Turkish Allegations Are Exercise in Absurdity

I magine reading that Hitler, after invading and occupying Poland in 1939, had started going around giving fiery speeches on "Polish fascism." Imagine watching Saddam Hussein on CNN, fresh from the invasion and capture of Kuwait, blasting about "Kuwaiti fascism." How would you have felt? Would you have felt infuriated by the unmitigated insolence of such allegations? Or, would you have rather burst into hysterical laughter at their blatant absurdity?

Now please stop imagining and let us bear with the facts. Cyprus is a tiny nation. In comparison, Turkey is about 70 times bigger, both in area and in population. In 1974 Turkey invaded Cyprus with a toll of 5,000 dead, 1,600 still missing, 200,000 refugees, out of a total population of 600,000.

The Turkish invasion in Cyprus has been internationally and repeatedly condemned by the Security Council of the United Nations, the European Commission on Human Rights, and numerous national governments. Today, 20 years after the invasion, the Turkish army still occupies the northern part of the island, keeping 30,000 troops permanently stationed there.

In "Infinite Corridor Posters Push Fascism for Cyprus" [Oct. 14], Kerem Limon '97, Levent M. Talgar '97, and members of the Turkish Students Association here at MIT have had the gall to accuse Greek Cypriots, the same people whose women were raped and whose homes were seized and are still being occupied, by the Turkish army of "Greek fascism."

Readers can decide for themselves whether to feel sorrow, rage, or sheer amusement upon reading such blatantly absurd allegations. As for myself, may I kindly recommend to the authors the name of another publication where articles of such nature might enjoy better appreciation? It is called The National Enquirer and is available at fine supermarkets and grocery stores in your area.

Chrysanthos N. Dellarocas G

Copyright 1994, The Tech. All rights reserved. This story was published on October 21, 1994. Volume 114, Number 50. This story appeared on page 4. This article may be freely distributed electronically, provided it is distributed in its entirety and includes this notice, but may not be reprinted without the express written permission of 'The Tech'. Write to archive@the-tech.mit.edu for additional details.

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