλα. Για έναν αύριο που κυριαρχεί περιβαλλοντική τζαι κοινωνική δικαιοσύνη, για έναν μέλλον αντιφασιστικό, αντιμιλιταριστικό τζαι όσο πιο ποικιλόμορφο τζαι χρωματιστό γίνεται».

Κεμάλ Τσούφογλου

«Ως Τουρκοκύπριος που ζούσα στο εξωτερικό για περισσότερα από 5 χρόνια, αρνήθηκα να πάω στο στρατό, ωστόσο έπρεπε να πληρώσω 6000 βρετανικές λίρες ως τέλος απαλλαγής. Αν και δεν ήθελα να το κάνω, καθώς το αντιλαμβάνομαι ως έμμεση χρηματοδότηση του στρατού, μια εναλλακτική θα σήμαινε ότι θα με έβαζαν σε λίστα και δεν θα μπορούσα να ταξιδέψω στο βόρειο τμήμα της Κύπρου. Όσοι μένουν στο νησί δεν έχουν αυτήν την επιλογή εξαίρεσης η οποία εισάγει διακρίσεις. Αν επιχειρούσα να ταξιδέψω στην Κύπρο χωρίς να πληρώσω αυτό το τέλος, κατά την άφιξή μου πιθανότατα θα με έστελναν σε στρατώνες ή φυλακές και θα αντιμετώπιζα σοβαρές νομικές κατηγορίες. Η ενέργειά μου είναι πολιτική ενάντια στην έννοια του μιλιταρισμού και όλων των στρατών στην Κύπρο. Η ενσυνείδητη αντίρρηση είναι ανθρώπινο δικαίωμα και πρέπει να κατοχυρωθεί με νομοθεσία, αντί να μετατραπεί σε δικαίωμα που μπορεί να «αγοραστεί» μόνο από εκείνους που μπορούν να σπουδάσουν στο εξωτερικό εξαρχής. Οραματίζομαι ένα ειρηνικό, ενωμένο και βιώσιμο νησί, όπου η ισότητα και τα ανθρώπινα δικαιώματα γίνονται σεβαστά και το σύνταγμα προστατεύεται από τα δικαστήρια, το κράτος δικαίου και την κοινωνία των πολιτών και όχι από την παράλογη και αρχαϊκή ιδέα των όπλων και των ξένων στρατών».

Γρηγόρης Ιωάννου

«Όταν κάποιος μπάτσος αποφάσισεν να με απειλήσει προσωπικά με δικαστήριο διότι δεν επήαιννα να παραλάβω τα χαρτιά του στρατού για να πάω έφεδρος, αποφάσισα ότι ήρτεν η ώρα να κάμω την διαδικασία για να αναγνωριστώ ως αντιρρησίας συνείδησης. Εμάζεψα το σχετικό χαρτολόι, έγραψα τούτον το κείμενο τζιαι εκατάθεσα τα μέσα. Η παρουσία μου ενώπιον της επιτροπής ήταν σουρεαλιστική τζιαι τραγελαφική εμπειρία αλλά κυρίως εύκολη. Αν κάποιος εν συγκροτημένος τζιαι δεν χάσει την ψυχραιμία του, δύσκολα νομίζω μπορεί να φκουν που πάνω του οι μονιμάες. «Σέβομαι την ιδεολογία σου αλλά ανησυχώ ότι ως εκπαιδευτικός μπορεί να μολύνεις την νεολαία με αυτά τα πράματα» ήταν το πιο μεγάλο μαργαριτάρι που αξίζει να σημειώσω. Να ανησυχείς εσκέφτηκα που μέσα μου».

