Sunday, March 11, 2018

Saying goodbye to Pavlos Solomi and Solomis Pavlou from Komi Kepir…

Saying goodbye to Pavlos Solomi and Solomis Pavlou from Komi Kepir…

Sevgul Uludag

caramel_cy@yahoo.com

Tel: 99 966518

We go to attend the funeral of Pavlos Solomi and his son Solomis Pavlou who had been `missing` from Galatia… They are the father and the brother of my dear friend Christina Pavlou Solomi Patsia… We go to Limassol to be with her and to be present on the last journey of her father and her brother… May they rest in peace…
Christina perhaps will find a little peace in the end: After working together with her for so many years to find the remains of her father, she has fulfilled her promise to her mother: That she would find and bring them home… Home is no longer Komikepir but Limassol now… The tragic partition of our land also stops us from burying our loved ones to places they belong to…
I want to thank my readers who helped us to find the location of the mass grave in the Galatia lake and who followed throughout the years the excavations in the lake and warned us and constantly worked with us in order to get this result… I thank for their humanity and for their help without expecting anything from anyone…
In her funeral speech, Christina Pavlou Solomi Patsia says:
`Today, 3rd March 2018, the page of waiting is closing.
We always had the hope for a different, joyful reunion in Komi Kepir, our village.
The news, however, came 43 years later and we are meeting you smaller than us, frozen in time, only your bones in a small box, here in the church of Agios Loukas in the Agios Athanasios settlement in Limassol, for your funeral.
It was August 15, 1974 when our whole family was arrested from our home in Komi Kepir by Turkish Cypriot co-villagers and they transferred us to the village Galatia.
There, it was the last moment that I saw you alive, and even then in fleeing, since they rushed us away from you, that black day.
Pasias had then personally promised us that in three days you would be coming back to us in our house in Komi. But this never happened.
We had difficult years on our own, my mother and I, always thinking about you and being anxious for some good news.
I want to tell you my dad and my Solo, that God did not throw us away… I came together with a good family who supported me as much as they could during the difficult moments of my life and I thank them.
However, from up there you will be seeing all together and be proud…
From this wonderful family, here is my husband Vasos, who if you were here dad, you would be grateful for his kindness and worthiness…He is so much like you…
My family grew, dad you have 3 grandchildren, and you Solo, nephews and a niece, Pavlos, Argyro and Giorgos. They never had the fortune to meet their grandfather or their uncle, to play with you, to joke or to get your advice.
My mother ran everywhere to learn about you. She was only receiving promises, while she was there present, that they would try. Promises of the moment, I was always calling them. None of them, those in high ranks, came forward to support us, to see if we needed something, to advise us. No one was found to say what he knew about you, what had happened to you. And we were always living in hope.
Too many whys. No matter how hard I struggled, I could not find anyone to give me the answer! The only thing I understood beyond any doubt, is that fanaticism and hatred brought us where we are now! Others, pseudo-patriots, have done what they did to innocent people and unfortunately we paid the great price, like so many others, to be burying you today, 2 great men ("leventes"), 42 and 18 years old, while you were in your village and in your jobs, with your dreams for the future with your family, without hurting anyone and without being involved anywhere.
This was also the reason that you had decided that we were to stay in our village.
We did not have the fortune to bury you at least in our village, in our Komi, which you loved so much and you were making your dreams, the dreams of our whole family there.
We are burying you today, here in Limassol which is hosting us for so many years. So be it, as long as we are all together again! There will be a grave, a point of reference. Your new home, where I will come to light your candle and we will talk about our things. And I have a lot to tell you.
Once I promised to my mother, who could not struggle and seek for you anymore, that I would continue her struggle, that I would find you and bring you to her before she died. There would be a proper funeral according to our religion, and a grave to light your candle. The promise that I gave is fulfilled today.
Today, here in front of your sacred bones, I make a new promise. To struggle as much as I can for Peace, Reconciliation and the Reunification of our Cyprus. A Cyprus for all of us, as you always said dad. It is small to be divided, but big enough to fit all of us.
No more crying! No more blood to be shed unjustly! No more women in black and orphaned children! Enough!
Finishing off…
The biggest "thank you" I have to express to the Turkish Cypriot investigative journalist Sevgul Uludag, a simple person, with a big Cypriot heart, who stood by me since 2008 and supported me morally and psychologically during the difficult times, as my friend until today. Writing our stories in newspapers YeniDuzen and POLITIS where she works, she brought me in contact with the witnesses and slowly-slowly we managed the impossible.
