The programme series “My truth” by Soula Hatzikiriakou constitutes a qualitative leap forward for Cybc. For the first time there is such an extended reference and such an open condemnation in g/c television of the crimes committed by g/c nationalist paramilitaries in the period 1963-1974 against t/c civilians. Truths that were known but denied and hidden by the elders for the young not to know in a conspiracy of silence that lasted for decades. Reunification is a process of subversion of the nationalist hegemony. And television,especially the state television is a field of battle. Slowly slowly in this decade we have had some steps forward,some small subversions amidst the more general continuation of the propaganda of partition. First was “Biz-Emeis”,then “We discuss about it” then “Under the same sky”. “My truth” however constitutes a much more progressive programme – it touches upon the most sensitive issues with a boldness that we are unaccustomed to expect on g/c television. Congratulations Soula Hatzikiriakou,good luck and continue with decisiveness.
Reconciliation is a process that starts with the burial of the dead,passes through the condemnation of nationalist crimes and is completed with the creation of a culture of coexistence in education,society,the public sphere,politics. Even if late,the g/c society is making its first steps towards growing up in this decade. Various dirty secrets come up,dark moments,atrocities. It is necessary to talk so that katharsis can come. About the guilt of the paramilitaries and the tolerance and collusion of the state. Really,what can we say about those who unburried,transferred and re-burried the bones of the Tohni massacred in order to prevent the UN from finding them? A society which covers up the crimes and tolerates the unpunished murderers,some of whom are also honoured as fighters is a society that is trapped to its past. In order to move towards the future of peace we must first settle our accounts with our bloodied past. Public condemnation of the crimes and the criminals of the ethnic conflict in Cyprus! The issue is not (any longer) penal,it is however political and urgent. If we want to do the leap forward towards reunification.
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Thank you Gregoris that you gave information about this programme of the CyBC. After all those years of AKEL in power,I want to have more programmes like this for the G/C community,where some self-criticism of the AKEL’s policy of nationalities is also necessary. I am happy to to hear that the AKEL started to enlighten the people about a federal solution.
I would suggest that bi-communal discussion programmes should come after these and pave the way for a common vision and pancyprian common political organisations.
Keep up the good work!
Too little,too late…
Well done to Soulla but it’s just a drop in the ocean.
I’m not sure if it’s too little but it’s not necessary too late. But what’s necessary is the next step. We have to be already thinking about the next active step forward that’s not just a reaction to events or an account of past events. But this is certainly good as long as it doesn’t just preach to the converted.
I said it’s too little in the sense that a whole bunch of things should have been done by the government and CyBC towards the goal of reunification. For example the campaign to inform citizens about a federal solution seems to have stopped after the mediocre leaflet was published last December. There should have been a massive effort to educate the two communities and prepare them for a life together not just a tv program now and then.
I insist that it’s too late. It should have happened 10 years ago,or at least as soon as Christofias took the presidency.
The momentum has already been defused. The two sides are already in the “damage containment”stage.
The Cypriots don’t expect anything to happen any more. What’s worse is that they stopped hoping.
This is now online at http://www.cybc.com.cy/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=195&Itemid=91 and I’ve also seen it at website Cyprus-tube. Shame there are no turkish subtitles.
By popular demand,RIK is showing the 4 parts again tonight,tomorrow,on the 29th and the 2nd August.
See http://www.politis.com.cy/cgibin/hweb?-A=959898&-V=archivearticles&-p