The Irony of Fate

Nuri h ad furniture entrusted to him to sell, and if any Greek Cypriot asked to buy for their temporary residence, he would bargain and accepted any reasonable price people offered.

His worry t was something completeley different on that day.The political situation on the island was not clear and many Turkish Cypriots fearing to be attacked by EOKa fanatics were making plans to leave the places that have served them as home for centuries.Turkish residents of Ktima were all squeezed into the very narrow compound of Muttalo, name people of of Paphos Ktima referrd to The Turkish Cypriot sector.They were afraid to leave the boundaries and everyone desired to find way and means to escape to the Turkish occupied part of the island, a long distance of about a hundred miles. Some paid to be smuggled ino the Turish occupied sector, others dared to walk through the mountains . In addition to the distance it was really daring to climb hills. It took about a week to reach the safety of the Turkish occupied zone of Cyprus.

Mr Nuri and his wife had made their decision. They would not keep their three sons in Paphos. Schools had opened and as there was no hope for shools to open they did not wish at all to lose precious time for their education.

They had paid about two hundred pounds to a lorry driver to carry their chidren to the Sovereign Bases at Dikhelia . When at Dikhelia It was easy to walk over the boundary into the Turkish coccupied part.of the island.

İn no time they got the good news that their sons had safely crossed into the Nothern Cyprus but they badly needed clothing. They had not taken any winter ware and Nicosia was very cold.

Nuri began asking poeople he knew it they knew anyone who could carry the luggage they prepared up to the Dikhelia, The British Bases. From there his sons could easly get the luggages without any problem whatsoever.

Somebody suggested a driver named Stratos. He was making regular journeys to the bases.

He quckly contacted this man name Stratos

Stratos accepeted and demanded fifty Cyprus pounds .İt was a lot of money, but there was nothing else he could do and would pay him as soon as his sons received the luggage which Stratos agreed to.

Stratos said,"I will be here early in the morning around seven o'clock. I will pick the luggage from your shop."

His wife also came with him. She was very worried for her husband to go to his shop at such an early hour. She wanted to be beside him in case anything happened. He slowly raised the rolling shutter of his shop and asked his wife to get in. It was cold and his wife's health was very frail.

About five minutes had passed. He looked at his watch with a great worry. Stratos had promised him he would not be late..

All of a sudden four plicemen and a sergeant in cahrge, rushed into the shop They were pointing their rifles towards him and his wife.

The segeant in an angry mode and voice said,"you will come with me to the police station." His wife and he were shocked at this unexpected visit of the police. There was nothing he could do but obey the sergeant's order. Knowing his wife's' ill health he said,"Should my wife come as well?"

The sergeant thought a moment and said."No. I do not think she will be needed." But the wife insisted." I do not want to be separated from my husband. I will go with him."

They were both trying to think why they were taken to the police.When the policemen took the two luggage they prepared to send to their sons everything became clear.

At the station the luggage they prepared to send to their chidren was thrown open and with a demanding voice the sergeant said."What are these?"

Nuri remeamebered the arrrangements he made with the driver. It was obvious he was either forced to pass the information to the police or he was a an informer.

Before he had time to explain his intention, the sergeant,named Liathi, pushed him into a room . He almost stumbled and had hardship to keep erect., The segeant pulled a chair beside the wall with the reard facing back. He ordered him to sit down and face the wall.

"Now," he said "tell me why you had these two luggage in your shop. Where did you intend to send them ?".

Nuri tried to look back but the Sergeant shouted , "don't look back . Just answer my qustion. If you endeavour to turn back I will not hesitate to beat you."

Nuri said,"Is it a crime or against the law to send colthing?. My sons are in Nicosia and badly in need of warm woollen clothing. I made arrangements with Stratos to take them up to the bases."

"The sergeant was in rage,"you will send their cothes now and after some time you will also find means to pass into the North. God knows you might go and settle in my house in Famagusta."

The sergeant was from Famagusta.He had also fled to safety and dwelt in a lodging the government assigned to him temporarily.

Nuri said, trying to keep his temper down.

" How would it be possble for me to find your house in Famagusta and dwell in it? Above all my relatives are settled in Morphou and most probably we will be settled there.."

There was nothing left to be said . The sergeant had no right to keep him under custody and asked his wife and Nuri to pick the scattered clothes and pack in the luggage and leave.

While leaving the police he could still hear him shouting,at the top of his voice "My eyes will be on you "

PART II

It was early May, 1975. Many Turkish Cypriots either paid quite a lump sum of money to Greeks to be carried to the bases or walk to the safe heaven ot the North or walked miles over hills and valleys to do the same thing. The journey was harsh; only teenagers dared the long distance and the challenge. A number of times they were caught, taken to the plice stations and faced bitter sarcasm, particularly from refugee policemen. On many instances the United Nations contingent hearing about Turkish Cypriots arrests would intervene and after negotiations returned them to their villages they came from.But people were adamant and continued fleeing whenever they found the opportunity. There were some who moved to the British bases of Episkopi, particulaly those who had teenage daughters fearing they could be raped . Nuri and his wife were still in Ktima.His wife had an aged mother who could no more look after herself and an aunt who also refused to leave behind her mother. He continued to open his shop everyday , not that he had furniture to make.but hoping their sons to call and tell him about the situation they were in. In no time his workshop was turned into a telephone office. As one of the few lines that had connection to north Nicosia, people qued early in the morning expecting calls from there loved ones.