A very big "thank you" I should also publicly express to those Turkish Cypriot unsung heroes, who with the murderers being alive in their region, risked a lot, but came near us, without expecting anything in return and with their information and insistence, the Missing Persons Committee was able to locate the burial site, do the exhumation and the funeral to happen today.
A big "thank you" I should also say to the members of the Missing Persons Committee, who with their anthropologists, archaeologists, geneticists from both communities, helped to collect and document the information.
Finally, I would like to thank all of you, Greek Cypriots but also Turkish Cypriots, who with your presence honour their memory in their last journey.
May the soil of the foreign land which will cover you be light!
We will always remember you!"
And the cousin of Christina, Kyriacos Paschali also speaks at the funeral and here is what he says:
"Dearest Cousin,
It was 12th of August 1974 when I received your last letter. One letter that I have always kept with me and will always do. Not only you were my cousin but also my best friend.
You knew that both myself and my brother were away at the time so you made it your duty to check on our parents too.
You wrote;
Komi Kebir, 9th August 1974
Dear Cousin Kyriacos hello. We are all well and wish the same for you. It is with so much joy that I have just now received your letter. Not long before I wrote this letter, I passed by your house and your mother told me that they are all ok and that she, herself, will also write to you.
I want to write to you so much but let's leave the rest another time. You have all our regards, with Love Solomis Pavlou.
The envelope is marked, Komi Kebir August 10th, 1974.
Little we knew that there was not going to be another opportunity to talk later on. Little I have known that it will take 43 years before we meet up again.
The persistence of your mum and your sister have made it possible to find you and bring you home to us.
It is no surprise that you were found together with your dad, my uncle. You were all a close knit family and lived by example.
I am so lucky and proud to have played a little part in your short lives, enough however to get to know you both for your kind and considerate characters.
I will never forget the summers that we have worked together in the fields whether harvesting or collecting Carobs.
I will never forget the sound of the tractor coming to our house to pick me up and all three of us go to the sea. We will be swimming at the shore and uncle will go fishing. He would never come back unless his fishing line was loaded with fish. I am not sure what impressed me most – his fishing or Hunting charisma. He was our idol.
It is no secret that I have always looked up to you Uncle and always wanted to be an achiever in life like you. A progressive farming entrepreneur in a small farming community, and well respected by both communities, Turkish and Greek Cypriots at the same time.
The whole family has shown and shared so much respect to our mix community and has always believed in co-existence and equal opportunities.
Unfortunately as the story unfolds such values not only did not help and did not count but also proved to be the beginning of a tragedy that would take 43 years to resolve.
Auntie Panagiota has given all her life looking for you, wanting to bring you home safe. She has never left any opportunity go by, whether in Cyprus or abroad. She never held back in seeking for that someone that can help bring you home.
I have heard her many times blaming and asking herself why she didn't challenge your decision to stay back. I am sure however, considering the trust and respect you shared with our Turkish community you would have taken the same decision again.
I hear Christina, my cousin, saying we must offer our hands and help heal the open wounds. Enough is enough she says. If from what we see today, this family can still stand up and say that they can forgive for the sake of peace and co-existence then surely we all owe to give it a chance.
I personally struggle to understand how they can manage that and how they can forgive.
It all started from their own home, by our Turkish Cypriot neighbours, our friends.
It is also sad that for such a long time none of them had the courage to come forward to help find the location of the mass grave.
The silence over 43 years deepened the wounds of the initial crime.
It is not too late to try and make up lost time. Unfortunately there are many more missing Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. Only co-operation and individual initiatives can help bring them back to their loved ones, Greek Cypriots or Turkish Cypriots.
We have all, in our own way missed you so much and for so long we have been living with the glimmer of hope that one day we will meet up again.
In reality you were never away and certainly you will never be away from now on.
Rest in peace. We will always love you and will never forget you."
(Christina's funeral speech was translated from Greek to English by Gina Chappa).

