The emotion is imprinted on all of our faces. With the unveiling of his bust here in the cemetery of St. George Kontos, we honor the youngest hero of the national liberation struggle of the EOKA of '55-'59, the youngest but great in soul, seven-year-old Dimitrakis Dimitriadis.
I thank all those who contributed to the completion, in a short time, of this monument. I thank the Department of Public Works, the Deputy Director Mrs. Eleni Kaskiri, the District Engineer of Larnaca Mr. Lazaros Lazarou, as well as the sculptor of the project Mr. Kiki Patsalos. Special thanks to His Eminence Metropolitan of Kition, Mr. Nektarios, for granting the space here in the cemetery of St. George for the construction of the monument. Thanks also to Father Philip and his associates for their help and cooperation. Finally, thanks to the hero's family for the honour of unveiling their hero.
Together we honour the enthusiasm, pride, heroism, self-sacrifice and patriotism of the thousands of young people of that era who shared from the beginning, and made it their own, the great vision of EOKA for freedom from the colonial yoke and the union of Cyprus with Greece.
Together we honour the enthusiasm, pride, heroism, self-sacrifice and patriotism of the thousands of young people of that era who shared from the beginning, and made it their own, the great vision of EOKA for freedom from the colonial yoke and the union of Cyprus with Greece.
The struggle against the colonialists for the acquisition of the most precious good of a people, that of their freedom, was not only written on the marble threshing floors, in the mountains and wherever else the fighters of EOKA were confronted with the forces of the British oppressor. It was also written in the demonstrations, the uprisings and generally in the reaction of the Cypriot Hellenism that had been demonstrating its desire for freedom for years before.
The decision for the armed struggle was taken after the demands of the Cypriot Hellenism had been rejected in the previous period with the pandemic rallies, the embassy missions abroad, the uprising of October 1931 with the imprisonments, deportations and expulsions. The referendum held by the National Church of Cyprus on 15 January 1950 was the culmination of the expression of our people in favour of union with Greece. But the English again rejected its request. This was followed on 17 December of the same year by the rejection by the UN General Assembly of Greece's request for the application, under the auspices of the United Nations, of the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples also in the case of the people of Cyprus.
It is against this background that the Cypriot Hellenism was led to the decision to wage an armed struggle in order to assert its inalienable right to freedom.
This struggle was quickly embraced by the entire people. Men, women and children, each in their own way, made their mark on the unequal struggle. The superiority of the English was evident, but their stubbornness and longing for freedom armed them with courage and strength. EOKA intensified its activity and the students poured into the streets. With Greek flags in their hands and with bells and slogans they filled the streets in protest. They were overwhelmed by the injustice felt by all our people. The oppressors, once again, are sending armored soldiers to deal with the "threat" of the children.
It was in this climate of national uplift and militancy that the story of our little hero, Dimitris Dimitriadis, who passed into immortality on March 14, 1956, when a colonial military officer's bullet hit him in the face, near here, on the Larnaca street that bears his name, was written.
In Larnaca, the schoolchildren gather in the area of the church of Agios Lazaros.
In Larnaca, the schoolchildren gather in the area of the church of Agios Lazaros. They ring the bells and erect makeshift barricades, wanting to prevent the soldiers from approaching. Soon they are joined by primary school children with small flags in their hands, including Dimitrakis. Soon, however, vehicles with armed English soldiers arrive and a wild chase begins, while Dimitrakis and two other classmates were demonstrating in the area. According to information and testimonies, at some point an English soldier fired in the direction where Dimitrakis and his two classmates were. One of the bullets hit Dimitrakis in the head and caused his instant death. Dimitrakis' lifeless body was then removed from the area and taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The British, wanting to avoid further demonstrations, tried to bury the little hero in the evening. And to do this they tried to persuade his father to dig the grave and have the burial at night. But he did not accept and on March 15, 1956, a sad and angry crowd of Larnaca residents bid farewell to little Dimitrakis.
The story of Dimitrakis Dimitriadis, the youngest hero of our liberation struggle of '55-'59, is truly shocking. A child of seven years old did not bend before the armoured British soldiers, and with the stones he threw against them together with other children, he demonstrated the desire for freedom and union with Greece, as the overwhelming majority of the Cypriot people had felt for centuries deep in their souls.
"Honor and glory to Demetrakis Demetriades who taught the children of Cyprus the best lesson of history", is inscribed on the bust of the little hero at Kalogera Primary School.
The story of Demetrakis is as shocking as it is tragic. Two years and four days later, Evagoras Pallikaridis, who praised Dimitrakis with his verses, was hanged.[/I]
-And you, slave boy, why do you stand and look sad?
Can't you fight?
-I have no weapon, captain.
-Here are the stones.
Following a request from the family, and with the help of the late journalist Pambos Vassilas, to locate his remains, the State responded immediately and fervently. As a result of our efforts, the remains of the little hero were located on 30 October 2021 in a multiple burial site at the cemetery of St. George Kontos. All procedures were followed with the exhumation and identification of the remains in order to create a grave with the name of the hero to honor his memory and sacrifice in accordance with our sacred traditions.
And today, together with members of his family, shocked by Dimitrakis' sacrifice, but with a strong sense of pride for its greatness, we unveil his bust. Just as he and many others did not hesitate to become an example of supreme love and heroic service to the homeland, let us all put the interests of the homeland above all else and with unity and responsibility assert our rights by resolutely rejecting the blackmail and threats of the occupying power.
With the main and ultimate goal of ensuring the survival of the Cypriot Hellenism in this corner of the Eastern Mediterranean, we must continue our struggle based on international law as contained in the resolutions and resolutions of the United Nations, as well as the principles and values of the European Union, without being bowed down by the difficulties and problems.
This is dictated by the criticality of the times, our submission and our debt to those who sacrificed and martyred for the freedom of our country. This is the minimum tribute to our heroes, our history, our country and our nation.
We pay this minimum tribute today with the unveiling of the hero's bust.
Glory and honour to Dimitrakis Dimitriadis. With his sacrifice and his love for his country, he has forever earned a prominent place in our history.
Eternal be his memory.
Eternal and honoured.
(ΕΠ/ΣΧ)
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