How electronic eavesdropping keeps a small part of Cyprus forever British

[Orphic_Hymn]

How electronic eavesdropping keeps a small part of Cyprus forever British
By Robert Fisk, Middle East Correspondent
Published: 05 July 2001


Why are the Brits in Cyprus?


Why are the British in Cyprus? Long after two world wars and a Cold War and a miserable adventure in Suez, still we do not seem to be able to shake ourselves off the island and our dreamy, largely empty sovereign military bases.

Almost half a century ago, we had 40,000 troops on the island. Today, just 4,500 are left to man its desolate air base at Akrotiri and, along with tens of thousands of British, German and Swedish tourists, drink the island's execrable wine. So why are we there?

In Ottoman times, the Turkish fleet would fire a salute each time it passed the Teke Mosque on the edge of the Larnaca salt lake in honour of the Prophet's aunt, Um Haram, who was buried beneath the delicate brown dome. From the Crusades, Cyprus had always inspired military and political hopes.

Long before the British turned it into a colony after the First World War, Theodore Herzl had suggested to the British colonial secretary Joseph Chamberlain that the island * rented from Turkey under an 1878 agreement * could become a provisional Jewish homeland before Palestine became available. For the British, however, it was always a strategic imperial asset.

They offered the island to Greece in the 1914-18 war in a vain attempt to bring the pro-German king on to the Allied side. In the Second World War, as 30,000 Cypriots volunteered for the Allied cause * believing this would earn them independence after the war * the Italians bombed Nicosia airport.

But when the Cold War began, the Foreign Office decided that British "defence interests" meant the island could never expect its freedom. It was this that started Eoka's uprising for independence.

In 1956, even as British sentries manned road-blocks across the island, RAF bombers were taking off from Cyprus to bomb Suez. Egyptian guerrillas were flown into Larnaca for interrogation and * according to at least one survivor * to be tortured.

Even after a cruel war of independence, the British clung on to their three bases. Anachronism though they were, they came to be seen as R-and-R operations, the garrisons more interested in drinking * and sometimes fighting * in the beach resort of Ayia Napa. In the worst case of its kind, in September 1994, a young Danish tour guide called Louise Jensen was dragged from her boyfriend by three members of the Royal Green Jackets, raped and murdered. Allan Ford, Justin Fowler and Geoff Pernell were convicted less than two years later amid much bitterness among the Cypriots. Had the girl been a Cypriot, it was said, the three would have been lynched.

If Cyprus was a low-grade staging post during the 1991 Gulf War, however, the real reason for the British presence today has nothing to do with colonial power. The domed listening station on the top of Mount Troodos and the Dhekelia and Akrotiri listening bases * their electronic eavesdropping apparatus can penetrate as far as Siberia and Iran * are the cause of "our" continued miniature rule on the island.

In this context, it is not surprising that the British are determined to construct their new antenna: "security" comes first; even if it's not Cypriot security.


Source:
The Independent

[Reaper]

You can only blame the Cypriots for tolerating them.

[Orphic_Hymn]

Do or did they really have a choice?
I mean in every proposed "solution", even in the original 1960's treaty, the Brits had secured a totally legalized presence there.

[Reaper]

No, I mean tolerating British tourists 24/7, showing no hatred/. riots towards the bases, throwing no stones, not asking why the British did not do anything in the Invasion - no inquiry, there is no rebellion. They have documents the UK and USA wanted partition, what do they do? Review the bases and ask the EU for help? No, Nothing. All there is, is the typical Cypriot fascination with what money they can earn - in this case from the bases:

http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldN...9?feedType=RSS

[Orphic_Hymn]

On the base issue I'll agree but tourist?
Well except those of the "British residents society" I don't see why they should show some hatred to an entire population due to its government's fuck ups. Its similar to us hating all Germans and Italians cause they invaded/occupied the country in the 40's or all Americans for the US implication in the Hounta

[Reaper]

The British are on-mass buying Northern Cyprus properties and the main tourists who visit the occupied north.

Most sites are in English because they buy there almost exclusively and if you come to london, you will see taxis, buses ect advertising Northern cyprus. Browse these:

http://www.aboutnorthcyprus.com/index.php/feature/c/C8/
http://www.cyprusislandhomes.com/
http://www.sunny-property.co.uk/
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/overseas/...n-cyprus/girne
http://www.stringerestates.com/
http://www.shelteroffshore.com/index...perty/cat/C60/
http://www.cyprus-homes.com/


I am disgusted at how tolerant the Cypriots are of British. I do not think you can compare the Germans still being despised because of their actions in the 40s. After the invasion of Cyprus, I think almost any other people on earth would have seriously tried to remove those bases through all means and reconsider the British presence in Cyprus, a presence which takes up 98 square miles of the south! In Cyprus they are happy to make little remarks like a bitchy girl here and there but continue the status quo and always be ready to serve English fish and chips and hope they do not visit the north and leave their money there. I feel that is pathetic. But this is just my view, I am sure others will disagree. If this happened where I am from in Greece, I can tell you, the British would not feel safe walking down the street and those in the bases? They would wish they were reposted to another country.

[Lakonian]

I dont see why the finger should always be pointed to Cyprus in terms of loaylty.

Greece should look to Cyprus for a thing or two on how to grow a backbone when push comes to shove.

Compare the size of Cyprus and the fact that its still occupied, it still bumps chest with the Anglos and the Turks.

[Reaper]

I am sorry, I thoroughly disagree. If you want strong Greeks, you go to the Peloponnese, you go to Crete. The last place having gone through all the Greek diaspora in the world would be Cyprus. I have known 100's of Cypriots. Many more Greeks. You can not compare the two when it comes down to fighting to the death and being war like. Cypriots are masters of trade, not fighting. Any man of the world knows that. Two seperate races as far as that is concerned. Are there brave individuals in Cyprus? 100%. As a race are they fighters? Never in a million years. Read this for a dose of reality:

http://greekmilitary.net/Spartans74.html