Efforts by the Turkish side to create tension in Pyla village; Kucuk found an excuse to make threats
Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (06.04.12) reports that a Turkish Cypriot named Kerim Ali Yahi from mixed Pyla village was arrested yesterday by the police of the Republic of Cyprus for driving his vehicle without having insurance. The vehicle is registered in the Republic of Cyprus having the registration number EZZ 478. Havadis argues that the police arrested Yahi in spite of the fact that they do not have the authority to make arrests in Pyla. According to the paper, the police used force against Yahi and led him to Oroklini Police Station. After his testimony was taken, he was set free, writes the paper adding that he remained at the station for five hours.
According to Havadis, after the incident uneasiness was observed among the Turkish Cypriot inhabitants of Pyla. The Turkish Cypriot muhktar (headman) of the village, Nejdet Ermetal alleged that the police of the Republic of Cyprus had no authority to arrest a person within Pyla’s borders and that in such situations action could be taken through the UN Peace Keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) or the “police” of the breakaway regime.
The paper reports also that the self-styled prime minister Irsen Kucuk made a statement on the issue and “warned” that “harassing” “TRNC citizen” Kerim Ali Yahi and using violence against him in Pyla, where the two communities live together, will increase tension in the entire island. Kucuk said the incident was “unacceptable” and added that the necessary initiatives have been undertaken by the self-styled ministry of foreign affairs. Kucuk said the UN has launched an investigation. Kucuk argued that the Turkish side could not remain a spectator to such actions, which allegedly “threaten the tranquility and security” of the “TRNC citizens’ in Pyla. “Everyone should know that in case this situation or a situation like this is repeated, our Security Forces are ready to interfere as necessary in the most efficient manner”, he threatened.