https://nekatomata.blogspot.com/2018/04/2007-2018.html 

Ανώνυμος

«Η αντίρρηση στον στρατό είναι μια από τις πιο περήφανες αποφάσεις που έχω πάρει στη ζωή μου. Δεν θα γνώριζα ποτέ ότι η αντίρρηση συνείδησης ήταν μια νόμιμη επιλογή στην Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία, εαν δεν ήταν ο Χαλίλ Καραπασάογλου, ο οποίος φυλακίστηκε επειδή εναντιώθηκε στον στρατό στο βορρά. Είναι χαρούμενη η Εθνική Φρουρά αν φέρετε αντίρρηση; Σίγουρα όχι! Η διαδικασία είναι κάπως χαοτική και χαίρονται να εκφοβίζουν 17χρονους που ονειρεύονται έναν καλύτερο κόσμο. Αλλά εφόσον έχετε όλα τα απαιτούμενα έγγραφα, δεν έχετε τίποτα να ανησυχείτε! Η δημόσια υπηρεσία μου εκπληρώθηκε σε ένα υποστελεχωμένο δημόσιο νοσοκομείο, όπου μπόρεσα να βοηθήσω ευάλωτα άτομα όπως μετανάστες και πρόσφυγες».

Διαδικασία αίτησης για να αναγνώριση ως αντιρρησίας συνείδησης κάτω που την Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία:

1. Νομικό πλαίσιο –  Ο περί Εθνικής Φρουράς Νόμος του 2011(19(I)/2011): εθνική φρουρά τζαι παγκύπριου δικηγορικού συλλόγου
   1. ΜΕΡΟΣ VIII ΕΝΑΛΛΑΚΤΙΚΗ ΣΤΡΑΤΙΩΤΙΚΗ ΥΠΗΡΕΣΙΑ ΚΑΙ ΕΝΑΛΛΑΚΤΙΚΗ ΚΟΙΝΩΝΙΚΗ ΥΠΗΡΕΣΙΑ 
2. Απόφαση Δυνάμει των Άρθρων 50 και 60 του περί Εθνικής Φρουράς Νόμος του 2011
3. Ποιοι δικαιούνται να αιτηθούν;
   1. … όσοι, για λόγους συνείδησης, αρνούνται να εκπληρώσουν την υποχρέωση στρατιωτικής υπηρεσίας τους στη Δύναμη, επικαλούμενοι τις θρησκευτικές ή ιδεολογικές τους πεποιθήσεις, μπορεί να αναγνωρίζονται ως αντιρρησίες συνείδησης…
   2.  … οι προβαλλόμενοι λόγοι συνείδησης πρέπει να απορρέουν από μια γενική αντίληψη για τη ζωή, βασισμένη σε συνειδητές θρησκευτικές, φιλοσοφικές ή ηθικές πεποιθήσεις, που εφαρμόζονται από το άτομο απαράβατα και εκδηλώνονται με τήρηση ανάλογης συμπεριφοράς.

4. Ποιοι αποκλείονται;
   1. … κατέχουν άδεια οπλοφορίας ή κυνηγίου ή έχουν ζητήσει και εκκρεμεί αίτησή τους για χορήγηση τέτοιας άδειας, … δραστηριότητες σκοπευτικών αγώνων, κυνηγίου … άμεση σχέση με τη χρήση όπλων
   2. καταδικασθεί ή εκκρεμεί σε βάρος τους ποινική δίωξη για αδίκημα που έχει σχέση με τη χρήση όπλων, πυρομαχικών ή παράνομης βίας
   3. έχουν υπηρετήσει ενόπλως για οποιοδήποτε χρονικό διάστημα στο Στρατό ή στη Δύναμη ή σε ξένες Ένοπλες Δυνάμεις ή στις Δυνάμεις Ασφαλείας, μετά τον ενστερνισμό των πεποιθήσεων που τους εμποδίζουν στην εκπλήρωση στρατιωτικής υποχρέωσης για λόγους συνείδησης.

