In a letter to the Minister of Defense, AKEL Famagusta requests a review of the location of the "Modestos Pantelis" camp in Liopetri.
The letter as it is
Honorable Minister,
With this letter, I present to you the issue that has long been of concern to the local community of Liopetri and concerns the operation of the "Modestos Pantelis" camp, which is located within the residential fabric of the community, in close proximity to the First Primary School and residential areas.
The camp was built around 1980 on a site that was previously used as a community football field. The 1st Primary School of Liopetrios predated the construction of the camp, while the subsequent residential development of the area was particularly intense, with the result that today the camp is located in the center of a fully developed residential area.
In addition to the main camp, around the perimeter of the First Primary School there are military storage facilities, which increases the concerns of the residents, and especially the parents of the children who attend the school daily. The existence of these facilities makes it necessary to fully inform the local community regarding their use and the security measures that are implemented for the protection of the school community and the residents of the area.
I want to make it clear from the outset that this intervention is not directed against the National Guard nor does it question its decisive role in the defense of the Republic of Cyprus. Its subject is exclusively the suitability of this specific location under current circumstances.
The significant residential development of the area in recent decades makes it necessary, in our opinion, to re-examine the suitability of this particular location. The question that arises is not whether an incident has occurred to date, but whether the maintenance of a military installation in the immediate vicinity of a school and residential areas still meets the modern requirements of public safety and proper spatial planning.
In light of the above, please inform me on the following issues:
Have studies been conducted to evaluate the existing location of the camp and storage facilities, taking into account their immediate proximity to the 1st Primary School and residential areas? If so, what are the main conclusions of the competent services regarding the safety of students, teachers and parents?
Whether the storage facilities located within the camp have been evaluated by the competent services regarding the impact that any emergency could have on the safety of the school community and the residents of the area.
What safety measures, emergency response plans and protection protocols are in place for the school community and local residents?
Whether a safety zone has been established around the camp and storage facilities and, if so, by what criteria was it determined that the existing distance from the First Primary School and neighboring residences is compatible with safety requirements?
What is the Ministry's official position regarding the appropriateness of maintaining this particular military installation in its current location, taking into account its immediate proximity to a school and residential areas?
Whether the possibility of relocating the camp and storage facilities to another location outside the residential area has been or is being considered by the Ministry of Defense.
Whether there is a medium-term or long-term planning by the Ministry for the future of the specific military installation.
Sir,
The question reasonably arises as to whether a similar zoning would be approved today, based on modern standards of public safety and spatial planning.
I believe that the protection of human life and the safety of citizens, especially the children who attend the neighboring elementary school, are of the highest priority and cannot be addressed after the fact, since an accident has already occurred.
For the above reasons, I believe that the need has matured for the Ministry of Defense to proceed with a comprehensive review of the suitability of the current location of the camp and initiate the necessary planning for its relocation outside the residential area of Liopetri, ensuring both the operational effectiveness of the National Guard and the highest good of protecting human life and the safety of children and residents.
I await your response and thank you in advance for your attention.
Sincerely,
Christos Nikolaou
AKEL Famagusta District Secretary
