In a statement, the Progressive Party of the Working People (AKEL) pays tribute to the 70th anniversary of the beginning of the struggle for the end of the British colonial rule in Cyprus, which began on 1 April 1955.
The statement of AKEL stresses out:
"AKEL honors the heroism and struggle of the children of Cyprus who fought against the British colonial yoke and gave their lives on the battlefields, in torture and on the scaffold, for the freedom and self-determination of our homeland.
AKEL’s assessments of Grivas’ role and the choice of armed tactics in the given circumstances are given, as is the honor given to the members of EOKA who fought with selflessness and unadulterated patriotism for the freedom of our homeland.
The anti-colonial struggle of the Cypriot people against the British empire constitutes a separate page in modern history. In contrast to a small portion of the ruling class, the Cypriot people never reconciled with colonialism. After all, Britain not only broke the promises of self-determination that it made to the Cypriot people before the war, but also escalated oppression and repression, intensified persecution of the Left and fueled the confrontation between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.
British colonialism was a dark era in the course of Cyprus and its remnant - the British bases - was and will be a wound in the body of our homeland. Especially in today's circumstances when British bases are used as a war bastion and are openly involved in the genocide in Gaza, the demand for our country to be freed from their presence becomes more urgent and timely.
AKEL points out that along with the due respect, sober conclusions are also required from the armed struggle of 1955-59, which ultimately did not bring about the fulfillment of its goal. It has been proven that the unity of the people on the basis of principles and goals, the choice of strategy and tactics that take into account the objective conditions and the correlation of forces, constitute crucial elements for the success of any struggle. These must constitute a compass in the current struggle for the liberation and reunification of our homeland and people, by achieving a solution to the Cyprus problem on the agreed basis and framework."
British colonialism was a dark era in the course of Cyprus and its remnant - the British bases - was and will be a wound in the body of our homeland. Especially in today's circumstances when British bases are used as a war bastion and are openly involved in the genocide in Gaza, the demand for our country to be freed from their presence becomes more urgent and timely.
AKEL points out that along with the due respect, sober conclusions are also required from the armed struggle of 1955-59, which ultimately did not bring about the fulfillment of its goal. It has been proven that the unity of the people on the basis of principles and goals, the choice of strategy and tactics that take into account the objective conditions and the correlation of forces, constitute crucial elements for the success of any struggle. These must constitute a compass in the current struggle for the liberation and reunification of our homeland and people, by achieving a solution to the Cyprus problem on the agreed basis and framework."