5. Πως;
   1. Αίτηση
   2. Δικαιολογητικά
   3. … καθορίζονται με διάταγμα του Υπουργού, μετά από εισήγηση του Αρχηγού,
   4. το οποίο δημοσιεύεται στην Επίσημη Εφημερίδα της Δημοκρατίας.
   5. Αίτηση + Δικαιολογητικά στα στρατολογικά γραφεία (!)
   6. Δεν υπάρχει προθεσμία
      1. Για θητεία:
         1. Παράρτημα Τρίτο – Μέρος (ΙΙ) (Ατομικές Διοικητικές Πράξεις)
         2. Περίπου τέλος Απριλίου για κατάταξη Ιουλίου
         3. Προθεσμία για αίτηση 20 μέρες

6. ‘Εντυπα/Αιτήσεις 
   1. Αναγνώριση Αντιρρησίας Συνείδησης 

7. Δικαιολογητικά 

8. Επιπλέον: καλό θα ήταν να επισυνάψετε και τους λόγους που επικαλείσαι στην αίτηση για αναγνώριση αντιρρησίας συνείδησης.
9. Mετά; 
   1. Άρθρο 53 – Ειδική Επιτροπή εξέτασης αιτημάτων ενδιαφερόμενων για αναγνώρισή τους ως αντιρρησιών συνείδησης

Εν σημαντικό να ξέρετε όμως ότι η νομοθεσίας δεν είναι σε συμμόρφωση με τα διεθνή πρότυπα.  Τζαι να θυμάστε τι λαλούν τα πιο κάτω άρθρα της νομοθεσίας: 

1. το άρθρο 59 

2. το άρθρο 57

Αλλά τζαι τα best off για να μην ξεχνιόμαστε! 

• Μόλις καταθέσετε την αίτησή σας, εννα σας πουν ωπ! έλα πίσω, έχουμε συμπληρωματικές ερωτήσεις που πρέπει να απαντήσετε επιτόπου γραπτώς:

• Στην ιστοσελίδα του υπουργείου άμυνας της Κυπριακής Δημοκρατίας εγράψαν το 2021: ‘Τονίζεται ότι έφεδρος, που παραλείψει να συμμορφωθεί μετά την 30 Απριλίου 2021 με τις διατάξεις του εδαφίου (3) του Άρθρου 45 του Περί Εθνικής Φρουράς Νόμου διαπράττει αδίκημα και σε περίπτωση καταδίκης του, υπόκειται σε φυλάκιση που δεν υπερβαίνει το ένα (1) έτος ή σε χρηματική ποινή που δεν υπερβαίνει τις δυο χιλιάδες ευρώ (€2000) ή και τις δυο (2) αυτές ποινές όπως προνοείται στο εδάφιο (1) (στ) του Άρθρου 68.’

Ευχαριστούμε θερμά ούλλ@ που εβοηθήσαν να βάλουμε ούλλες τις πληροφορίες μαζί, τις μαρτυρίες τζαι φυσικά τα άτομα που δουλεύκουν χρόνια πάνω σε τούτα.

Αν σκέφτεσαι να κάμεις αίτηση τζαι θέλεις βοήθεια, στείλε μας ένα μήνυμα γιατί στον αγώνα είμαστεν ούλλ@ μαζί!

Can I avoid the army? YES 

The Right to Free Thought and Conscience: Cyprus 2022 

Conscientious Objectors from north to south

When we were still at school – thus underaged – we were told that we are invited to ‘serve’ our motherland, and to protect it from our enemy but also to become mature and transform into men – whatever that means. We have been told that is our duty and we have no choice but to attend it, otherwise we will receive a ‘mental-paper’ or we will be forced to pay a fine and face prison charges.  

We, the youth of this land, are fighting for peace and we strongly disagree with the current narratives and therefore we will have to put a full stop to it (an end). We are young people that are concerned and interested in the island, and we are aware of our responsibilities but also for our rights. 

According to the European Court and article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights, we are provided a right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.