The Red Cross also began organizing transfer of members of broken. families. One day the rumour that Mr Denktash and Mr Clerides were to make a joint visit of people who were denied safe journey to either side spread like a bush fire. When they came almost all the population still in Paphos and villages gathered at the small square on top of the cliff known as Mutallos. Both leaders were issuing permissions to those who were in great agony. Everyone wanted to receive the very precious permits but only very few had the luck either to approach the leaders to put their cases to them or who were previously suggested by the well- fare representatives who had the freedom of free movement to all villages of the district. Still Mr Nuri was in Ktima.

Then word went round that arangements wee almost completed for the exchange of population, Turkish Cyriots to move to the North and the Greek Cypriots to the South. This soon became a reality, and by 9th August, 1975 people were to be carried by busses porvided to their destined places.

Nuri was vey excited like everyone. He was to be united with his sons.He thought they were destitute. Although they had family connections they thought they as parens were the most adeaquate persons to take care of them..

They did not know where they were to be taken; once they arrived to the North, they did not give much importance to that.

In Nicosia they were notified that they were to dwell in Famagusta Although most Pahitis who either previosly fled or came through the good offices of the Red Cross, were settled in Morphou the authorities choice did not make much importance. What they wanted was to be united with their children.

In Famagusta they passed a night in The then Technical Institute, now The Eastern Meditterranean University.On the second day they were taken to the houses previously belonged to greek Cypriots.

They were put into a two storeyed building. That suited them as well, his wife's aunt and mother moved to the second floor and they entered the ground floor. The place was in turmail. There was no furniture whatsoever that could be used. All were looted or made useless.

While they were cleaning the house they came across some pictures.He could not believe his eyes. He looked at the pictures over and over agein. He called his wife over "Look at the man in this picture.". His wife gave a shriek of surprise. It was Sergeant Liathi, the police sergeant who arrested them in Paphos His last words still echoed in his ears." You will go to Famagusta and get my house."

"He's sergeant Liathi." Said both of them.

They went over all pictures once more and in no time found his wedding pictures as well.

"Let's keep them all ," said the wife.I know one day they will come.Evil is not paid by evil but by goodness."

All pictures were put into a box and were put into a safe place.

Negotiations for a final and viable solution for the tormented island continued without any solution in the vicinity.

Dr Ihsan Ali, who advocated for years against the partition of the island, chose to stay in paphos. Later he was appointed Makarios' advisor of Turkish affairs.

He died and his brother who also came to live with his family in Famagusta was permitted to join the funeral ceremony to take place in Paphos.

Nuri found him and said,.

" I would lke you to convey a message to police sergeant Liathi . I believe he is still stationed in Paphos.I beg you to tell him that what he dreaded very much has turned to truth. I am living in his house. But tell him I have not spoiled it . My wife and I have looked after it like our home."

He still felt the rage in his heart. He very much wished to hurt him by sending a different message.. But his feelings dıd not permit it.He did not want to hurt him He wanted to put him to rest. He understood the agony of losing one's home.

When Dr Ihsan Ali's brother returned, Nuri was one of the first persons to visit him. "Sergeant Liath, has sent his regards to you," he said " He also said he felt very sorry for the treatment he had shown you at the time he arrested you."

PART III

Negitations for a permanent solution for the divided island had failed. The Turkish people staged their strong will for the unity of Cypriots not once but five times which had created great effect even on the Greek Cypriots. "Big bang effect of a common Cyprus to be the home for all Cypriots took prominence all over the island. Then the unexpected took place. Cypriots were to be allowed to visit North and South freely. Restrictions forced upon the people were raised and all of a sudden on 23rd April barred wires at check points were removed and Cypriots from both sections flooded North and South. Greek Cypriots eager to see their homes again endured unbearable hardshp."We have waited twenty years. Is it too much to wait five or six hours more at the gates." They all remarked They were in the streets in growing numbers everday and were greeted warm heatedly by Turkish Cypriots. Turkish Cypriots in return who were not permitted to use their cars in the South, rushed to the known places of Nicosia on foot. In no time the Governemnt of Cyprus provided busses for those living at far away places like Paphos so that they could also go and see the places they were born and lived.

Mr Nuri was among the first group of people who applied to go. His excitement was something to be seen. He sent messages to his friends in Paphos that he was coming .He was embraced warmly by all his previous associates.He asked for Liathi, the sergeant.He could not forget him at all. He had retired and lived in a remote vllage of Paphos. He knew that he would come to visit his house.

Upon coming to Famagusta he made preparations to show his sincerity in case the Sergeant came. Two days ago while he was at the grocery his neihhbour's son came running to him.

"Uncle Nuri, you have visitors from the South.".

He quckly went home.

There was sergeant Liathi standing at the door with all the members of his family. Nuri shook the hands of everbody. Opened the door and invited all in. His wife was also at one of the neighbours . She also came home and greeted all in the same manner.

Liathi's face was red all over. He was obviously trying to hide his injustice he thirty years ago showed to Nuri.

Nuri was first to speak.

"Mr Liathi,"he said, "I have no grudge against you. I want you to to know that the rage I harboured for many years in my chest has subsided.May be you over reacted strongly in a way that I did not deseve..

Liathi was not ashamed to show his feelings; tears poured down his cheeks. "Mr Nuri. I want to ask your pardon for my inhuman behaviour. I hope you will pardon me"

They both stood up and stretched their hands to each other. They held each others hand warmly and strongly.

" We have both lived hard times. We Cypriots suffered very much. I hope we gain our common sense and will not allow the similar catastrophy to occur again." Then Nuri's wife brougtht the bundle of pictures she had so carefully kept.. "These belong to you. We could not throw them into the dust bin. We felt we did not have the right to do so "

Strong emotions could not be hidden any more.

Nuri said,"This is a proof of the proverb. Mountains do not meet but humans will one day come together."

Liathi said."We are starting the future today on the remnants of the past."

We will not allow the same to reoccur."