The Cyprus Action Network has taken the lead to bring to the international community’s attention the flood of human rights violations that have taken place in the days preceding the referendum on the 24th of April. Violations fall into the many categories some of them listed below.
Government misinformation: Local media and politicians reported that state ministers and officials terrorized government employees, claiming that if the Annan Plan were to be accepted there would be salary cuts, benefit and job losses.1 In particular, the employees targeted were in the police force, in the military, and in the tourism industry (one of the largest, more profitable industries in the South).
· Education: Teachers in public schools have been pressuring students to support a “NO” vote, encouraging nationalistic behavior and refusing room for discussion in the classroom.2 A discussion on the plan to be held at the English school was cancelled, and the student organizing it was threatened. Threats for the son of a high rank civil servant who resigned because of his disagreement with the government were written on the walls.3
· Media misinformation: Both UN and EU mediators have been prevented from exposing their views in private and public media in the South.4 Moreover, there are claims from politicians that the government had interfered with the operation of the state television channel, CyBC, and organized the president's interview right before the end of the campaign period to avoid the response of the "yes" side.5
· Miscellaneous: A Greek Orthodox bishop threatened voters with damnation if they support the United Nations plan.6 The Church’s influence in the South should not be underestimated, where there is still a large number of practicing Greek Orthodox citizens.
http://www.tech4peace.org/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=4306
I'm waiting your comments my Greek Cypriot friends!
Most probably you'll deny these !
