This Sunday, July 16, the Justice for Cyprus Coordinating Committee, ΣΕΚΑ-SEKA, will present a series of events to commemorate the 1974 invasion of Cyprus by Turkey. The events include church services, wreath laying, radio forums, and a concert. Doxa Komodromou, the Cypriot government deputy spokesperson is here from Cyprus specifically for the commemorations.

In the morning, a memorial service will be held at Saint Efstathios Church in South Melbourne, followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the Australian Hellenic Memorial at noon. In the afternoon, a free concert has been organized at the Cyprus Community building in Brunswick. Cypriot musicians singer Marios Charalambous and pianist George Timotheou, along with various local musicians, will be performing.

During the invasion, over 165,000 Greek Cypriots were forced to become internal, and external, refugees as heavily armed troops landed at Kyrenia (Girne). The invasion involved paratrooper landings and aerial bombardment, including the use of napalm. Turkish troops committed human rights abuses, including the murder of unarmed civilians – men, women, and children – as well as systematic rapes.

Although Greek and Greek Cypriot forces resisted the invasion, the island remains divided, with the northern part still illegally occupied. Tony Kyriacou, the President of SEKA Victoria, released in a statement said that the Turkish invasion in 1974 “constitutes a violation of human rights and international law.”

He said that for the past 49 years, the Cypriot people have endured “continuous struggle, pain, and injustice, with the sole determination to reunify their island.”

“This invasion traumatised and displaced thousands of Cypriots, forcing many families to become refugees in other countries, including Australia,” Kyriakou said.

It is estimated that the Turkish invasion resulted in the displacement of over 165,000 Greek Cypriots, who were subsequently replaced by 160,000 settlers from Turkey. This illegal colonization has altered the demographic character of the island, violating Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits an occupying power from deporting or transferring parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies. He invited “all Hellenes in Victoria to join the campaign for Justice for Cyprus and to raise awareness about the Cyprus issue.”

The wreath laying ceremony will be attended by the High Commissioner of Cyprus, Antonis Sammoutis, the Consul-General of Greece, Emmanuel Kakavelakis, Bishop Kyriakos of Sozopolis, and Bishop Evmenios of Kerasounta. Doxa Komodromou, the representative of the President of Cyprus, will also be present.

Komodromou among many things is the author of the book ‘Kyriakos Matsis, portrait of a thinker at the service of the EOKA struggle.’ She has held a range of posts such as, executive assistant to Yiannakis Matsis, who served as Democratic Rally President. And as a seasoned broadcast journalist, she worked in across Cypriot radio and television networks as a news anchor and talk show host.

There will also be Australian political representation by Senator Jane Hume, representing the Leader of the Opposition, Peter Dutton, and the Victorian Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Colin Brooks, representing Premier Daniel Andrews.

Programme of Commemorative Events

– Saturday, 15 July from 1pm – 3pm

A CANDLE FOR THE FALLEN

Radio Hellas 3XY (1422 AM) will host the Cyprus Programme hosted by Lambrini Lambrou-Christopher.

The Programme will be about the Invasion of Cyprus and its aftermath. You will be invited to hold one minute’s silence, and to light a candle for the fallen.

– Sunday 16 July at 10am & 12pm

A Memorial Service will be held at Saint Efstathios Church (221 Dorcas Street, South Melbourne) at 10am.

Afterwards, at 12pm, there will be a wreath-laying ceremony at the Australian Hellenic Memorial, (Birdwood Avenue, Melbourne).

– Sunday 16 July from 12pm – 2pm

Radio Hellas 3XY (1422 AM) will host a second programme by Lambrini Lambrou-Christopher dedicated to Cyprus. Listeners are invited to convey a message of solidarity by calling Lambrini during the show on (03) 9602 1422.

– Sunday 16 July at 3pm

CONCERT FOR CYPRUS

A concert featuring visiting musicians from Cyprus, and local Cypriot musicians Marios Charalambous and George Timotheou. The concert is free, and will take place at the Cyprus Community building, 495 Lygon St., E. Brunswick. All are welcome.For the full program of events organized by SEKA Victoria, please visit seka.org.au/activities.html