**MAMMARI, CYPRUS** – A volatile incident unfolded on Tuesday within the UN-patrolled buffer zone near the village of Mammari, where Greek Cypriot farmers reported being physically threatened and subjected to attempted detentions by members of the Turkish army and police. The confrontation, which saw over twenty Turkish personnel involved, has amplified existing anxieties for farmers working land situated precariously close to a Turkish military outpost, prompting an investigation by the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).
The alleged altercation commenced as farmers Gavriel and Yerolemos Yerolemou were engaged in agricultural work on their land, reportedly located approximately 300 metres from a Turkish military position. According to the farmers’ accounts, the situation rapidly deteriorated when a Turkish soldier approached their parked vehicle and attempted to confiscate the keys. This initial action seemingly precipitated a larger confrontation, with the farmers claiming that Turkish soldiers and police officers then resorted to throwing stones and physically accosting them, with one farmer reporting being grabbed by the throat. A particularly alarming detail emerged regarding a police officer’s attempt to board a tractor in an effort to detain one of the farmers, who subsequently accelerated the vehicle to evade apprehension. The Turkish forces reportedly issued commands in both Turkish and English during the tense exchange.
The intervention of UNFICYP was swiftly sought. Peacekeepers arrived at the scene, where they reportedly observed the unfolding events, documented the incident, and are now undertaking a thorough investigation. The UN force has confirmed its engagement in communication with both Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot sides in an effort to de-escalate the heightened tensions.
The repercussions of this incident have extended to the highest levels of the Republic of Cyprus. President Nikos Christodoulides unequivocally condemned the actions of the Turkish forces, characterising them as "pirate acts." The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is reportedly engaging with relevant parties to ascertain the precise boundaries and access rights for farmers cultivating land within the buffer zone, particularly in areas where previous access is now contested.
For farmers like the Yerolemou brothers, the incident has engendered significant fear and a profound sense of uncertainty regarding their ability to access and cultivate ancestral lands. "They were throwing stones at us, they grabbed me by the throat and tried to arrest us," recounted Gavriel Yerolemou, conveying the visceral nature of the confrontation. His brother, Yerolemos Yerolemou, voiced his bewilderment and apprehension: "We were simply tending to our fields. How is that provocation? They had their finger on the trigger."
The farmers are now awaiting definitive clarification from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs concerning the specific areas where they are permitted to cultivate their fields, as the landscape of land access within the buffer zone appears to be subject to evolving and disputed interpretations. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the persistent fragility of the status quo in Cyprus and the potential for minor disputes to escalate into significant diplomatic and security concerns. The ongoing UNFICYP investigation is crucial in providing clarity and potentially preventing a recurrence of such alarming confrontations.