In front of us, in this small sacred coffin with the Greek and Cypriot flag, lie the remains of another of our compatriots who was executed in cold blood, in a particularly heinous and barbaric manner. Back then, in 1974, when Turkey carried out its alleged peace operation in Cyprus, taking advantage of the traitorous coup that opened the backdoors to invade and violently conquer part of our country.
There are many other cases of our compatriots who witnessed or fell victim to the same barbarity. Even the brutality of Turkish Cypriot extremists acting under the instructions and cover of Attila's troops. But the case of Yakoomi Stylianou stands out. It stands out because it exceeds every limit of cruelty and inhuman behaviour that goes against the basic rules and principles of human rights and the law of war.
His wife Eleni and their son Andreas must surely still have very vivid images of his brutal cold-blooded execution by a Turkish officer in their minds. In front of their terrified eyes, an Attila officer began to repeatedly beat Yakoomi Stylianou's head with his pistol, only to shoot him and then he fell to the ground bleeding, breathless and lifeless.
As if that were not enough, the Turkish officer immediately sought to do the same to the then 15-year-old Andreas. According to the history of the case, the repetition of the cowardly and barbaric act against Andreas was prevented at the last moment.
Yakoomis Stylianou, who was born in Gypsos on July 1, 1932, was married and the father of four children. Apart from Andreas, he and his wife Eleni gave birth to three more children, Anthoula, Charalambos and Savvas, all of whom and their families are with us today.
A tragic figure is his beloved wife and mother, Mrs. Helen, who despite the tragedy and the unbearable pain, found the mental strength with all the problems to raise their four children in the most dignified way.
On 20 July 1974, the date of the beginning of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, Yakoomis and his family were staying in their village Gypsos. During the first phase of the invasion, but also during the period which intervened until the beginning of the second phase, he continued to reside in his home.
On 14 August 1974, Turkish troops attacked the National Guard positions in the area of Mia Milia as well. Fierce but uneven fighting ensued and the Turkish troops, with the superiority of the large number of tanks and air force they possessed, broke through the National Guard's defensive lines shortly before noon.
They then moved towards the villages of Trachoni Kythrea - Neo Horio - Palaikythro, cutting off the new Nicosia - Famagusta road and trapping a number of villages, including Gypsum.
Most of their inhabitants had abandoned them before the escape routes to safer areas were cut off, while a smaller number of people were trapped.
Although Gypsu was cut off from the free areas by 14 August, Turkish troops began patrolling in and around the village the next day, 15 August.
Among the residents of Gypsu who did not abandon it were Yakoomis and his wife and their youngest child Andreas.
Their daughter Anthoula had already gone to safer areas with her husband and their son Savvas had been cut off from his family due to the situation, where he wandered, was arrested and after going through his own Calvary at the hands of the Turkish invader was finally released after the intervention of the late President of the Republic of Cyprus, Glafkos Clerides. Haralambos, their other son, was serving his military service while his family was living through nightmarish times, and he himself was on a mission in Karakalos Famagusta defending the territorial integrity of our homeland.
When the trapped residents of Gypsos became aware of the violent activities of the Turkish troops, some of them sought refuge in the fields, where they hid to protect themselves.
On August 18, while Yakoumis, his wife, their son Andreas and five more of his fellow villagers were in the orchards, they were approached by about 100 Turkish soldiers and arrested. The officer in charge started beating the men on the head, using his pistol, asking them to answer where men of the National Guard were hiding.
In response to their response that they did not know, he continued to beat the arrested men, and then shot Yakoomi in the head, without reason or cause. In front of his wife's terrified eyes, he grabbed their son Andreas and threatened to repeat his brutal and cowardly act on him as well.
Finally, the arrival of a second officer of the Turkish troops, who was accompanied by a Turkish Cypriot friend of one of the Greek Cypriot arrestees, prevented the killing of all the others, including Andreas.
The next day and after pleas from his wife, she was allowed by the Turkish troops to collect her husband's body and with the help of other internees to bury him in the village cemetery.
His remains were exhumed from the Gypsos Cemetery during exhumations by the Missing Persons' Committee.
His remains were exhumed from the Gypsos Cemetery during exhumations by the Missing Persons' Committee.
Compatriots,
Forty-eight years have passed since the black summer of 74 and over 750 families of our missing persons are still waiting for answers about the fate of their loved ones. It is an unacceptable situation that has caused so much pain and anguish every day for nearly half a century. Responsible for the suffering and pain experienced by the families is the occupying power which created and maintains with tactics and obstacles the tragedy of the missing persons at the expense of our compatriots. We demand and expect the occupying power to take the political and humanitarian decisions needed to end the agony and suffering of the relatives of our missing persons. We together with the relatives will continue our just and honest struggle to clarify the fate of our last missing person. This is our duty and obligation.
Greeks, Greeks,
Along with our thoughts on the issue of the missing persons is always our national issue. Forty-eight years have passed since the Turkish invasion of Cyprus and the injustice against our people continues. Despite the difficulties, our side's efforts to seek a mutually acceptable and workable solution continue. The President of the Republic has repeatedly expressed our readiness to resume negotiations on the basis of the agreed bicommunal bi-zonal federation, as defined in the relevant United Nations resolutions, in accordance with the acquis of the European Union.
Our greatest duty is not to appear inferior to those who sacrificed and martyred, those who fought for the freedom and territorial integrity of our homeland and those who are still missing, with their loved ones continuing to fight for their fate, and many leaving this life with bitter regret in their hearts over the disappearance of their loved ones.
For all of them and for the generations to come, it is our duty to continue our struggle united in holding fast to the justice of our positions. Our goal is a solution that abolishes borders and occupation, reunites our country and ensures the rights and freedoms of all legitimate citizens.
Greeks, Greeks,
Today we are writing the epilogue of yet another tragic story of a worthy compatriot who was murdered in cold blood by the barbaric Turkish invader.
Dear Mrs. Eleni,
Dear children of the hero, Andreas, Anthulla, Charalabe and Savvas,
I express to you all our sincere condolences as well as our great appreciation, and even admiration, for the strength of soul that you have shown all these years by enduring your personal drama. I also express our sympathy and a great apology for the great ordeal you have experienced.
Cyprus bows before you and prays for you the consolation of God and for your man, your hero, the peace of his soul.
Today we bid farewell to Yakoumis Stylianou and we honour his memory with gratitude. We wish that justice will soon shine on our island and that we will return free and safe to Gypsum and our other occupied villages and towns. This is what Yakoomis Stylianou himself would have wanted very much.
Eternal be his memory.
Eternal and honoured.
(PM/MG)
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
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