By ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ (GREEK) TÜRKÇE (TURKISH)
After the soldier who caused the death of Naveed Akbar was kidnapped from the TRNC judiciary and sent to Turkey, statements have finally come from the authorities regarding this bizarre situation.
Both the police and the Embassy issued a statement…
The police announced that ‘within the scope of existing legislation, protocol and/or procedures and principles…’ the case was filed and sent to Turkey.
Isn’t this fast? We rarely come across such quick investigations in fatal traffic accidents. An investigation file was prepared in haste, regarding many issues that include measurements, collection of evidence, examination of the vehicle, testimonies, statements of eyewitnesses etc. We hope that this is true and that from now on, procedures like this will be carried out as QUICKLY as possible for everyone in a similar situation.
Because only with a little justice can you soothe the pain of a family that has lost a child. And because of the injustice you have created, mothers and their loved ones are devastated!
Metin Feyzioğlu, an ambassador, professor and criminal lawyer, stated that the suspect Mehmet Eren Erdoğan, a member of the Turkish Armed Forces, ‘was referred for arrest by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office and arrested by the Ankara Criminal Judgeship of Peace’.
And of course, in both statements, it was announced that there would be ‘co-operation’ during the trial phase.
How nice!
***
Of course, this was not the first incident of its kind; similar ‘scandals’ have occurred in many incidents involving the military.
However, the bottom line is that wherever the offence is committed, if there is no obstacle in the legislation, the court of that place should be able to impose the punishment. However, this is not the case in the northern part of Cyprus, and in such cases, we see that the sincerity of those who make claims of sovereignty, statehood and independence is tested.
In other words, the rules of the TRNC Constitution only come to mind during press statements, or ribbon cutting ceremonies.
What would happen if it were the other way round? Does the TRNC have the ‘sovereign’ power to kidnap its citizens who commit a crime in Turkey, and try them in TRNC courts?
And when it comes to the military, there are some mindless people who say that our problem is to vilify the military whenever we find the opportunity to do so.
We are questioning all of this because the real issue for us is to see that justice is served equally to all in this land! Not arbitrarily!
***
What attracted my attention the most in all these discussions was the statement made by academic Kudret Özersay, who also served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Özersay said, “A defence agreement with Turkey will clarify which rules can and cannot be applied by which court in an ordinary dispute, the status of which currently remains unclear in terms of our domestic law, and the situations related to the military units on the island.” Then he suggested a defence cooperation agreement, or a treaty similar to the Status of Forces Agreement with Turkey.
If you look at all the statements, you will see that this situation has NO legal basis, there is no co-operation, no protocol, no constitutional provision, or legislation. I have already mentioned this in my previous article.
Therefore, the statement made by the police is completely misleading. When the police say ‘existing legislation’, they do not take the rules of the TRNC Constitution into account. When they say ‘protocol’ they cannot even utter the name of the protocol; they say ‘procedure’, but which procedure? In our criminal law, it is clear how the person who commits an offence will be tried, and the police are the ones who implement this rule on a daily basis; which procedure is this procedure?
‘And within the scope of principles’, they add in the press statement. Since there is no legislation, protocol or procedure, let’s immediately add the expression ‘principles’ so that we don’t lose our ground…
Principles! Our principles! Their principles!
And stand at attention!
Keep your head and body upright, don’t smile, suck your stomach in, arms by your side, arms clasped to your body, feet slightly apart, you should stand still…
A summary of years of democracy. Don’t wobble!
***
After all these statements, what is our principle?
In this incident, we were shown what our principle is by looking the public in the eye and causing social unrest.
I wish the best for us.
I also wish for more walls to bang our heads against,
and a chance for our kids and loved ones to survive this established order.
Now we can change the subject until we lose our own child and loved ones.
With mercy…