For those living in southern part, on the ground which is under the effective control of the Republic of Cyprus, the ‘Law on the National Guard 2011 (19 (I) / 2011)‘ in PART VIII gives you the right to apply to be recognized as an objection consciousness with an alternative social service (conscripts and reservists).

For those living in the north, the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and unrecognized by the international community, unfortunately there is still no legal framework to cover this human right and therefore not recognized.

Before sharing the procedure on how to apply to become CO, we would like to share why are we objecting as you may think we are just bored to attend the army.

As Avli, we envision a united, peaceful and sustainable island that respects everyone’s rights. Our principles, among others, are accessibility, democracy, multiculturalism, ecological sustainability, peace, equality and solidarity.

We disagree with the army for several reasons which are multidimensional and inextricably linked. Firstly, we want to raise the issue of militarism, which in general is a system that cultivates hatred of man to man, which unfortunately divides the world by nation, religion and so on. At the same time, militarism forms minds and submits to acts of hostility and death.

We would have never consent to such acts, we refuse to impose instructions that are coherent by killing anyone. We can not even imagine that we would be forced to kill our friends e.g. Mustafa and Kemal or Giannis and Kostis because they are not of the same nationality or have different religion or because they are considered as enemies by the same narrative of nationalism.

In addition, the experiences that some of us were forced to attend the army, confirms what we are expressing. In a so-called modern European country of the 21st century, intolerance and racism are cultivated, instead of investing in peace that unites the world. Therefore, the division of communities continues.

It is very important to mention that the design of the system is based on the hierarchy, but also on the imposition of the heterosexual patriarchal conception of sex. Heterogeneity sees the chromosomally born male and consequently the cis-male (the person who identifies with the sex given to him at birth) as superior and also that heterosexuality is the only sexual orientation. Unfortunately, in the military, this imposed heterosexual perception prevails, which facilitates heteronormal individuals with the benefits of the military power system. This system does not want the man to express his feelings, to cry but to underestimate the range of other diverse identities.

As members of the Avli initiative, we are advocating for peace and environmental justice. In addition to that, as some of us being members of the LGBTQI + community, we question and reject the general context of militarism, where we see it as a threat both on a personal level to our own identities, as well as for women, and all the communities and people of Cyprus. Militarism, as we have mentioned, is hierarchical on a nationalist basis and excludes anything other than what is defined as heteronormal, which eventually comes to a rupture with what we represent and we fight for.

Beyond the biological divisions of oppression, as a group we see it through an intersectional lens. The meaning of intersectionality explains how different forms of oppressive power interact at multiple levels, often and at the same time.

Some of the parameters are biological, social or cultural such as gender, race, social class, ability, age, sexuality and so on. Therefore, militarism does not help to solve the systemic oppression, nor those that are cultivated and appear in the army such as sexism, racism, patriarchy, etc.

One of the Avli’s members, Josef, added: ‘As an intersectional feminist and environmental activist, I envision and defend not just a bi-communal Cyprus, but a country that embraces all racial groups in Cyprus with the principles of equality and eqity. That is why I support anti-militarism. ‘

Furthermore, as a group fighting for environmental justice on the island as a whole, we refuse to contribute against any ecological disaster. The military does not believe that all surroundings are equal to human beings, since it does not even believe that all human beings need to be respected and treated equally. Natural heritage and resources do not exist to serve military needs, but the needs of the ecosystem that harmonizes and lives in the habitats.

The overuse of natural minerals for the design and the production of weapons and ammunition results in pollution and contamination of the environment but also the death of the animal kingdom (including human species) which is unacceptable. Many times we have heard about the dumping of ammunition in our waters either for military exercises or just because they expired. The production and usage of toxic chemicals contained in any weapons, ends up as waste – unmanageable in nature – that directly affect the living species (endemic or protected species) or they simply end up polluting and/or contaminating the soil, atmosphere and water.