Photo: Christina and her mother Panayiota at the funeral...

(*) Article published in the POLITIS newspaper on the 11th of March 2018, Sunday. A series of my articles about the funeral were published in Turkish in our newspaper YENİDÜZEN on 5,6,7,8 and 9 March 2018 and here are the links to these articles:
http://www.yeniduzen.com/iki-guzel-insani-topraga-verirken-1-12045yy.htm
http://www.yeniduzen.com/cenaze-toreninde-baris-mesaji-2-12049yy.htm
http://www.yeniduzen.com/catismayi-geride-birakalim-ve-umuda-dogru-yol-alalim-3-12054yy.htm
http://www.yeniduzen.com/bugun-gordugumuz-kadariyla-bu-aile-dimdik-ayakta-duruyor-ve-bu-adada-baris-ve-birlik-12059yy.htm
http://www.yeniduzen.com/kutsal-kemiklerinizin-bulundugu-burada-bugun-yeni-bir-soz-veriyorum-5-12063yy.htm

Saying goodbye to Pavlos Solomi and Solomis Pavlou from Komi Kepir…

Saying goodbye to Pavlos Solomi and Solomis Pavlou from Komi Kepir…

Sevgul Uludag

caramel_cy@yahoo.com

Tel: 99 966518

We go to attend the funeral of Pavlos Solomi and his son Solomis Pavlou who had been `missing` from Galatia… They are the father and the brother of my dear friend Christina Pavlou Solomi Patsia… We go to Limassol to be with her and to be present on the last journey of her father and her brother… May they rest in peace…
Christina perhaps will find a little peace in the end: After working together with her for so many years to find the remains of her father, she has fulfilled her promise to her mother: That she would find and bring them home… Home is no longer Komikepir but Limassol now… The tragic partition of our land also stops us from burying our loved ones to places they belong to…
I want to thank my readers who helped us to find the location of the mass grave in the Galatia lake and who followed throughout the years the excavations in the lake and warned us and constantly worked with us in order to get this result… I thank for their humanity and for their help without expecting anything from anyone…
In her funeral speech, Christina Pavlou Solomi Patsia says:
`Today, 3rd March 2018, the page of waiting is closing.
We always had the hope for a different, joyful reunion in Komi Kepir, our village.
The news, however, came 43 years later and we are meeting you smaller than us, frozen in time, only your bones in a small box, here in the church of Agios Loukas in the Agios Athanasios settlement in Limassol, for your funeral.
It was August 15, 1974 when our whole family was arrested from our home in Komi Kepir by Turkish Cypriot co-villagers and they transferred us to the village Galatia.
There, it was the last moment that I saw you alive, and even then in fleeing, since they rushed us away from you, that black day.
Pasias had then personally promised us that in three days you would be coming back to us in our house in Komi. But this never happened.
We had difficult years on our own, my mother and I, always thinking about you and being anxious for some good news.
I want to tell you my dad and my Solo, that God did not throw us away… I came together with a good family who supported me as much as they could during the difficult moments of my life and I thank them.
However, from up there you will be seeing all together and be proud…
From this wonderful family, here is my husband Vasos, who if you were here dad, you would be grateful for his kindness and worthiness…He is so much like you…
My family grew, dad you have 3 grandchildren, and you Solo, nephews and a niece, Pavlos, Argyro and Giorgos. They never had the fortune to meet their grandfather or their uncle, to play with you, to joke or to get your advice.
My mother ran everywhere to learn about you. She was only receiving promises, while she was there present, that they would try. Promises of the moment, I was always calling them. None of them, those in high ranks, came forward to support us, to see if we needed something, to advise us. No one was found to say what he knew about you, what had happened to you. And we were always living in hope.
Too many whys. No matter how hard I struggled, I could not find anyone to give me the answer! The only thing I understood beyond any doubt, is that fanaticism and hatred brought us where we are now! Others, pseudo-patriots, have done what they did to innocent people and unfortunately we paid the great price, like so many others, to be burying you today, 2 great men ("leventes"), 42 and 18 years old, while you were in your village and in your jobs, with your dreams for the future with your family, without hurting anyone and without being involved anywhere.
This was also the reason that you had decided that we were to stay in our village.
We did not have the fortune to bury you at least in our village, in our Komi, which you loved so much and you were making your dreams, the dreams of our whole family there.
We are burying you today, here in Limassol which is hosting us for so many years. So be it, as long as we are all together again! There will be a grave, a point of reference. Your new home, where I will come to light your candle and we will talk about our things. And I have a lot to tell you.
Once I promised to my mother, who could not struggle and seek for you anymore, that I would continue her struggle, that I would find you and bring you to her before she died. There would be a proper funeral according to our religion, and a grave to light your candle. The promise that I gave is fulfilled today.
Today, here in front of your sacred bones, I make a new promise. To struggle as much as I can for Peace, Reconciliation and the Reunification of our Cyprus. A Cyprus for all of us, as you always said dad. It is small to be divided, but big enough to fit all of us.
