In the wake of the ship that ‘sank’ off the coast of Kyrenia, many ‘bitter truths’ have come to light.
In fact, the summary of everything that happened was this:
‘We have failed to become a state...’
The ‘thing’ we have buried five hundred metres beneath the seabed is none other than this ‘state’ we have failed to establish...
What was the fundamental argument of the separatist policy?
There are two states, two peoples and two democracies in Cyprus. Let’s face the reality of that...
This flawed “thesis” too was buried at the bottom of the sea along with that ship...
However you look at the incident, the ‘thing’ we have tragically displayed to the whole world is, in fact, a failure, a corruption and a fatalism...
It was as if we declared to the whole world that we were being governed with a “Let things be, God will take care of it all” mentality...
We are like shepherds who let their flocks out to pasture and then entrust the rest to God’s protection...
“I’ve let them go; now may God protect them.”
Indeed, God did protect these people...
Even the fact that the ship sank before it could sail away from Kyrenia was like a ‘blessing’...
That is why those who witnessed the disaster from the shore were able to rush to their aid immediately...
Thanks to the kindness of our people—which they have not yet lost—the vast majority of the passengers on board were rescued after being pulled from the sea...
Had the ship managed to travel just another five, or ten kilometres, mobile phones would have stopped working, help would have arrived too late, and the loss of life would have been far greater...
This, of course, is only a minor ‘consolation’.
Undoubtedly, the ‘quality’ of the rescue operations carried out must be one of the key elements of the forthcoming investigation.
The Coastguard, the police, medical teams, civil defence and the military: to what extent did each fulfil their duties, and what were the shortcomings? All of this must be brought to light in the most transparent manner, down to the finest detail.
It has been reported at length in the media that the vessel had a far from exemplary ‘track record’, and that the captain was carrying out this role without having received adequate ‘training’...
Most importantly, there is the allegation that this vessel lacked the technical equipment required to operate on the Kyrenia–Taşucu route...
Furthermore, attention must be paid to the vessel’s ‘rescue’ capacity at the time of the sinking.
Statements from those who witnessed the incident, along with the videos they recorded, indicate that no ‘crisis management’ was implemented under the captain’s leadership as the vessel was sinking.
Footage proving that the passengers were ‘left to their own devices’ has been shared on social media as ‘conclusive evidence’.
When we consider all of this together, it becomes clear that the main culprit responsible for inflicting this ‘great suffering’ upon us is, of course, the ‘state’ and the ‘politicians’ tasked with governing it.
Leaving aside the political responsibility regarding the ‘lead-up’ to the incident, to what extent did this ‘state’ make itself visible on the ground after the sinking occurred? To what extent was it effective? We must bring these matters to light, one by one.
As far as I can see, there is a great deal of criticism directed at ‘state’ institutions...
Then there are those who have videos, defending some of these institutions...
We cannot do any ‘institution’ an injustice. Indeed, it is even possible to say that the Coastguard and the Ministry of Health ‘did a good job’ at the outset...
The fact that ‘civilians’ rushed to help the sinking ship demonstrates that our spirit of ‘solidarity’—a source of pride—is still very much alive.
Meanwhile, the establishment of an ‘inquiry committee’ in Parliament should be regarded as a positive first step.
Now let’s turn to the main issue...
This ‘mini-state’ had a ‘Minister of Transport’...
A so-called minister who was afraid to visit the families of those lost at sea, yet sought to ‘exonerate’ the ‘captain’ by publishing documents about him on television...
A politician whose name is mentioned in the same breath as ‘Interpol’; who had traffic cameras removed and suddenly began doing business with a company of his own choosing; who has been accused of his involvement in the events at Ercan; who has failed to demonstrate ‘transparency’ regarding his assets; and who is anti-solution and separatist...
He was practically the UBP’s ‘spoilt child’… He made the UBP do whatever he wanted…
He was under the wing of the ÜÜ…
Naturally, all fingers pointed at this ‘politician’.
The ‘will’ that granted the captain a work permit here, and set this ship to sail from here belongs to this person...
This man bears direct responsibility alongside the Ports Department, its directors and its undersecretary...
Immediately after the incident, he got in a ‘groove’—you wouldn’t believe it... “Let my legislative immunity be lifted,” he said.
Naturally, the ‘escape artist’ ÜÜ, instead of going down the circuitous route, he said “I’ve relieved him of his duties” as easily as pulling a hair from butter and threw Arıklı a ‘lifeline’…
It goes without saying that this is an operation orchestrated by a ‘higher authority’ in Ankara…
The Prime Minister could not convince anyone that this ‘decision’ was his own…
In my view, Arıklı and his team must be brought to trial in a transparent manner without delay.
Why did this ‘ministry’ grant this vessel a work permit? Why did it approve the captain’s licence?
There are, of course, ‘party’ connections involved in this matter.
Arıklı is by no means alone...
The UBP and Ünal Üstel are his accomplices...
They exploited an unrecognised ‘mini-state’ to the hilt...
They sacrificed the poor wretch to their politics, treating him as if he were part of a collective ‘criminal organisation’...
They revelled in the freedom afforded by ‘non-recognition’ and the absence of international scrutiny.
It is precisely for this reason that this mindset opposes ‘EU membership’ and does not want a solution...
That is why it is not just Arıklı; whoever allowed this ship to carry passengers—starting with Ünal Üstel and the UBP—and whoever turned a blind eye to it must pay the political price.
We can never move forward without valuing human life; we cannot delude ourselves with the notion of a ‘state’.
Source: DOES THE ONE WHO ‘REMOVED HIM FROM OFFICE’ HAVE NO RESPONSIBILITY AT ALL?..
