Cyprus’ Long Road to Freedom: A Reflection on the Independence Movement

Cyprus, a small island nation located in the eastern Mediterranean, had a long and tumultuous journey towards achieving independence. The island was under foreign occupation for over three centuries, and it was only after several failed liberation movements that Cyprus finally gained its independence in 1960. This article will reflect on the independence movement and the challenges faced by the Cypriot people in their fight for freedom.

The history of Cyprus’s struggle for independence dates back to the Ottoman Empire’s occupation of the island in 1571. The Ottoman Empire ruled over the island for more than three centuries until the British Empire annexed it in 1878. Cyprus remained a British crown colony until the 1950s, where a nationalist movement began to emerge within the island’s Greek Cypriot community.

The independence movement, led by the Greek Cypriot political party, the National Organization of Cypriot Fighters (EOKA), aimed to unite the island with Greece, or Enosis. EOKA was led by Georgios Grivas, a military officer who had fought against the axis powers during World War II. EOKA’s guerrilla warfare and bombing tactics soon gained support from the island’s population, leading to a massive uprising against the British.

Despite violent clashes between British troops and EOKA, Cyprus was granted its independence in 1960. The agreement between the British government, the Greek and Turkish Cypriot leadership, and the Greek and Turkish governments was known as the Zurich-London agreements. The agreements established a power-sharing government between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities, with a Greek Cypriot as President and a Turkish Cypriot as Vice-President. However, the agreement also guaranteed Britain the use of two military bases on the island, and the island remained under British sovereignty.

The independence movement was not without flaws and obstacles. The Enosis movement was counterbalanced by a similar movement within the island’s Turkish Cypriot community that aimed to partition the island or Taksim. The Turkish Cypriots, who made up around 18% of the island’s population, feared that Enosis would lead to the marginalization of their minority community. The Turkish Cypriot leadership boycotted the negotiations for independence, leading to tensions between the two communities and paving the way for future conflicts.

Moreover, the British government’s use of force to suppress the EOKA movement also resulted in numerous casualties among the Cypriot population. The British used detention camps, torture, and other violent tactics to quell the uprising, leading to human rights abuses and violations.

Cyprus’s journey towards independence was not an easy one, but it stands as a testament to the resilience and determination of the Cypriot people in their fight for self-determination. The country, however, has since been fraught with tensions between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities and has been subject to external influence from regional powers. A settlement between the two communities remains elusive, and the island’s security and stability are still threatened by ongoing conflicts in the region.

In conclusion, Cyprus’s fight for independence was a long and arduous journey that spanned over three centuries and involved various actors and movements. While the independence movement was flawed and faced numerous obstacles, its success marks a turning point in the island’s history. Nevertheless, the island’s independence struggle is a reminder of the struggles that many nations have faced, and the work that is still needed to ensure that self-determination becomes a reality for all people.