No more crying! No more blood to be shed unjustly! No more women in black and orphaned children! Enough!
Finishing off…
The biggest "thank you" I have to express to the Turkish Cypriot investigative journalist Sevgul Uludag, a simple person, with a big Cypriot heart, who stood by me since 2008 and supported me morally and psychologically during the difficult times, as my friend until today. Writing our stories in newspapers YeniDuzen and POLITIS where she works, she brought me in contact with the witnesses and slowly-slowly we managed the impossible.
A very big "thank you" I should also publicly express to those Turkish Cypriot unsung heroes, who with the murderers being alive in their region, risked a lot, but came near us, without expecting anything in return and with their information and insistence, the Missing Persons Committee was able to locate the burial site, do the exhumation and the funeral to happen today.
A big "thank you" I should also say to the members of the Missing Persons Committee, who with their anthropologists, archaeologists, geneticists from both communities, helped to collect and document the information.
Finally, I would like to thank all of you, Greek Cypriots but also Turkish Cypriots, who with your presence honour their memory in their last journey.
May the soil of the foreign land which will cover you be light!
We will always remember you!"
And the cousin of Christina, Kyriacos Paschali also speaks at the funeral and here is what he says:
"Dearest Cousin,
It was 12th of August 1974 when I received your last letter. One letter that I have always kept with me and will always do. Not only you were my cousin but also my best friend.
You knew that both myself and my brother were away at the time so you made it your duty to check on our parents too.
You wrote;
Komi Kebir, 9th August 1974
Dear Cousin Kyriacos hello. We are all well and wish the same for you. It is with so much joy that I have just now received your letter. Not long before I wrote this letter, I passed by your house and your mother told me that they are all ok and that she, herself, will also write to you.
I want to write to you so much but let's leave the rest another time. You have all our regards, with Love Solomis Pavlou.
The envelope is marked, Komi Kebir August 10th, 1974.
Little we knew that there was not going to be another opportunity to talk later on. Little I have known that it will take 43 years before we meet up again.
The persistence of your mum and your sister have made it possible to find you and bring you home to us.
It is no surprise that you were found together with your dad, my uncle. You were all a close knit family and lived by example.
I am so lucky and proud to have played a little part in your short lives, enough however to get to know you both for your kind and considerate characters.
I will never forget the summers that we have worked together in the fields whether harvesting or collecting Carobs.
I will never forget the sound of the tractor coming to our house to pick me up and all three of us go to the sea. We will be swimming at the shore and uncle will go fishing. He would never come back unless his fishing line was loaded with fish. I am not sure what impressed me most – his fishing or Hunting charisma. He was our idol.
It is no secret that I have always looked up to you Uncle and always wanted to be an achiever in life like you. A progressive farming entrepreneur in a small farming community, and well respected by both communities, Turkish and Greek Cypriots at the same time.
The whole family has shown and shared so much respect to our mix community and has always believed in co-existence and equal opportunities.
Unfortunately as the story unfolds such values not only did not help and did not count but also proved to be the beginning of a tragedy that would take 43 years to resolve.
Auntie Panagiota has given all her life looking for you, wanting to bring you home safe. She has never left any opportunity go by, whether in Cyprus or abroad. She never held back in seeking for that someone that can help bring you home.
I have heard her many times blaming and asking herself why she didn't challenge your decision to stay back. I am sure however, considering the trust and respect you shared with our Turkish community you would have taken the same decision again.
I hear Christina, my cousin, saying we must offer our hands and help heal the open wounds. Enough is enough she says. If from what we see today, this family can still stand up and say that they can forgive for the sake of peace and co-existence then surely we all owe to give it a chance.
I personally struggle to understand how they can manage that and how they can forgive.
It all started from their own home, by our Turkish Cypriot neighbours, our friends.
It is also sad that for such a long time none of them had the courage to come forward to help find the location of the mass grave.
The silence over 43 years deepened the wounds of the initial crime.
It is not too late to try and make up lost time. Unfortunately there are many more missing Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. Only co-operation and individual initiatives can help bring them back to their loved ones, Greek Cypriots or Turkish Cypriots.
We have all, in our own way missed you so much and for so long we have been living with the glimmer of hope that one day we will meet up again.
In reality you were never away and certainly you will never be away from now on.
Rest in peace. We will always love you and will never forget you."

