I would like to refer to Mr. Berk Berkmen’s comments published in the Nov. 16 issue of the DE. Mr. Berkmen was asked to give his opinion regarding the rally held by the Greek Cypriot students on Nov. 15 protesting the illegal invasion in 1974 and continued occupation of 37 percent of Cyprus by Turkish Troops. Mr. Berkmen’s statement read, The University is not the place for the Cypriots’ political propaganda.

Well, I think that Mr. Berkmen has a problem distinguishing between political propaganda and humanitarian issues. The Greek Cypriot students of SIUC are not great politicians that give promises and pompous speeches. We do not represent any particular political parties, Mr. Berkmen. We represent a small percentage of the 200,000 Greek Cypriots that were violently expelled from their homes by Turkish troops in 1974. We represent the relatives and friends of the 1619 MIAs (including five Americans) who were captured by Turkish troops in 1974. We represent the families of the dead, the injured, the raped, the tortured Greek Cypriots of 1974. We simply represent a part of the world where Turkey has been violating human rights for the last twenty-one years.

The United Nations Resolutions clearly state that Turkey should immediately withdraw Turkish troops from Cyprus. The Greek Cypriot students were not promoting any political propaganda the cold evening of Nov. 15. We were trying to make the people of Carbondale aware of the injustice and violation of human rights in Cyprus. We were trying to share our pain and anger with other people. Pain because we are still suffering as refugees in our own country. Anger because in the 21st Century, Turkey ignores all UN resolutions and continues to illegally occupy 37 percent of our land. And a final word, Mr. Berkmen:we are determined to continue our struggle. We will not stop until the problem is settled.

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