60, 000 Cypriots Rallied Against Denktash
The rally started at around 11:00 a.m. five speakers addressed the cheering crowd. They spoke on behalf of their non-governmental organizations (NGOs). SOS music band played and sang songs between speeches.
Sixty thousand people gathered in the main square of the divided city of Nicosia. Turkish Cypriots held another rally less than a month ago. This time, the platform on which the speakers addressed the crowd was placed 40 meters back from where it stood last time. Some unions' groups were unable to enter the square.
Strike, boycott, and shutdown stores
Civil servants and teachers in northern Cyprus were on strike today. A large number of people working in the private sector were also on strike. Work places were shut down. The Near East University went on a boycott and halted classes for four hours. Students and teachers went on a boycott for the first time in northern Cyprus.
Another interesting thing about this rally was the timing. The rally took place as the speaker of Turkey's parliament; Bulent Arinc came to Cyprus with a group of lawmakers. Arinc and the MPs were invited to the rally. They announced they would not attend.
They were invited today for the second time. Ali Erel, head of the Chamber of Commerce sent a message to Arinc and his group. "Come here and see for yourself what the Turkish Cypriots want," said Erel.
Almost everyone at the rally waved European Union flags. "Peace in Cyprus cannot be prevented," chanted the crowd frequently. They also called on the Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, to resign.
The organizers called the rally, "Rally for Solution and EU." There was a question on people's minds: Would the people, who gathered at the rally on December 26, be present for this rally? The people, almost double of the people at the last rally, demonstrated their determination.
The speakers emphasized that the policies in Cyprus were no longer valid, and that Denktash could no longer stand against the people's will. They demanded a move toward peace by February 28 - a date set by the United Nations for a solution on the island.
Special message to CHP
The demonstrators and speakers expressed support to the policies of the Justice and Development Party (AKP). The crowd chanted slogans in support of AKP. The demonstrators protested the Republican People's Party (CHP), head of CHP Deniz Baykal, Bulent Ecevit and the writers and politicians in Turkey that are against a solution in Cyprus.
The crowd dispersed peacefully at 1:00 p.m. Police took extra security measures for the rally. (NK/EA/NM)