Photo: Christina and her mother Panayiota at the funeral...

(*) Article published in the POLITIS newspaper on the 11th of March 2018, Sunday. A series of my articles about the funeral were published in Turkish in our newspaper YENİDÜZEN on 5,6,7,8 and 9 March 2018 and here are the links to these articles:
http://www.yeniduzen.com/iki-guzel-insani-topraga-verirken-1-12045yy.htm
http://www.yeniduzen.com/cenaze-toreninde-baris-mesaji-2-12049yy.htm
http://www.yeniduzen.com/catismayi-geride-birakalim-ve-umuda-dogru-yol-alalim-3-12054yy.htm
http://www.yeniduzen.com/bugun-gordugumuz-kadariyla-bu-aile-dimdik-ayakta-duruyor-ve-bu-adada-baris-ve-birlik-12059yy.htm
http://www.yeniduzen.com/kutsal-kemiklerinizin-bulundugu-burada-bugun-yeni-bir-soz-veriyorum-5-12063yy.htm

Αποχαιρετώντας τον Παύλο Σολωμή και το Σολωμή Παύλου από την Κώμη Κεπήρ…

Αποχαιρετώντας τον Παύλο Σολωμή και το Σολωμή Παύλου από την Κώμη Κεπήρ…

Sevgul Uludag

caramel_cy@yahoo.com

Τηλ: 99 966518

Πάμε για να παραστούμε στην κηδεία του Παύλου Σολωμή και του γιου του Σολωμή Παύλου που ήταν «αγνοούμενοι» από τη Γαλάτεια… Είναι ο πατέρας και ο αδελφός της αγαπημένης μου φίλης Χριστίνας Παύλου Σολωμή Πατσιά… Πηγαίνουμε στη Λεμεσό για να είμαστε μαζί της και παρόντες στο τελευταίο ταξίδι του πατέρα και του αδελφού της… Ας αναπαυθούν εν ειρήνη…
Η Χριστίνα ίσως να βρει λίγη γαλήνη στο τέλος: Μετά που δουλέψαμε μαζί για τόσα πολλά χρόνια για να βρούμε τα οστά του πατέρα της, έχει εκπληρώσει την υπόσχεση της προς τη μητέρα της: ότι θα τους βρει και θα τους φέρει πίσω στο σπίτι… Το σπίτι φυσικά δεν είναι πλέον η Κώμη Κεπήρ, αλλά η Λεμεσός τώρα… Η τραγική διαίρεση της χώρας μας μας σταματά από του να θάβουμε τους αγαπημένους μας στα μέρη όπου ανήκουν…
Θέλω να ευχαριστήσω τους αναγνώστες μου που μας βοήθησαν για να βρούμε τη τοποθεσία του μαζικού τάφου στη λίμνη στη Γαλάτεια και που παρακολουθούσαν τις εκσκαφές στην λίμνη όλα αυτά τα χρόνια και μας προειδοποίησαν και συνεχώς εργάζονταν μαζί μας για να έχουμε αυτό το αποτέλεσμα…Τους ευχαριστώ για την ανθρωπιά τους και για τη βοήθεια τους χωρίς να αναμένουν οτιδήποτε από οποιοδήποτε…
Στον επικήδειο της, η Χριστίνα Παύλου Σολωμή Πατσιά λέει:
«Σήμερα 3 Μαρτίου 2018, κλείνει η σελίδα της αναμονής.
Πάντα είχαμε την ελπίδα για μια διαφορετική, χαρούμενη αντάμωση στην Κώμη Κεπήρ, στο χωριό μας.
Το χαμπάρι όμως ήρθε, 43 χρόνια μετά και σας ανταμώνουμε μικρότερους από εμάς παγωμένους στο χρόνο, τα οστά σας μόνο σε ένα κασελάκι, εδώ στην εκκλησία του Αγίου Λουκά στον οικισμό Αγίου Αθανασίου, στη Λεμεσό, για την κηδεία σας.
Ήταν 15 Αυγούστου 1974, που συνέλαβαν όλη την οικογένεια από το σπίτι μας στην Κώμη Κεπήρ, Τουρκοκύπριοι χωριανοί μας και μας μετέφεραν στο χωριό Γαλάτεια.
Εκεί, ήταν η τελευταία στιγμή που σας είδα ζωντανούς και αυτό φευγαλέα, αφού βιαστικά μας απομάκρυναν από κοντά σας, εκείνη την μαύρη μέρα.
Ο Πασιάς, μας είχε τότε προσωπικά υποσχεθεί ότι σε τρεις μέρες, θα ερχόσασταν πίσω, κοντά μας στο σπίτι μας στην Κώμη. Αυτό όμως ποτέ δεν πραγματοποιήθηκε.
Περάσαμε χρόνια δύσκολα μόνες μας, η μάνα μου και εγώ, με την σκέψη πάντα σε εσάς και την αγωνία για μια καλή είδηση, ένα καλό χαμπάρι.
