An incident between an occupying army and an officer of the United Nations peacekeeping force in Strovilia. The incident occurred when Colonel Edmund Friley tried to enter the area of Strovilion, at a point where it is considered a military zone by the occupying authorities.
In its article, the Turkish Cypriot newspaper Kipris Postasi reports that a high-ranking UNFICYP officer tried to inspect the area without obtaining the necessary permission from the "security forces", a fact that caused tension between him and the occupying army.
According to the publication, the organs of the occupying regime, "police" and "security forces", did not allow him to enter the area and go to the office of UNFICYP located in the area of Strovilia. According to Kypris Postasi in her article, "the unexpected visit disturbed the security forces" and notes that there was tension between the UNFICYP officer and the so-called "police". Occupying forces in the area demanded that Colonel Friley make the necessary requests for entry. Something he himself refused to do.
Colonel Edmund Friley is the senior United Nations officer in charge of maintaining order and security along the dead zone and between the sides of the island. Within the framework of its responsibilities, it carries out relevant inspections. According to the publication of the Turkish Cypriot newspaper, the previous day, Colonel Frili, accompanied by his associates, had inspected UNFICYP positions in occupied Famagusta.
The whole issue seems to have arisen when Friley, arriving in the area of Strovilia, wanted to check the UNFICYP office and outpost in the area. Because the wider area is considered a military zone by the occupying forces, a permit is required to allow one to cross. The "police" and the occupying army did not allow Friley to go to the UN outpost, as he had not received the relevant permission.
It further states that there were verbal clashes between the officer of the peace force and the "police" of the occupying regime. According to the report, Friley had threatening behavior. According to Kypris Postasi, despite what had happened, Friley failed to pass the checkpoint set up by the occupying army in Strovilia.
It should be noted that Kypris Postasi took care through this text to make a mini presentation of Edmund Friley. He says Friley was arrested in 2009 and charged with negligence. He also says he was involved in a military medal scandal.
The point from which Colonel Friley wanted to pass to go to the outpost of the peacekeeping force is where the occupying forces had recently moved. They had justified their move as an attempt to better control the area and tackle smuggling.
According to our information, the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus did not have in mind anything about the incident with Colonel Frili.
The United Nations vehicle found in the area of the Turbines as shown in a photo published by Kypris Postasi. In the inset photo, Colonel Frili.
Source: Liberal