Posted by YiuPi in
opinion
I decided to write a few words regarding the recent demonstrations in Nicosia against immigrants.For those who do not know, a newly formed party called ELAM (Greek Popular Front) organised a demonstration last Sunday, on the 27th of December to condemn the "peaceful invasion of foreign workers that threatens the national and financial position of the Greeks of Cyprus". With their main slogan, "Every foreign worker = one Cypriot out of job", around 100 men tried to demonstrate against immigrants in Cyprus. Dressed in black, marching in military form and with the majority hiding their face from the camera, they reminded me of Neo-fascist groups which currently exist all over Europe and have similar ideas.
Fortunately there was an anti-demonstration with hundrets of people preventing this group from completing their target.
I am really sad that such a group exists in Cyprus. We are the country with a very large number of emigrants, all over the world. From London to Berlin, from New York to Moscow, from Sydney to Cape Town, the whole globe is scattered with Cyrpiots, both G/C and T/C. Apparently London has more Cypriots living than the whole of Nicosia!! And thousands of students every year get educated in universities all over the world! How could we organise such evil events when our relatives are still there, enjoying the hospitality of such countries??
I am writing this because my grandparents worked as cleaners in a hopsital in London. My aunts are still there in England working. I have cousins in Canada and Australia and I am currently studying in London....
All political parties, condemned this racist group and exposed the nature of ELAM as an extreme right wing organisation. Only EUROKO had nothing to say.
We have the duty to treat these people in a good way. Our civilisation is judged by the way we treat foreign workers and visitors and we should not permitt such groups to change the tenderness by which traditionally the Cypriot society views foreigners.
3 Response to ELAM, immigrants and demonstrations...
It is indeed worrying that such agents of hate exist in any society. However we need to consider that democracy allows free speech for all, and thus manipulating information to achieve any twisted goal is possible. Your hope and mine should lay with the fact that the voices of the sensible will continue to resonate stronger than those of fascist groups and we can count on our people to prevent this small country from yielding to the fear spread by them.
In a democracy everyone is entitled of his say.
An anti-demonstration and the forcefull silencing of an opposing idea is fascistic and antidemocratic.
I think it is hypocritical of you to condemn fascism on one hand and then support the silencing and abolishment of demonstrators. Whatever they are demonstrating about. Feel free not to join them, or accuse their ideas, but attempting to silence them crosses the line.
Shame on you
dear Anonymous,
It seems that you're very insistant on free speech. however, the most ardent proponent of free speech, J.S. Mill, first lays down a principle which says that "the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others." (Mill, 1978, 9). ]
elsewhere, Mill i think simply states that there's a place and a time to voice your opinion. where i want to lead this is that if you decide to voice your opinion not in a civilised panel but with a demonstration, dressed in black and being ready for a fight (though on both sides there were people dressed in black and ready for a fight) then you're asking for trouble, or rather, if some other people decide to react against this, then you probably can't appeal for democratic and civilised discussion. what do you think? what's your 'line' that you mention?
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