Θέλω να σας πω παπά μου και Σόλο μου, ότι ο Θεός δεν μας πέταξε…. Έσμιξα με μια πολύ καλή οικογένεια που με στήριξε όσο μπορούσε στις δύσκολες στιγμές της ζωής μου και τους ευχαριστώ.
Από εκεί ψηλά όμως θα βλέπετε και θα καμαρώνετε όλοι μαζί…
Από αυτή την υπέροχη οικογένεια είναι ο σύζυγος μου Βάσος, που αν ήσουν εδώ παπά μου θα καμάρωνες την καλοσύνη και την αξιοσύνη του… Πόσο σου μοιάζει….
Η οικογένεια μεγάλωσε, έχεις παπά μου 3 εγγόνια και εσύ Σόλο μου, αδελφοτέχνια , τον Παύλο την Αργυρώ και τον Γιώργο. Ποτέ όμως δεν είχαν την τύχη να γνωρίσουν τον παππού τους ή τον θείο τους, να παίξουν μαζί σας και να αστειευτούν, ή να πάρουν τις συμβουλές σας.
Η μάνα μου, έτρεξε παντού για να μάθει για εσάς. Μόνο υποσχέσεις έπαιρνε, όση ώρα ήταν μπροστά, ότι θα προσπαθούσαν. Υποσχέσεις της ώρας τις αποκαλούσα πάντα. Κανένας όμως, από αυτούς ψηλά, δεν ήρθε μπροστά να μας στηρίξει, να δει αν χρειαζόμασταν κάτι, να μας συμβουλέψει. Κανένας δεν βρέθηκε να πει, τι ήξερε για εσάς, τι σας συνέβηκε. Και πάντα ζούσαμε με την ελπίδα.
Τα γιατί πολλά. Όσο και να αγωνίστηκα, δεν μπόρεσα να βρω κάποιο να μου δώσει την απάντηση! Το μόνο που κατάλαβα πέρα πάσης αμφιβολίας, είναι ότι ο φανατισμός και οι έχθρες, μας έφεραν εδώ που είμαστε τώρα! Έκαμαν άλλοι, ψευτοπατριώτες, αυτά που έκαμαν σε αθώους και δυστυχώς πληρώσαμε εμείς το μεγάλο τίμημα, όπως τόσοι άλλοι, να σας θάβουμε σήμερα 2 λεβέντες, 42 και 18 χρονών που βρισκόσασταν στο χωριό σας και στις δουλειές σας, με τα όνειρα σας για το μέλλον με την οικογένεια σας, χωρίς να πειράξετε κανένα και χωρίς να είσαστε μπλεγμένοι πουθενά.
Αυτός, ήταν και ο λόγος που αποφασίσετε να μείνουμε στο χωριό μας.
Δεν είχαμε την τύχη να σας θάψουμε τουλάχιστο στο χωριό μας, στην Κώμη μας, που τόσο αγαπούσατε και στήνατε τα όνειρα σας, τα όνειρα όλης της οικογένειας μας εκεί.
Σας κηδεύουμε σήμερα εδώ, στη Λεμεσό που μας φιλοξενεί για τόσα χρόνια. Ας είναι, φτάνει που είμαστε και πάλι όλοι κοντά! Θα υπάρχει ο τάφος, ένα σημείο αναφοράς. Το νέο σας σπίτι, που θα έρχομαι να ανάβω το καντήλι σας και να λέμε τα δικά μας. Και έχω πολλά να σας πω.
Κάποτε, υποσχέθηκα στη μάνα μου, που δεν μπορούσε πλέον να αγωνίζεται και να σας αναζητά, ότι θα συνέχιζα εγώ τον αγώνα της, θα σας έβρισκα και θα σας έφερνα κοντά της πριν πεθάνει. Θα γινόταν μια κανονική κηδεία με βάση την θρησκεία μας, και ένας τάφος για να ανάβουμε το καντήλι σας. Η υπόσχεση που έδωσα, πραγματοποιείται σήμερα.
Σήμερα, εδώ μπροστά στα ιερά οστά σας, δίνω νέα υπόσχεση. Να αγωνιστώ όσο μπορώ για την Ειρήνη τη Συμφιλίωση και την Επανένωση της Κύπρου μας. Μια Κύπρο για όλους μας, όπως πάντα μας έλεγες παπά μου. Είναι μικρή για να είναι μοιρασμένη αλλά αρκετά μεγάλη για να μας χωρεί όλους.
Όχι άλλο κλάμα! Όχι άλλο αίμα να χύνεται άδικα! Όχι άλλες μαυροφορεμένες και παιδιά ορφανεμένα! Φτάνει πια!
Τελειώνοντας…
Το πιο μεγάλο «ευχαριστώ», πρέπει να το εκφράσω στην Τουρκοκύπρια διερευνήτρια δημοσιογράφο Sevgul Uludag, έναν απλό άνθρωπο, με μια μεγάλη Κυπριακή καρδιά, που στάθηκε κοντά μου από το 2008 και με στήριξε ηθικά και ψυχολογικά στα δύσκολα, σαν φίλη μου μέχρι σήμερα. Γράφοντας τις ιστορίες μας στην εφημερίδες YeniDuzen και Πολίτης όπου εργάζεται, με έφερε σε επαφή με τους μάρτυρες και σιγά-σιγά καταφέραμε το ακατόρθωτο.
