By ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ (GREEK) TÜRKÇE (TURKISH)
“We make the decisions, not you.”
This is what is being imposed on the Turkish Cypriots!
Both from the south, unfortunately and from the north…
“This is above your head.”
***
They took the primary school textbooks and changed them in Ankara.
These are the books to be taught in Cyprus!
Because they want to shake the foundations of society…
We have very good educators; in the past, they researched, worked, and drafted these books.
We should say “Why are you meddling with our books?”
We can write our own books.
***
The “teacher” portrayed in the new books that come from Ankara is wearing a headscarf…
We’ve never had a veiled class teacher…
The family is depicted through Palestine and India; what’s the relevance…
***
Do you understand [now] how the individual tarnishing the title of “Minister of Education” is preserving his seat?
By undermining secular and modern education!
You are a teacher, an educator, you should be ashamed of yourself!
Resign, leave, don’t be complicit in such disgrace!
He is permitting imams to teach, allowing the formation of tribal practices, and empowering mosques to operate like schools.
He remains silent as the commission in Ankara handles primary school books.
What a pity…
***
They are openly saying “You don’t exist”!
They’re telling us “Your living space is as much as we allow it to be.”
They’re telling us “We decide.”
And then they go on with their lies, deceit and nonsense on equality and sovereignty!
***
Even in the International Education Index, which is a component of the Human Development Index, Turkey ranks 80th…
Cyprus ranks 37th!
Why should our children have to study books written in Ankara?
Why are you deciding everything?
This society has the intelligence to write books!
It has both the experience and the knowledge to do so!
It also possesses the human resources and the capacity to do so!
***
I’m not even discussing the international aspect of the matter, but how far will this disrespect go?
The life you’re trying to impose doesn’t fit here!
Neither does the politics, nor the education…
The identity doesn’t fit, the culture doesn’t fit…
A little respect, a little courtesy!
***
Intervention in education, intervention in culture, intervention in population, intervention in elections!
Are you a “guarantor” or a meddler?
Where is this relationship heading?
***
Cyprus is a different country, and you want to eliminate that.
For years, you’ve been imposing religion and nationalism on these lands.
You’re imposing population, imposing politics, imposing a way of life.
By force!
You’re committing a crime against humanity, by ignoring…
[Photo insert: A page from the primary school book with the picture of a teacher wearing a headscarf]
“No need for a strike, just don’t use these books in schools, that’s enough”
Ahmet Güneyli, one of our prominent educators…
He says, “Updates and changes in the textbooks have taken place without my knowledge and approval as an academic consultant and textbook author”.
Moreover, he requested to see and review the books! His request went unanswered.
“The content of the books have been arbitrarily altered, with additions and omissions made. The changes in the updated books are not limited to a few religious symbols in the visuals reported by the press,” says Ahmet Güneyli…
He makes an important suggestion:
“There is no need to stage protests or go on strike about this matter. Just don’t send the textbooks to schools, and if they are sent, just don’t use them. This is the best response that can be given to the ‘I did it, it’s done’ mentality!”
He says there is no need for a strike, and he’s right…
Because the “loss of lessons” due to strikes is driving families away from public schools and undermining the ground for collective struggle.
The best form of resistance will be to render these books ineffective…
Just like how the people and educators of this country are being rendered ineffective…
[Photo insert: A section from the book in question giving examples from Palestine and India]
If no one gave the order…
The “Foreign” Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu said, “No one gave any orders“.
This means there is a complete lack of order in this country, no administration, no authority.
It seems that the construction company exceeded its authority at the most critical point!
Since no one gave any instructions, whoever is responsible for carrying out the road construction work, whether it’s the company, the foreman, or the contractor, should be held accountable…
Because the Turkish Cypriots were humiliated…
***
For example, if a contract was awarded for the road in front of parliament…
If someone came up during its construction and said “stop”…
And the person operating the bulldozer drove his vehicle on the police…
Into the Turkish Embassy…
Into the Parliament… [Translator’s note: The two buildings are located opposite each other]
Wouldn’t the driver be arrested?
Wouldn’t the driver be booked?
***
During the debate in Parliament, MP Biray Hamzaoğulları from the Karpaz [Karpasia] area stood up and said, “I reached where I am today from being a driver, and no bulldozer operator would drive their vehicle onto another person without receiving orders from their superior.”
***
If the Minister is telling the truth by saying “No one gave any orders,” then it means there is serious negligence, a crime, and irresponsibility at play.
I would say “necessary action should be taken” but it’s not as if they have a say…
They couldn’t even handle the tender properly…
[Photo insert: A bulldozer pushing a UN vehicle in the buffer zone near Pile (Pyla)]
Who is considered a foreigner?
In many countries around the world, there are limitations about the property that can be owned by foreigners.
Countries have policies regarding population and property…
There is a significant trend towards “spoils” in the northern part of Cyprus.
Property ownership is changing hands, anew…
It’s becoming a gateway for profiteering!
When we look at similar places around the world, the figures are extremely attractive…
Just like in all cases of “stolen” goods (!)
***
“Limiting property sales to foreigners” is now on the agenda!
But I believe the first question we need to answer is this: “Who is considered a foreigner?”
I had previously shared the 2022 data I officially requested from the Immovable Property Commission [IPC].
The number of applications made by “foreign nationals” to purchase property in the northern part of the island in a year was 5,194.
- A total of 5,194 applications were made.
- Purchase permits were granted by the Council of Ministers to 2,810 applications.
- 2,063 applications from Turkish citizens were approved.
- 747 applications from other countries were approved.
Of course, these are the “official” figures!
It’s claimed that there is much more buying and selling that takes place through lawyers or notary documents.
***
It’s necessary to provide a clear answer to the question “Who is considered a foreigner” as soon as possible in property or citizenship-related laws…
Does it cover everyone who is “not a citizen”?
Or…
Is it a distinction based on ethnic identity or race?
To ask more explicitly…
Doesn’t “property change hands” when citizens of the Turkish Republic purchase property?
Do only Russians, Israelis, and Iranians constitute a danger?
Source: TAKE YOUR HANDS OFF OUR BOOKS!
