Today, we solemnly mark the 61st anniversary of December 21, 1963, a day that plunged Cyprus into a dark chapter of violence, betrayal, genocide and ethnic cleansing.

 

Known to Turkish Cypriots as "Bloody Christmas," this day marked the violent collapse of the Republic of Cyprus and the commencement of a systematic campaign to eradicate the Turkish Cypriot people. This tragedy was orchestrated under the Akritas Plan, a sinister blueprint for genocide masked as a quest for unity with Greece through enosis.

 

On this somber day of commemoration, we honor the memory of those who perished, acknowledge the resilience of those who survived, and renew our commitment to ensuring that the world never forgets the atrocities committed against the Turkish Cypriot community.

 

The Fragile Foundation of Cyprus

The Republic of Cyprus was born in 1960, a delicate balance of Greek and Turkish Cypriot partnership intended to foster peace and cooperation. Its constitution, brokered by Britain, Türkiye, and Greece, enshrined equal rights and political representation for both communities. However, the Greek Cypriot leadership quickly viewed this arrangement as an obstacle to their ultimate ambition: enosis (union with Greece).

 

By 1963, the Greek Cypriot leadership, led by Archbishop Makarios III, sought to unilaterally amend the constitution, stripping Turkish Cypriots of their guaranteed rights. When Turkish Cypriot leaders rejected these amendments, tensions escalated. In the shadows, the Akritas Plan was being prepared—a calculated strategy to violently remove Turkish Cypriots from power and, if necessary, from the island itself.

 

The Akritas Plan: A Blueprint for Genocide

The Akritas Plan, named after its architect Polikarpos Yorgacis, the Greek Cypriot Minister of Interior, was a chilling document that outlined a systematic strategy to suppress Turkish Cypriots politically and, if required, through armed violence. The plan detailed steps to provoke Turkish Cypriots into reacting, enabling Greek Cypriots to justify their violent suppression.

 

Key figures behind the Akritas Plan included:

 

- Archbishop Makarios III: The political leader who facilitated the nationalist vision of enosis.
- Polikarpos Yorgacis: The chief architect of the Akritas Plan.
- Glafkos Clerides: An influential political figure in the Greek Cypriot leadership.
- General Karayiannis: A military strategist instrumental in orchestrating the violence.

 

The Akritas Plan emphasized swift and decisive action to "neutralize" Turkish Cypriots before international intervention could occur. Paramilitary groups, including remnants of EOKA, were mobilized, and weapons were secretly stockpiled in preparation for the plan’s execution.

 

Bloody Christmas: The Beginning of the End

The violence began on the night of December 21, 1963, in Nicosia’s Tahtakale district. Greek Cypriot police officers stopped a Turkish Cypriot couple, leading to an altercation that resulted in the brutal killing of two Turkish Cypriots. This incident served as the spark for a meticulously coordinated series of attacks on Turkish Cypriot neighborhoods and villages.

 

The atrocities were carried out with brutal efficiency:

 

- 103 Turkish Cypriot villages were attacked, many razed to the ground.
- 364 Turkish Cypriots were killed, including women, children, and the elderly.

- In the infamous Kumsal Massacre, the wife and three children of Major Dr. Nihat İlhan were slaughtered in their home.

- Over 25,000 Turkish Cypriots were forcibly displaced, corralled into enclaves covering a mere 3% of the island’s territory.

 

Entire communities were obliterated, homes burned, and livestock slaughtered. The violence was accompanied by systematic looting and economic sabotage, leaving Turkish Cypriots destitute and defenseless.

 

Life in the Enclaves: Survival Under Siege

The forced displacement of Turkish Cypriots resulted in their confinement to isolated enclaves, where they lived under constant threat. Basic necessities such as food, medicine, and building materials were severely restricted. Over 40 essential goods were banned from entering Turkish areas, creating a humanitarian crisis.

 

Conditions within the enclaves were dire:

- Families lived in tents, caves, or makeshift shelters.
- Access to education, healthcare, and employment was systematically denied.
- Aid from the Turkish Red Crescent and international organizations became the lifeline for survival.

The Greek Cypriot leadership’s goal was clear: to starve Turkish Cypriots into submission or force them to flee the island entirely.

 

The International Community’s Complicity

The international response to the events of December 1963 was woefully inadequate. In March 1964, the United Nations deployed the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), but the atrocities had already left an indelible scar. Instead of holding the Greek Cypriot leadership accountable, the global community continued to recognize their administration as the sole legitimate government of Cyprus.

 

The Turkish Cypriot community, despite being victims of ethnic cleansing, faced embargoes and political isolation. The perpetrators of these atrocities, including prominent Greek Cypriot leaders, evaded justice and were even lauded internationally. This failure to act emboldened the aggressors and perpetuated the suffering of Turkish Cypriots.

 

A Legacy of Resilience

Despite decades of persecution, displacement, and isolation, the Turkish Cypriot people have demonstrated extraordinary resilience. The events of December 21, 1963, became a catalyst for their unwavering pursuit of justice and self-determination. In 1983, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) was declared, providing a sanctuary for a community that had endured unimaginable hardship.

 

The TRNC remains unrecognized by the international community, a testament to the enduring double standards of global politics. However, it stands as a symbol of Turkish Cypriot resilience and their refusal to be erased from history.

 

A Call to Remember and Act

As we commemorate this solemn anniversary, let us remember the victims of Bloody Christmas and honor their sacrifices. The events of December 21, 1963, are not just a historical tragedy but a stark reminder of the consequences of unchecked nationalism and international apathy.

 

Recognition of the TRNC is not only a matter of justice but a necessity for lasting peace in Cyprus. The international community must confront the truths of 1963 and acknowledge the suffering endured by Turkish Cypriots. Only then can a genuine path to reconciliation and coexistence be forged.

 

In Memory of Our Martyrs

To those who lost their lives during Bloody Christmas, we say: We will never forget. We will never forgive. Your sacrifices will not be in vain. Let this day serve as a reminder of the resilience of the Turkish Cypriot people and their enduring fight for justice, dignity, and sovereignty.

 

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References

- "Bloody Christmas (1963)." Wikipedia.
- "Akritas Plan." Wikipedia.
- "Cyprus History: The Akritas Plan." cypnet.co.uk.
- "1963 is still a historical minefield." Cyprus Mail.
- "Cyprus - Intercommunal Violence, 1963-67." Country Studies.
- "Speech by President Ersin Tatar on the occasion of 20 July Peace and Freedom Day." cb.gov.ct.tr.
- "Cyprus: 1957-1963 From Colonial Conflict to Constitutional Crisis." Cyprus Review.
- "Kumsal Massacre Eyewitness Accounts." Turkish Red Crescent Reports.
- "Cyprus - 1963 Constitutional Breakdown." country-data.com.
- "The Cyprus Problem: A Detailed Analysis." histoyouth.org.