In 2018, the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) issued an extensive report. Basically, the United Nations scientific body is clearly mentioning that we have only a decade to limit the increase of the average earth temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius with a 66% probability  to limit the increase. In 2020, the European Commission declared a Climate Crisis due to an emergency. In 2022 the same committee, IPCC, said that it is very important to act immediately by recognizing the importance of social justice, but also intersectional approaches as solutions.

Based on the above, and in combination with the greenhouse gasses (GHG) emissions, with a large percentage identified in the army and together with the further pollution of the environment with the toxic waste produced by the army, we support anti-militarism.

Also, according to the annual report 2021 ‘Conscientious Objection to Military Service in Europe’ by the European Bureau of Conscientious Objection, in 2020 the Republic of Cyprus had military expenditures of 418.8 US $ million equal to 1.8% of GDP. This money could be used as expenditures for peacekeeping activities that have a way better short-term and long-term better future.

The same report by the European Bureau of Conscientious Objectives (EBCO) reports legislative violations and more specifically says: “In Cyprus, the conscription age is 18, meaning, under the legislative definition, that all men become liable for conscription at the age of 17. This is a clear violation of Article 2 of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict (OPAC)“

In the south, the Republic of Cyprus recognized 321 conscientious objectors between 2009-2018.  119 were conscripts and 32 were reservists, of which 115 were 20, respectively, for religious reasons, and the rest were for ideological reasons (EBCO). 

Below you can see a table for the numbers of applicants to be identified as conscientious objectors with alternative social service (conscripts and reservists), from 2009 to 2018. (submitted to the European Office of Conscientious Objection).

In the north, our compatriots do not have the same choice since the legislation does not protect them. The law of the army 59-2000, of the self-named TRNC, are accused of prison. Nevertheless, the Turkish Cypriots did not give up and therefore since 90’s until today there are at least 17 people who are conscientious objectors. 

Unfortunately Murat Kanatlı, Haluk Selam Tufanli and Halil Karapasaoglu were sanctions to prison and many others expect the same outcome. 

Further information on the annual report 2021 ‘Conscientious Objection to Military Service in Europe’ from the European Office of Conscientious Objection:

It is important to mention that every week at school, members of the army in the north, are going to schools and repeating the same nationalist and intolerant narrative. This is in contrast to cosmic education and the free will of minors. 

Finally, we quote testimonies from the north to the south that individuals have been recognised or applied to be recognised  as conscientious objectors for a better, peaceful anti-militarist future.

Erman  Dolmacı (they/them)

‘As a conscientious objector I believe that we should fight against all the oppressive structures related to nationalism, austerity, gender and sexuality, the destruction of the environment and our ecological and urban commons, and start showing solidarity and being part of the anti-militarist movements on the island.’

“Peace will come to Cyprus when all the armies are gone”.

https://wri-irg.org/en/story/2018/cyprus-island-beauty-turned-dust

Josef Boraei (he/him)

“Racism, sexism, heterosexism and many more that exist in the military, feeds the same problematic ideologies and narratives of the previous century. With all sorts of oppression, stress and devaluation stress that I went through as a conscript and as a reserve, I decided to put an end and  apply to officially be recognised as a conscientious objector. During the interview the committee told me that this is utopian and if the Turk comes with the weapon  what would I do? My answer to this is to invest in peace and not in bullets. We are all people with the same value and I am fighting for a united Cyprus, free from guarantors, armies and weapons. For a future with environmental and social justice, for anti-fascist, anti-militarist island and as diverse and coulourful as possible.”