Ένα πολύ μεγάλο «ευχαριστώ» και δημόσια οφείλω να πω, σε αυτούς τους Τουρκοκύπριους αφανείς ήρωες, που με τους δολοφόνους ζωντανούς στην περιοχή τους, ρίσκαραν πολλά, αλλά ήρθαν κοντά μας, χωρίς ποτέ να περιμένουν ανταλλάγματα και με τις δικές τους πληροφορίες και την επιμονή τους, κατάφερε η Διερευνητική Επιτροπή Αγνοουμένων να εντοπίσει το σημείο ταφής, να γίνει η εκταφή και να γίνει σήμερα η κηδεία.
Ένα μεγάλο «ευχαριστώ» πρέπει να πω επίσης στα μέλη της Διερευνητικής Επιτροπής Αγνοουμένων, που με τους ανθρωπολόγους, αρχαιολόγους, γενετιστές και από τις δύο κοινότητες, βοήθησαν στη συλλογή και τεκμηρίωση των πληροφοριών.
Τέλος, θα ήθελα να ευχαριστήσω όλους εσάς, Ελληνοκύπριους αλλά και Τουρκοκύπριους, που με την παρουσία σας τιμήσετε τη μνήμη τους στο τελευταίο τους ταξίδι.
Ας είναι ελαφρύ το χώμα της ξένης γης που θα σας σκεπάζει!
Αιωνία σας η μνήμη!»
Ο Κυριάκος Πασχάλη, ξάδελφος της Χριστίνας, επίσης μιλά στην κηδεία και λέει τα ακόλουθα:
«Πολυαγαπημένε μου Εξάδελφε,
Ήταν 12 Αυγούστου 1974, όταν είχα πάρει το γράμμα σου. Ένα γράμμα που το έχω φυλάξει για να είναι πάντα μαζί μου και πάντα θα το έχω.
Ήσουν όχι μόνο ο εξάδελφος μου αλλά επίσης και ο καλύτερος μου φίλος.
Ήξερες ότι ο αδελφός μου και εγώ ήμασταν μακριά τις ημέρες εκείνες και εσύ έκανες το καθήκον σου να κοιτάζεις αν οι γονείς μας ήταν καλά.
Έγραφες στο γράμμα σου:
Κώμη Κεπήρ, 9 Αυγούστου 1974.
Αγαπητέ εξάδελφε Κυριάκο γεια σου. Ήμαστε όλοι καλά και το ίδιο επιθυμούμε για σένα. Είναι με μεγάλη χαρά που πήρα το γράμμα σου σήμερα.
Λίγο πριν γράψω αυτό το γράμμα, πέρασα από το σπίτι σου και η μάνα σου μου είπε ότι είναι καλά και ότι και η ίδια θα σου γράψει.
Θέλω να σου γράψω τόσα πολλά, αλλά ας τα αφήσουμε μιαν άλλη φορά.
Έχεις χαιρετισμούς από όλους μας.
Με αγάπη Σολωμής Παύλου.
Ο φάκελος είναι σφραγισμένος, Κώμη Κεπήρ 10 Αυγούστου 1974.
Δεν μπορούσα να φανταστώ ότι δεν θα υπήρχε ποτέ άλλη μια ευκαιρία να ξαναμιλήσουμε. Και ούτε μπορούσα να φανταστώ ότι θα περνούσαν 43 χρόνια πριν ξαναβρεθούμε.
Η επιμονή της μητέρας σου και της αδελφής σου, το έχουν κάνει δυνατό να σας βρουν και να σας φέρουν κοντά μας.
Δεν είναι έκπληξη το ότι βρεθήκατε μαζί με τον πατέρα σου, τον θείο μου.
Ήσασταν πάντα δεμένοι οικογένεια και ζούσατε παραδειγματικά. Είμαι τόσο τυχερός και περήφανος που είχα παίξει λίγο ρόλο στις σύντομες ζωές σας - αρκετό όμως για να σας γνωρίσω εσάς και τους ευγενικούς και διακριτικούς χαρακτήρες σας.
Ποτέ δεν θα ξεχάσω τα καλοκαίρια που δουλέψαμε μαζί στα χωράφια, στο θέρισμα ή στο μάζεμα χαρουπιών.
Δεν θα ξεχάσω ποτέ τον ήχο του τρακτέρ, όταν ερχόσασταν στο σπίτι μου, να με πάρετε για να πάμε και οι τρεις μας στη θάλασσα. Θα κολυμπούσαμε εμείς στην ακτή και ο θείος θα πήγαινε για ψάρεμα. Ποτέ δεν θα επέστρεφε πίσω χωρίς να είναι γεμάτη η πετονιά του με ψάρια.
Δεν είμαι βέβαιος τι με ενθουσίαζε περισσότερο, το ψάρεμα ή το κυνήγι του. Ήταν το είδωλο μας.
Δεν είναι μυστικό ότι πάντα κοίταζα εσένα θείε και πάντα ήθελα να επιτύχω στη ζωή όπως εσύ. Ένας προοδευτικός γεωργός σε μια μικρή αγροτική κοινότητα, σεβαστός και από τις δύο κοινότητες του χωριού μας, Τουρκοκύπριους και Ελληνοκύπριους ταυτόχρονα.
