Tension at crossing point as Turkish Cypriot marks 53rd anniversary of the Erenkoy resistance

Drama ensued on Tuesday August 8 at the Limnitis (Yeşilırmak - Turkish) crossing point when about 1000 Turkish Cypriots in 50 mini buses were refused entry into the enclave of Kokkina (Erenköy - Turkish), south Cyprus to commemorate the 53rd anniversary of the Erenköy resistance also known as the battle of Tylliria in 1964.

According to reports, the agreement between the two sides was that 30 coaches will be allowed to cross over to the Erenköy village, but instead the Turkish Cypriots came with 52 minibuses following which they were refused entry.

The passengers left the buses and formed a human barricade closing off entry from and to the north of the island through the crossing point following which the Turkish Cypriot police then closed the crossing completely for about 45 minutes, cutting off access to Greek Cypriots who wanted to pass back to the south.

Human barricade formed by Turkish Cypriot (Photo source - Havadis)

Following the intervention of the United Nation, the crisis came to an end with Greek Cypriot police allowing passage to all 52 buses to the enclave.

The ceremony began with a minutes silence and the raising of the flags to the national anthem. Turkish Cypriot President Mustafa Akıncı delivered a speech during the ceremony.

Turkish Cypriot president, Mustafa Akinci singing the national anthem (Photo source - BRT)

The anniversary of the heroic Erenköy resistance is marked every 8th of August with a ceremony at the Erenköy Martyrs Cemetery.

Brief History of the Anniversary 
A handful of villagers and volunteers, mainly made up university students who had left their studies and took up arms, had put up a heroic defence in the village of Erenköy and surrounding areas against a battalion of Greek and Greek Cypriot National Guard soldiers.

Erenköy village was one of the few areas where Turkish Cypriots had access to the sea which was vital for supplies and weapons.

18 Turkish Cypriots were martyred in 1964 and 21 in 1974.