Kemal Çufoğlu (he/him)

‘As a Turkish Cypriot living abroad for more than 5 years, I objected to attending the army, however I had to pay 6000 British pounds as an exemption fee. Although I didn’t want to do this either as I perceive it as indirectly fundingthe army, an alternative would mean I would be put in black list and wouldn’t be able to travel to the northern part of Cyprus. Those who are living on the island don’t have this exemption option which is discriminatory, and if I attempted to travel Cyprus without paying this fee, on arrival I would probably sent to barracks or prison and face serious legal charges. My action is political against the notion of militarism and all armies across the divide. Conscious objection is a human right and it must be enshrined in law, rather than turned into a right which can only be “bought” by those able to study abroad in the first place. I envision a peaceful, united and sustainable island, where equity and human rights are respected and constitution is protected by courts,rule of law and the civil society rather than the absurd and archaic idea of weapons and foreign armies’

Gregoris Ioannou

‘When a cop decided to personally threaten me with a court case because I was not picking up my army papers to go to the reserve, I decided it was time to go through the process of being recognized as a conscientious objector. I collected the relevant paper, wrote this text and submitted it. My presence on the committee was a surreal and ludicrous experience but mostly easy. If someone is structured and does not lose his composure, I think it is difficult for the permanent (army employees) to fall on him. “I respect your ideology but I’m worried that as a teacher you can infect young people with these things” was the biggest pearl worth noting. ‘You should worry’, I thought inside me.’

https://nekatomata.blogspot.com/2018/04/2007-2018.html

Anonymous  

‘Objecting the army is one of the proudest decisions I’ve made in my life. I would have never known that conscientious objection was a legal option in the Republic of Cyprus if it hadn’t been for Halil Karapaşaoğlu, who was imprisoned for opposing the army in the north. Is the National Guard happy for you to object? Definitely not, they make the process a bit all over the place and are happy to bully 17-year-olds who dream of a better world. But as long as you have all the paperwork required you have nothing to worry about! My civil service was fulfilled in an understaffed public hospital, where I was able to assist vulnerable people such as migrants and refugees.’

Anonymous  

At first I avoided it because I am politically against the idea of having such a procedure in place, but eventually it had to be done. The first step was to talk with others that had gone through the assessment and get all the necessary information; read the law, download the applications and get all the bureaucracy sorted. The next step was to go to the police headquarters in Aglantzia and requested a certificate of clean criminal record and a certificate that I do not have licence to carry a gun. When I asked for the latter certificate, I was asked to write an affidavit saying that I am in no possession of any gun or a gun licence. I was asked to pay an amount of money; I don’t remember how much. I was then told that I had to go back a couple of days later to collect my certificate of a clean criminal record. I still don’t understand why they are asking us for clean criminal records instead of those wanting to join the military.

While at the police headquarters I was served the call (Φ.Α.Π.) to join as a reservoir ordering me to present myself at a given army camp in one and a half months. I had everything ready except one thing and that was the essay explaining why my ideology or conscience is preventing me from joining the military. It was a quite challenging experience, because it was the first time I would put down on paper my thoughts about the army. I admit, one good thing about applying to be recognized as a conscientious objector is that it allowed me to put more structure in my thoughts and antimilitarist argumentation. Another good thing is finding others like you. It wasn’t long until I found other men that were undergoing the same procedure and an unofficial network of support and information was created out of nothing.

By the day I was supposed to present myself at the army camp, I had everything ready. I went there and declared that I wanted to submit my request to be recognised as a conscientious objector. The army officer at first didn’t know the procedure but admittedly, it didn’t take long for him to find out what he had to do. He took in my application (I asked to get a stamped copy back, because you never know), asked me to sign a document saying that I had presented myself on that day, and issued me a call to present myself on a later date. He explained that I would have to keep doing this until the day I receive a decision on my application.

Two months later, I was called to present myself in front of the examining committee for an interview with regards to my application. I wasn’t very keen on doing this, not because I was afraid of what to say, on the contrary I had a lot to say! My issue is that it shouldn’t be us that should undergo any procedure in order to not join the army. It’s actually the reverse! If there should be any assessment, it should be for the people willing to participate in training for war and are expected to carry a gun.

The experience took some 30 minutes. I was asked various questions with regards to what I had written in my application. There were some trick questions but nothing too challenging. In any case, if you know what you believe and what you are saying, there is nothing to be afraid of. You are also asked to explain how you manifest your ideology in your everyday life. I had no problem answering this question, but it is another problematic component of the procedure because there are many of us with the same ideology that are not particularly active, that doesn’t mean that they should not qualify as conscientious objectors.

