GREEK CYPRIOT VIOLATION FOR FREEDOM OF PRESS
Turkish Cypriot journalist, Senem Gok, from the Turkish
Cypriot daily 'Kibris', in order to cover a story in the Greek Cypriot side
yesterday (13 April), was prevented from crossing over to the Greek Cypriot
side at the Metehan gate by Greek Cypriot officials.
Despite having an international press card, Greek Cypriot
officials alleging that Miss Gok was of Turkish origin, prevented her from
crossing over to the South, while another uniformed person told her "to
marry a Turkish Cypriot and then cross over".
Condemning the violation, the Turkish Cypriot Journalists
Union and the Press Workers Union, said (the Greek Cypriot side) preventing
colleagues from doing their jobs in the south by was unacceptable and the
issue has been brought to the attention of international press oganizations.
MARONITES LIVING IN TRNC GO TO POLLS FOR
FIRST TIME
Maronites living in Korucam in the TRNC, will, for the
first time in 31 years since the 1974 Peace Operation, go to the polls this
Sunday (17 April) to elect their own local administrators. Up until now,
muhktars have always been appointed to Korucam, but following a recent
decision taken by the TRNC Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Maronites will,
for the first time, now elect their own local administrators.
The election will take place on the same day as the TRNC
Presidential elections, with the only difference (with the TRNC election
system) being that even if there is a single candidate the election will be
based on the principle of majority. In the election, the 112 Maronites of
Korucam will elect 1 muhktar and members for 4 societies. Instead of the
election being monitored by the High Electoral Council, as is usually the
case for TRNC elections, staff from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs will
monitor the election.