Ολόκληρη η οικογένεια σεβότανε και είχε το σεβασμό και από τις δύο κοινότητες.
Πάντα πίστευε στη συνύπαρξη και στις ίσες ευκαιρίες για όλους.
Δυστυχώς, καθώς η ιστορία ξεδιπλώνετε, τέτοιες αξίες όχι μόνο δεν βοήθησαν αλλά ούτε και μέτρησαν. Αποδείχτηκε ότι ήταν η αρχή μιας τραγωδίας που θα χρειαζόταν 43 χρόνια για να επιλυθεί.
Η θεία μου Παναγιώτα είχε δώσει όλη της τη ζωή ψάχνοντας για εσάς, θέλοντας να σας φέρει πίσω κοντά της με ασφάλεια.
Δεν είχε αφήσει ποτέ καμιά ευκαιρία να περάσει, είτε στη Κύπρο, είτε στο εξωτερικό.
Ποτέ δεν σταμάτησε να αναζητά αυτόν τον κάποιο, που θα μπορούσε να βοηθήσει να σας φέρει πίσω κοντά της.
Την άκουσα πολλές φορές να κατηγορεί τον εαυτό της και να αναρωτιέται, γιατί δεν αμφισβήτησε την απόφαση σου, Θείε μου, να μείνετε πίσω στο χωριό!
Είμαι βέβαιος ότι, λαμβάνοντας υπόψη την εμπιστοσύνη και τον αλληλοσεβασμό που είχατε με την Τουρκική κοινότητα, θα είχατε πάρει και πάλι την ίδια απόφαση.
Ακούω την Χριστίνα, την εξαδέλφη μου, να λέει ότι πρέπει να δώσουμε τα χέρια και να βοηθήσουμε να κλείσουν οι ανοιχτές πληγές. "Έχουν γίνει αρκετά - φτάνει πια", λέει.
Αν αυτό που βλέπουμε σήμερα είναι ότι αυτή η οικογένεια μπορεί να σταθεί και να πει ότι μπορεί να συγχωρήσει για χάρη της ειρήνης και της συνύπαρξης, τότε σίγουρα όλοι εμείς οφείλουμε να κάνουμε αυτή την προσπάθεια.
Προσωπικά αγωνίζομαι ακόμη, να κατανοήσω πώς τα κατάφεραν να μπορούν να συγχωρήσουν.
Όλα ξεκίνησαν μέσα από το δικό τους περιβάλλον, το δικό τους σπίτι, από τους Τουρκοκύπριους γείτονες μας, τους φίλους μας.
Είναι επίσης λυπηρό το γεγονός ότι για τόσο μεγάλο χρονικό διάστημα κανένας από αυτούς δεν είχε το θάρρος να βοηθήσει στην εντόπιση του μαζικού τάφου.
Η σιωπή πάνω από 43 χρόνια εμβάθυνε τις πληγές του αρχικού εγκλήματος.
Δεν είναι όμως αργά για να προσπαθήσουμε να αντισταθμίσουμε για τον χαμένο χρόνο.
Δυστυχώς υπάρχουν ακόμα πολλοί αγνοούμενοι Ελληνοκύπριοι και Τουρκοκύπριοι.
Μόνο με συνεργασία και μαζί με άλλες πρωτοβουλίες, μπορούν να βρεθούν και να επιστραφούν πίσω στους αγαπημένους τους - Ελληνοκύπριους ή Τουρκοκύπριους.
Όλοι μας, με τον δικό μας τρόπο σας πεθυμούσαμε τόσο πολύ. Και για τόσο πολύ καιρό ζούσαμε με την ελπίδα ότι κάποια μέρα θα ξανασυναντηθούμε.
Στη πραγματικότητα, δεν ήσασταν ποτέ μακριά και σίγουρα θα συνεχίσετε να ήσαστε πάντα μαζί μας, από εδώ και πέρα.
Αναπαυτείτε εν ειρήνη.
Θα σας αγαπάμε πάντα και δεν θα σας ξεχάσουμε ποτέ!»

Photo: . Η Χριστίνα και η μητέρα της Παναγιώτα στην κηδεία…

(*) Article published in the POLITIS newspaper on the 11th of March 2018, Sunday. A series of my articles about the funeral were published in Turkish in our newspaper YENİDÜZEN on 5,6,7,8 and 9 March 2018 and here are the links to these articles:
http://www.yeniduzen.com/iki-guzel-insani-topraga-verirken-1-12045yy.htm
http://www.yeniduzen.com/cenaze-toreninde-baris-mesaji-2-12049yy.htm
http://www.yeniduzen.com/catismayi-geride-birakalim-ve-umuda-dogru-yol-alalim-3-12054yy.htm
http://www.yeniduzen.com/bugun-gordugumuz-kadariyla-bu-aile-dimdik-ayakta-duruyor-ve-bu-adada-baris-ve-birlik-12059yy.htm
http://www.yeniduzen.com/kutsal-kemiklerinizin-bulundugu-burada-bugun-yeni-bir-soz-veriyorum-5-12063yy.htm