asked whether it had been expected.
Since Cyprus became formally independent there have been various. attempts to replace Makarios by proenosir [union with Greecel right wing elements. Both elections and amassination attempts have proved unsuccessful.
However, more recently - in fact, in the weeks before 15 July. -there was open press speculation about a coup. This was caused by the ultimatum that Makarios had sent to the Greek Junta, telling them to support to the EOKA-B terrorists, The very Saturday before the coup the papers had reported the President Giziki and Demisis (Greek head of the Cypriot National Guard) Many people concluded that some sort of plot was "hatched" at that meeting. In the general atmosphere of Cyprus, the coup did not come us a surprise:
What was the reaction of the people to the coup and to the initial report that Makarios had been killed?
At first most people did not believe that Makarios had been killed. There was no support for Sampson outside the gangs of the EOKA-B. He as well as Turkish as being a madman, but a dangerous one.
Had Makarios made any plans to forestall a coup against him by the The only practical actions he had taken were to strengthen the Special Tactical Reserve Force, his personal defence force. His hasic strategy had been to proclaim that the Soviet Union would not stand by if a coup occurred In fact no political force had undertaken any preparations for such an event. This was criminal, because as soon as Sampson's gangs had been let loose, mass attacks on left wing militants took place. Over two thousand were massacred in the first few days. Outside Nicosia, tractors dug mass graves for the victims of the reign of terror.
The responsibiltiy for this lies in the way in which the biggest working cluss party in Cyprus, the AKEL, had refused to prepare the workers politicaily and organsationally during the Makarios government. For months the danger had been clear for all to see, and yet the Stalinist AKEL continued to sow illusions in Makarios and his ability to defend the working class.
In fact support for Makarios cer tainly waned when workers heard his first broadcast after the coup, in which he said he wus going to the ANDREAS IOANNOU was walking past the Presidential Palace in the Cyprus capital of Nicosia on 15 July when the appearance of tanks and the sound of gun fire forced him along with other passers-by to dive into the safety of the nearest houses. The Sampson coup had begun. Red Weekly UN, but told the Cypriot people to be prepared to fight agrinst the reaction.
When the war was declared by Turkey, did support for Sampson grow!
No. The general reaction was that it was not their war, it had been caused by Greek and American interference in Cyprus affairs. However, they did attempt to resist the Turksa an wiston, and ens meant teal a great number of people found them remove their troops and to stop giving selves fighting alongside the very people they had been killing the day before. The reaction to the Turkish invasion only underlined the determination of the Cypriots to fight for their independence.
Given the present situation in Cyprus, and the history of the relations between Greeks and Turks, what sort of policies do you think should be put forward today?
First of all, it is important to remerber that the present president of Cyprus, Clerides, has not changed the Sampson cabinet. This means that most government posts are still in the hands of people sympathetic to the coup. Secondly, the AKEL will now find itself in greater conflict was regarded by most Cypriots, Greek with the Soviet Union over the latter's support for Turkey.
The most important single factor will be the unity of the working class, both Greek and Turkish Cypriots, to fight for the independence of Cyprus, which means that all foreign troops must be made to leave, After 14 years it is quite clear that Makarios nas no intention of carrying out any such thing.
In providing the basis for such unity we have to emphasise the class, which means breaking from all blocs with the bourgcoisie. During the coup some groups from EDEK la lett social democratic group and AKEL bravely attempted to fight the Sampson troops This sort of activity was too late and ill-prepared for, However it shows the fighting spirit of the working cluss.
This fighting spirit must be developed into a programme which can Bay the basis for the solution of the problems of the workers and the poor peasants. This must include the nationalisation of all foreign-owned industries under workers controL, the nationalisation of the banks and the foreign trade, and massive land reform to allow the peasants to develop agriculture. Land reform in particular is very important -the present system of land tenure and the tact that the Church still owns one third of all the land has strangled agnicultural development until now. a headline. But the 5,000 soldiers at the barracks in the edge of the town are completely real!
tators - like Max Hastings of the on Monday from a town 100 miles south-west of Athens forced to admit that little has so far changed in Greece.
The early euphoria, when the being replaced by suspicion. parently obvious.
day 23 July: "Dr Kissinger at his ton [on 22 July| left little doubt that the United States anticipated a change of Government in Greece - though "we have had no official word"
Kissinger expected change. More over, there were hints that he knew a little more abour the men who might take over from General Joannides than be was admitting.
although the civilian politicans have remain at their posts in the armed HANDS OFF CYPRUS!
DOWN WITH NATO!
IMG-sponsored picket of US Embassy. Grosvenor Square, Friday 9 Aug, 6 pm Africa) - and no such incasures weru anTOUTLE colonies and in Portugal Itseif, the liberation movements sere reported their victory. Binck soldiers sening in the was up, were said to be laying down their arcis in line with instructions from the main liberation movement FRELIMO.
Mozamhique after the Portuguose coup the guerilla groups announood it was dissolving itself in viow of what it sow as FRELIMO'S victory.
White settlers were reported to be petitioning FK ELIMO for assurances about their futuro in Mozambique, Anti-imperialist slogans were prominent on this poster demonstration at the Cyprus High Commission last w "In Nauplion, democratia is still only Even the bourgeois pross commenLondon Evening Standard, reporting are being ROTONE TREE INDEPENPEMY CYPRUS PARTITION CYPRUS