EOKA

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EOKA (Εθνική Οργάνωσις Κυπρίων Αγωνιστών, Ethniki Organosis Kyprion Agoniston (Greek for National Organisation of Cypriot Fighters)) was a Greek Cypriot nationalist organisation that fought for the expulsion of British troops from the island, for self-determination and for union with Greece in the mid to late 1950s. The United Kingdom promised Greece that all the above would be a commitment to be fulfilled if Greece would enter World War II on the side of the Allies. Britain did not honor this commitment and EOKA engaged to free the Greek Cypriots from British rule. The leadership of AKEL at the time(a communist organisation) opposed EOKA's military action, preferring strikes and demonstrations, and thus making itself the only Communist party in the world that refused to take part in the anti-colonial struggle of its country". This came into direct contrast with the previous leadership who some 5 years ago organised and plebiscite of 1950, where the vast majority of all cypriot (Greeks, Turks, Maronites and Latins) vote for the union with Greece (98%). Also many members of the party fought in WWII on the side of the allies, in response to Britain's promise of union with Greece. AKEL was accused of receiving fundings from the UK communist party.

The organisation was headed by George Grivas, a Cyprus born Colonel in the Greek army, who distinguished himself during World War II and the subsequent Hellenic Civil War. Grivas assumed the nom de guerre Digenis in honour of the Byzantine legend Digenis Akritas, who repelled invaders from the Byzantine Empire during the middle ages. The EOKA was clandestinely supported by the Greek Government in the form of arms, money and propaganda on radio stations broadcast from Athens. Its military campaign began on April 1, 1955 and while its main target was the British military, the EOKA also targeted civilian installations on the island as well as assassinating pro-British Cypriots, informants, Taksim (Turkish Cypriot supporters of partition), and members of the Turkish Cypriot insurgent organisation, the Turkish Resistance Organization.

Over the period 30,000 British troops were assigned to combat the organisation. Troops were used to bring down any action that would evoke patriotic feelings (Greeks were not allowed to sing their National anthem and the education was controled) as well as actively hunt EOKA personnel. During a student demonstration, British troops opened fire resulting in the death of numerous students.

On the 16 June 1956, the bombing of a restaurant by EOKA led to the death of William P. Boteler, a CIA case officer working under State Department cover ^[1]

In October 1956 an EOKA leader, Pilots Christofi, was captured during Operation Sparrowhawk. The following year Grigoris Afxentiou was burned while still alive by the British troops. A number of other Greek fighters were hanged, including a 15-year old poet.

EOKA's activity continued until December 1959 when a cease-fire was declared which paved the way for the Zürich agreement on the future of the country.

The EOKA aim to rid Cyprus of British rule was partially met when on 16 August 1960 Cyprus achieved independence from the United Kingdom with the exception of two "Sovereign Base Areas" (SBA) at Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The settlement explicitly denied enosis - the union with Greece sought by EOKA. Although Cyprus gained its independence, it came with a complex constitution and the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee - a security arrangement compromising of a three-way guaranteeship from Turkey, Greece and Britain that neither would annex the independent republic. (see History of Cyprus).

After independence EOKA fighters formed regional associations such as ΣΑΠΕΛ (Σύνδεσμος Αγωνιστών Πόλεως και Επαρχίας Λεμεσού; Union of Fighters of Limassol and district) that have been participating in commemorations, museum collections etc. In the 90's a dedicated old people's home for ex EOKA fighters was constructed in the village of Palodhia, near Limassol.

[edit] EOKA-B

EOKA-B was a Greek Cypriot right-wing pro-enosis paramilitary organisation formed in 1971 that was supported by the ruling Greek military junta which came to power in 1967 overthrowing the legitimate Greek government of Panayiotis Kanellopoulos. The organization is commonly referred as a terrorist organization by Turkey and the United Kingdom^[2] because EOKA B was engaged in the murder of civilians. This terminology was shared by President Makarios on his speech at the UN following the coup.^[3]

When George Grivas returned to Cyprus in 1971, he created EOKA-B in response to President Archbishop Makarios' deviation from the policy of enosis. He was angered by Makarios' rejection of enosis in 1959 and was further riled when the President reaffirmed this position on his re-election in 1968. Grivas took the reins of EOKA-B and attempted to overthrow Makarios in order to achieve enosis through violent means.

Whereas EOKA (1955-59) were seen by the majority of the Greek Cypriots as anti-colonialist freedom fighters, the EOKA-B did not have the overwhelming support of the Greek Cypriot population, who where skeptical over the organisation's involvement with the unpopular Greek dictatorship.^{[citation needed]} They did not want to swap their newly found independence for direct rule from Athens. The organisations unpopularity increased after attacks on Greek Cypriot socialists and supporters of independence, while public outrage followed the murder of government minister Polycarpos Georgadjis and a botched assassination attempt on Makarios.

When Grivas died from heart failure in January 1974, the new leadership of EOKA-B increasingly came under the direct control and influence of the military junta in Athens. On July 15, 1974, the EOKA-B with approval of the Greek Dictator Dimitrios Ioannides and the help of the National Guard, launched a military coup, overthrowing Makarios and installing Nikos Sampson as the dictator of Cyprus. This action served only to provoke a Turkish military invasion on July 20, 1974, leading to the subsequent de facto division of the island.

[edit] References

1. ^ Gup, Ted. Book of Honor: Covert Lives and Classified Deaths at the CIA page 90, New York, Doubleday, 2000. ISBN 0-385-49293-6
2. ^ "Middle East: Missing Persons", Accessed June 17, 2006.
3. ^ "Speech by Makarios", Accessed June 17, 2006.