Two legal groups are challenging the UK's military bases in Cyprus. They say the bases are an unwelcome "colonial legacy." The groups are the European Lawyers for Democracy and Human Rights (ELDHR) and the Cyprus Democratic Lawyers Association (CDLA). They stated on Saturday that the bases were not agreed to by the Cypriot people. They were set up in 1960 when Cyprus became independent. The groups say Britain's claim to these areas is not legal or fair.
The legal groups are unhappy about how the bases were created. When Britain left Cyprus, it kept the Sovereign Base Areas. These are Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The ELDHR and CDLA believe this was not self-determination. They think it was "imperialism in a new legal form." They feel the bases are an old way of showing colonial power. The bases also divide Cyprus. This can make the island a target in conflicts. Therefore, it affects national security.
The legal associations want the Cyprus government to stop accepting the bases. They are asking for a clear plan with the UK. This plan should be about closing the bases and leaving. Cyprus has rights under international law. Some people disagree with this idea. Former President Nicos Anastasiades thought it was too early to discuss the bases. He believed these talks should happen with a larger plan for Cyprus.
Anastasiades also mentioned a 2019 court case about the Chagos Islands. That case said taking land for a military base was against international law. However, Anastasiades also noted that the UK has not always supported Cyprus's positions. The legal groups agree with this. They see a similarity between the Chagos situation and the Cyprus bases. They think international law now helps them argue against the bases. A 2014 agreement allowed some land within the bases to be used for building. Some saw this as a small step.
However, the ELDHR and CDLA say this is not enough. They believe "Cyprus has every right to challenge this colonial legacy." They want complete decolonisation. Their work shows a strong desire in Cyprus to have full control of its land. They want to leave behind the past of empire. The Cyprus government must now consider these arguments. They need to find a way to achieve true decolonisation.