in Cyprus Today – 5/2/2011

Erdoğan: “Who do you think you are?” – Turkeys’ Premier has angrily criticised the Trades Union Platform demonstration and ongoing campaign against Ankara’s involvement in North Cyprus. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan  stormed: “Who do you think you are? You are telling Turkey to get out. Who are you?” About 10,000 people took to the streets in Lefkoşa last Friday as part of a push to overturn austerity measures the unions claim have been imposed by Turkey. But the Turkish Prime Minister was unhappy with the approach being taken. “On the one hand they take our money and on the other, they ask us to leave. It cannot be acceptable to prepare a basis for demonstrations against Turkey.” One concern is that the “provocative demonstrations” are being held with the support of South Cyprus. Editor: actually it might have been a united front of Cypriot Trade Unions who are facing the same problems throughout Cyprus

TRNC facing total blackout – North Cyprus will be plunged into darkness if the government presses ahead with any form of privatisation of the electricity network, union chiefs have warned. El-Sen, the electricity worker’s union has threatened to pull the plug on the national grid unless the government  changes course over privatisation plans. They fear Kib-Tek could go the same way as Cyprus Turkish Airlines. The threat of blackout comes days after it was claimed the government and municipalities owed 300 millionTL to the struggling state firm, as well as 100millionTL from individuals and the private sector.

Outrage at driver’s prison treatment – Lord Ken Magginis of Drumglass  says he has been in contact with the TRNC Foreign Ministry after a 70 year old expat was thrown in jail following a fatal traffic accident. Anthony Davey is currently In Lefkoşa Central Prison following the incident on January 11th. Lord Magginis is now awaiting a response. Mr Davey had been given conflicting information about his continued imprisonment. A friend said Girne District Court had demanded three sets of property deeds, worth a total of £600,000, as surety for Mr Davey’s bail. He could be held indefinitely and he can remain there for 90 days without charge.

Expats held in holiday hell – A British expat living in North Cyprus has talked of the “holiday hell” he and friends are experiencing in strife torn Egypt. Brian Thomas and his wife Adele, from Karşiyaka, are currently stuck at the Continental Plaza hotel in the Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh with friends. They flew into Cairo airport last Friday to find a curfew in place and the internet down and unable to get cash from cash dispensers. They do not know what will await them on the return journey but are hoping to arrive back in North Cyprus on Thursday.

First UN evacuees touch down in Cyprus – The first of up to 600 UN staff and their dependants  from Egypt have begun to land in Cyprus. The four UN chartered flights are to land at Larnaca airport.

Battle for skies rolls on as rivals fight over name – The UK Civil Aviation Authority has received two approaches about the potential to start up a North Cyprus Airlines. It comes as the TRNC government partnership with Turkish airlines and the private sector and a competing private firm, led by Alpan UZ, are both trying to get a new airline off the ground. The government-led airline is likely to start flying next month or in April. Editor: or May or June…

Bank staff protest against job losses – Branches of two state owned TRNC banks – Continental and Yeşilada were suddenly closed in Girne, Güzelyurt and Gazi Mağusa on Monday with the loss of 40 jobs. A group of those made redundant mounted a demonstration on Thursday morning outside the TRNC State Central Bank, which has controlled both banks for more than a year.

More court chaos as strike extends – Industrial action by court staff will be extended to Girne and  Gazi Mağusa on Monday. Ongoing action is taking place over three weeks at courts in Lefkoşa as part of the Trade Union Platforms Struggle for Communal Existence of Turkish Cypriots. Mr Sözmener, president of the Turkish Cypriot Bar Association said “The Turkish Cypriot Bar Association  does not want to take any stance or hinder the right of trade unions to strike. But it is a fact that the legal sector and advocates in particular, is bearing the brunt of the walkouts. There are urgent cases that need to be opened but there are time limits. More importantly, there are injunctions and memorandums that need to be issued. Advocates are therefore not being paid or making a living now. How are they supposed to pay salaries and their electricity and water bills? We call on the government to either sit down and come to an agreement with the unions or take a Cabinet decision to defer the strikes, which is legally in their power.”

Customs officers cut hours in pay dispute – No customs officers are working beyond 3.30pm in the TRNC because of a dispute regarding overtime payments, it has emerged. No officials are present in the late afternoon or evening at border gates, Ercan airport or sea ports.