A number of very serious questions arise out of the tragic violent events that took place on 5/11/2010 during the Rainbow Festival in Larnaca, about which KISA wants to state the following
The decision to organise the Festival on the particular date and time was taken collectively by all cooperating organisations of migrants and human rights and it aimed particularly to highlight that, apart from a small group of racists and chauvinists, society at large declares its respect for diversity and equality of all people, irrespective of race, religion, colour or any other diversity. The venue of the Festival was not a matter of KISA’s choice but it is the place where all open-air cultural activities are held in Larnaca. The fact that the Festival in Larnaca was organised with the support of the European Commission’s Representation in Cyprus and was addressed by the Head of the Authority against Discrimination and Racism of the Ombudsman’s Office, the Head of the European Commission’s Representation in Cyprus and the Mayor of Larnaca unequivocally reflects the Festival’s aims.
The organisers of the Festival talked to all participating organisations and groups and there was total agreement that we would not be provocative, either through a counter demonstration or by moving towards the demonstration of the racists-chauvinists, but that we were determined to protect the Festival from racist violent attacks.
The only request we submitted, both before and during the Festival, to the police was for them to assess the slogans and the statements of the racists and chauvinists, and to take all necessary steps for implementing the law.
We also asked the police, before and during the Festival, to keep the demonstration of the racists at an appropriate distance in order to avoid endangering direct contact, oral or physical, and insult the Festival participants, among whom there were children, older and disabled people, as it was the case previously in the march of the racists and chauvinists of ELAM in Nicosia.
Contrary to our request, the police did not take the necessary measures to avid the events for reasons we call on them to explain. It is noted that the police themselves had initially told the District Administration that they were negative in the issue of a licence to the Festival to use loudspeakers because “there will be simultaneously a peaceful protest march against illegal immigration and it is probable that there will be some episodes”. In KISA’s opinion this position clearly shows that the police intended to protect the march of the racists and chauvinists while, at the same time and despite the fact that they recognised the risks of clashes, did not take any measures to prevent them.
For those present in the events it was more than apparent that the police exercised pressure and violence against the antiracists in order to open the way for the racists and chauvinists to march. Indicative of this position is the statement of the representative of the chauvinists and racists Krinos Makrides in a daily newspaper that the police “stood by us and they are all our children and we protected them”.
The participants in the so called “peaceful march” went into the Festival venue and mercilessly assaulted anyone in their path, disconnected the power supply to the Festival, while away from the Festival venue they hit Turkish Cypriot musicians with bats and stabbed one of them in the chest, hit a migrant on the head who had nothing to do with the Festival and was hospitalised, while they threatened and swore at antiracists, without any of them being arrested and detained.
On the contrary, the police “managed” to arrest six persons, all participants in the Rainbow Festival, of whom four Cypriots and two underage migrants, who are still in detention from last night and without any explanation as to the reason of their detention or the offences under investigation.
KISA also condemns the participation in the racist and chauvinist march of politicians and more particularly of a Member of the House of Representatives and a member of a local council, who appear to have a leading role.
In light of the above, KISA demands –
- An independent investigation of the events, including the stance and actions of the police
- The immediate release of the persons who are unfairly detained, especially of the minors
- Taking effective measures against the phenomena of racism and chauvinism
