By Andreas Th. Themistocleous *:
In 1986 I participated in my first anti-occupation event for occupied Famagusta, my hometown. It was an overnight event, at the roadblock of Deryneia. I was almost 7 years old and I remember how proud I was that I managed to stay awake all night and participate normally. It was the night of the 14thth August. Since then I have participated almost continuously, always on the 14th of August.
I regret to follow the policy of the municipal authorities of our occupied city in recent years, which are increasingly postponing the annual event to more "convenient dates". First in early August and last year and this year in October. I can not adopt the logic of non-mass attendance, or the difficult days due to holidays and vacations. I can not accept that there is any reason, political or otherwise, that can stand to move the event of remembrance for our occupied city, any other day, except the "black" 14η day of the month of August.
As a Famagusta man, unfortunate that I did not know my city and doomed to love it from afar, I share the desire for liberation and return for the "city-vision". I share my parents' need to be able to return home, even in their old age. I feel the need to pass on to my own children the history, the culture, the "yeast" of our city living it up close and not from stories and photos.
And until that day, I consider it absolutely reasonable and of course imperative to honor the memory of our city on the 14thη day of the month of August. To demand in front of the roadblock the liberation of our city, the adoption of all relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the unconditional surrender of the city to its legal residents. And all this on the 14thη day of the month of August.
I call on our municipal authorities to avoid this unfortunate practice in the future. The day of remembrance of our city can not be other than the 14thη August day. I'm ashamed to think that I will not be able to be present, but Cecilia Wickstrom and Victoria Hislop will be able to. It bothers me to "sacrifice" and replace the day we lost our city for any reason. If nothing else, we owe it to ourselves to be there, faithful to its spring, every 14thη day of black august.
"..And we birds that were chased away by your enemies in August, you know we will return faithful in your spring".
* Vice President of the "Citizens' Alliance" Movement