‘Keep your seats but leave our future to us’
Young protesters issue message to government
A GROUP of young people who have been carrying out a “Resistance Watch” protest in front of the Prime Ministry issued a “resistance declaration” stating their demands to the government last Friday.
They asked that their short- and long-term demands be implemented “as soon as possible”, saying “No-one wants your seats” and “Leave our future to us”.
Some of the “short-term” demands included an “immediate halt” to “partisan” appointments to the Cyprus Turkish Electricity Authority (Kıb-Tek) and for the “necessary investments” to be made so that Kıb-Tek can “stand on its own feet”; the announcement of an “economic support package” to subsidise help for people on low incomes to pay for basic needs such as food, electricity, shelter, and water; “cost of living” pay increases to be made once every two months and the minimum wage to be reviewed every two months; and scholarship payments to be prioritised in the Budget.
The young people also listed 19 “long-term demands” such as the reimbursement of politicians’ and senior civil servants’ expenses to the public purse; the “immediate sale” of “official vehicles”; support for young entrepreneurs and investors; the salaries of MPs to be based on their “performance in Parliament”; regulations to provide cheaper fuel for producers; increasing the availability of public transport and making it free for students; and the opening of new border crossing points with South Cyprus.
The young people asked the government for a response in writing about the steps to be taken regarding their demands “within 15 days”.
“The Resistance Watch has been ongoing for 170 hours in front of the Prime Ministry to remind you of your duties,” a press statement read out in front of the Prime Ministry by a member of the group said.
“We, the young people who feel the darkness that you have dragged this society into for years and for various reasons the most, came together for a better future and to not emigrate from this country. We put our party badges aside.
“With these demands, we remind you of what you should have already done and your duties. While the people’s purchasing power is decreasing day by day, we witness protests and even suicide attempts in every corner of our island.
“People cannot buy milk or take bread home, as we feel the anxiety of shopkeepers forced to close up their shops in our hearts. You should have taken these steps already.”