For the next 8 months more or less, I kept presenting myself at army camps on the dates I was supposed to. I think this was around 4 or 5 times, until I finally received a letter dated 8^th of March 2022, informing me that my application was successful and I was recognized as a conscientious objector. That was a day to celebrate!

Author/Συντάκτης/Yazar: Josef Boraei

Çevirmenler/Μεταφραστές/Translators: Pinar Barlas,

Συντάκτες/Editors/Editörler: Pinar Barlas, Myrto Skouroupathi, Vijdan Şengör, Nikolas Michael

Reference: https://syspirosiatakton.org/odigos-gia-anagnorisi-antirrisis-syn/?fbclid=IwAR1L8VWZ7F83-gKtSQvmarJify64c_0VJaozeB2RnnY8blQrCcgoagWwgWk 

Photo Credits: polyp.org.uk

Avli’s Comments on the EastMed Pipeline

As a peace and environment initiative, we are deeply concerned by the inclusion of the EastMed
pipeline in the 5th list of Projects of Common Interest. Our concerns stem from the following
reasons:
Natural gas is a fossil fuel. The emissions from its combustion though lower than those from coal
or oil; still contribute significantly to global warming.1

Investing in natural gas, in the form of the EastMed Pipeline, will prevent us from meeting our goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.
This conclusion is confirmed by Cyprus’ Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP)2
prepared under the Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council of
11 December 2018 on the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action, as well as by the
Draft Long-term Low Greenhouse Gas Emission Development Strategy (LTS)3 published by the
Republic of Cyprus.

READ OUR FULL COMMENTS HERE

The Aarhus Convention in Cyprus: Access to Information, Public Participation & Access to Justice

What is the Aarhus Convention?

The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (“Convention”) was adopted on 25 June 1998 at Aarhus, Denmark during the Fourth Ministerial Conference as part of the “Environment for Europe” process. It entered into force on 30 October 2001. Cyprus ratified the Convention in 2003.

The Convention was adopted following the 1992 World Summit where governments adopted the Rio Declaration Principle 10 which provides that “Environmental issues are best handled with participation of all concerned citizens, at the relevant level.” However, all citizens and organised groups have the right to access environmental information, without having to invoke or prove any interest. In turn, every public authority is obligated to provide environmental information, subject to  certain exceptions where public authorities may refuse to do so.
The Convention establishes a number of rights of the public (individuals and their associations) with regard to the environment. The Parties to the Convention are required to make the necessary provisions so that public authorities will contribute to these rights to become effective.

• Access to Information: the right of everyone to receive environmental information that is held by public authorities
• Public Participation in Environmental Decision-making: the right to participate in environmental decision-making
• Access to Justice: the right to review procedures to challenge public decisions that have been made without respecting the two aforementioned rights or environmental law in general.

EU Level

On 10 October 2019 the Commission published a report on EU implementation of the Convention in the area of access to justice in environmental matters. The report delivers a key part of the Commission’s commitment to developing a response to critical positions taken by an international body, the Convention Compliance Committee and the EU. These critical positions are to the effect that the EU does not provide members of the public, including environmental associations, with enough possibilities through administrative or judicial review to legally challenge acts of the EU institutions for violations of EU Environmental Law. You can view the full report here.

Directive 2003/4/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 2003 regulates public access to environmental information and, for its purposes, defines “Environmental Information.”

National Level

As a member of the European Union since 2004, Cyprus aligned this Directive through implementation on the Law on Public Access to Environmental Information (Law 119(I)/2004). The environmental legal framework must be strategically used to combat critical environmental problems, in the best interest of current and future generations.

Source: https://kourtellos.co/the-aarhus-convention-in-cyprus-access-to-information-public-participation-access-to-justice/