Demonstrations in Turkey in support of the Turkish Cypriots
Turkish Cypriot papers (03.03.11) reports that various demonstrations took place in Ankara and Istanbul in support of the “communal existence rally” organised in the occupied areas of Cyprus.
According to Yeni Duzen daily, around 100 members of the “Cyprus Youth Platform”, and various Turkish political parties NGOs such as the Freedom and Solidarity Party (ODP), the Equality and Democracy Party (EDP), the Confederation of Public Workers’ Unions (KESK), the Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (DISK), protested yesterday afternoon at Taksim Square in Istanbul. Protesting against the Turkish government and the Turkish Prime Minister’s statements targeting the Turkish Cypriots, the demonstrators chanted slogans such as “Ayse go home”, and were carrying banners with slogans including “peace in Cyprus cannot be prevented”, “Cyprus belongs to the Turkish Cypriots”, and “we are not a daughter land”. Speaking on behalf of the protestors, Mustafa Cangil, inter alia, called on the Turkish Republic not to intervene in the internal matters of the Turkish Cypriots.

Furthermore, Star Kibris daily reports on the protest in Ankara by a group of Turkish Cypriot university students studying in the Turkish capital, in order to show their support to the “communal existence rally” organised in occupied Cyprus. Protesters marched from Yuksel Avenue to Sakarya Avenue, and chanted slogans such as “Independent Cyprus”. According to the paper, some political parties participated in the protest as well. The paper refers to a press statement which alleged that the financial assistance of Turkey to occupied Cyprus returns to Turkey through imports