Solomos Solomou
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Solomos Solomou (Greek: Σολωμός Σολωμού) (1970 - 14 August 1996), was a Greek Cypriot activist. He was shot to death three times, while trying to climb the pole in order to remove a flag of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus from its mast,[1] in the aftermath of the funeral of his cousin Tassos Isaac, who was also killed by Grey Wolves[2] a few days earlier.
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[edit] Early life
Solomou was an internally displaced refugee from the Turkish invasion of Cyprus of 1974. He fled Famagusta at the age of four and moved to Paralimni.
[edit] Death during 1996 demonstrations
Following the funeral procession of Tassos Isaac, a group of unarmed Greek Cypriots entered the United Nations Buffer Zone for a peaceful demonstration and among them was Solomou.[3]. At around 2:20 pm, he distanced himself from the rest of the demonstrators and walked towards a Turkish post in Dheryneia. Solomou climbed the flag pole to remove the TRNC flag but was shot by Turkish snipers three times; in the mouth, in the neck and in the stomach.[1] The whole scene was taped by bystanding journalists who were covering the event, and was broadcasted in all major news networks in Greece and Cyprus.[1]
According to Greek Cypriot authorities, Solomou's killers were identified using photographic evidence as Kenan Akin and Erdal Haciali Emanet, members of the unrecognised TRNC administration (the first Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the second Chief of Special Forces). Warrants were issued for their arrest by the Cypriot government, along with three other people, Attila Sav, Chief of Police of TRNC, Hasan Kundakci, Lt. Gen. of the TRNC military and Mehmet Karli, Maj. Gen. of the Turkish Army.[4][5]
Solomou's funeral was held on the 16th of August in Paralimni, among thousands of people and an official Cypriot day of mourning.
[edit] Aftermath
The photo of Solomou climbing the Turkish flagpole has often been used as symbol of protest against Turkey's presence in Cyprus. Solomou's courage has been praised by a number of Greek politicians, with several prominent Greek composers and singers dedicating their songs to him. Dionysis Savvopoulos dedicated "Odi sto Georgio Karaiskaki", Dimitris Mitropanos/Thanos Mikroutsikos dedicated "Panta gelastoi" and Stelios Rokkos dedicated "Gia to Solomo Solomou". Two sources also cited the Turkish singer-composer Zülfü Livaneli as having sung in an on-the-spot concert in Solomou's memory (particularly his famous song "Yiğidim aslanım burda yatıyor"), but the singer denied it in all civility, stating "he was yet to go to Derinya".[6]
He is considered a national hero in Greece[7][8] and Cyprus, where he's often referred to as "hero-martyr" (Greek:ηρωομάρτυρας).[9][10][11]
[edit] Notes and references
- ^ a b c HRI Report with video of the killing
- ^ Arrest warrant against Mehmet Mustafa Arslan, the leader of Grey Wolves in Northern Cyprus.
- ^ Embassy of Cyprus to the US Report.
- ^ Arrest Warrants Issued in Murder of Solomou, Cyprus US Embassy Newsletter.
- ^ Antenna News in English, of 11/09/1996, Cyprus Retrieved on 2007-01-31.
- ^ Zülfü Livaneli's article on the allegations (tr).
- ^ Greek Army Staff Officers Union calls Isaac and Solomou ήρωες (=heroes) (Gr).
- ^ Greek newspaper Ta Nea refers to Solomou as ήρωας (=hero) (Gr).
- ^ Cypriot newspaper refers to Solomou (and Isaac) as ηρωομάρτυρες (="heroes-martyrs") (Gr).
- ^ Cyprus Minister calls Isaac and Solomou ηρωομάρτυρες (="heroes-martyrs") (Gr).
- ^ Cyprus News Agency refers to Solomou as ηρωομάρτυρα ("hero-martyr") (Gr).
