President Tatar: killers of Turkish Cypriot must be brought to justice

THE killers of a Turkish Cypriot who died while in custody at a Greek Cypriot-run prison in South Nicosia must be identified and given the “punishment they deserve”, President Ersin Tatar said.

Mr Tatar issued a statement last Saturday following the death of Tansu Çıdan, whose body was discovered on Thursday, October 27.

“The attack and murder of 41year-old TRNC citizen Tansu Çıdan, who was a convict in the Greek Cypriot Central Prison in South Cyprus, was a very serious incident,” Mr Tatar said in a written statement on the matter.

“The occurrence of such a serious incident in the prison, where the Greek Cypriot administration is responsible for ensuring security and protecting human life, is both thought-provoking and the result of gross negligence.

“Immediately after I was informed of this grave murder, as the Presidency, a request for information and an explanation was sought from both the United Nations and Greek Cypriot authorities through the Bicommunal Technical Committee on Crime and Criminal Matters.”

Mr Tatar added in his statement that he had been informed that eight people had been arrested in connection with the murder, and that he and the TRNC authorities are “following the matter closely”.

His statement continued: “I strongly condemn the Greek Cypriot authorities’ negligence, which cost a human life, and call on them to not cover up this murder like other crimes committed against Turkish Cypriots.

“The perpetrators must be identified as soon as possible and handed down the punishment they deserve.”

According to initial reports in the Greek Cypriot media, Mr Çıdan, whose funeral took place in Güzelyurt on Wednesday, was “attacked with a sharp object by a Kurdish prisoner”.

The news reports said that Mr Çıdan was serving an eight-year prison sentence for drugs offences, and that he had been “attacked and beaten continuously” during the three days leading up to his death.

It was said that he was found unconscious in his cell by fellow prisoners and that nurses provided first aid until an ambulance arrived but “he could not be resuscitated”.

Further Greek Cypriot media reports this week said that six prison officers were suspended from their duties pending a disciplinary investigation in relation to the murder.

❐ ‘Remains of Turkish Cypriots’

found in well, page 11