Filenews 7 November 2021 - by Michalis Ignatiou
In Cyprus we shout, we squirrel, but in the end, unfortunately, we forget. And this is a big problem, because the corrupt political and economic actors take us for granted. And totally stupid, I would add. Basically we should be ashamed of our behaviour.
I could cite myriad examples with the most blatant fact that a coup d'état took place and those responsible were not punished. On the contrary, some of them emerged as local actors, bullies and in the sense of the word, mobsters.
From the moment, therefore, that those who betrayed the island were acquitted, everything else in this country is forgiven. As a result, Cyprus is one of the most corrupt countries and this is considered a normality.
The "communist" party of Cyprus, AKEL, which carries a whole lot of sins, called on its members to take to the streets against corruption. No, it's no joke. Yes, AKEL, as if it is not itself part of the system. And what did it accomplish? Be ridiculed? This party won a 20% mark in the recent parliamentary elections, which in theory means that it should affect a fifth of Cyprus. We are talking about thousands of citizens...
How many took to the streets? AKEL became an anecdote and I would say that it destroyed the last hope we had for the people to wake up and protest. When an MP and a party financier was caught with the goat in the back, why would the citizens follow it?
Of course, Cyprus has the misfortune to have many parties. They fight corruption in theory. So there. They issue fiery announcements, but in the meantime they suffer. Because they do not convince the citizens. The politicians of the island are not sincere, they are part of the dirty system. Here, too, the responsibilities of the citizens are highlighted. They don't get up from their armchairs with anything. I am not afraid either when we are faced with the tragic dilemma of the Turkishisation of Cyprus.
What should be done about corruption? But the obvious. The citizens must rise up. And this will happen, perhaps, if the media play its part and stops turning into... the Taliban system. I am addressing my fellow Members more today. Do they not feel ashamed to be 'cashing in' with political and economic actors and covering them up? Apart from some loud voices through this newspaper, the majority bows its head to the powerful of the island. The situation is tragic and humiliating for the function of journalism.
When we are around a table and we talk, we get excited. But we do not imitate foreign journalists. We admire them when they reveal the financial scandals of our Country. And we don't look at our incredible tragedy. That we are absent from the revelations. Whereas it has to be our work.
There are people who speak on condition of anonymity, but at the same time are afraid to come out into the light. You see, the institutions of the state do not offer them protection, as is the case in other countries. Because the state is first in corruption. So it protects the corrupt and not those who denounce corruption.
We were saying, with good friends and colleagues, that we should not get to the point of becoming... Malta. And I don't mean corruption because we've overcome it. We were talking about the sacrifice - because it is a sacrifice - of the journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, who was murdered by a gang of politicians and businessmen for discovering their corruption. They executed her in a cowardly manner. But her murder broke the pimple and the corrupt ended up in prison. She is not the only journalist who has been murdered even in non-authoritarian countries. But their sacrifices did not go to waste. No, we shouldn't get there. There are other ways to combat corruption.
Indeed, how many in Cyprus remember the scandal of "golden passports"? Gone, forgotten. And those of us who remember it have become quaint, instead of the exact opposite being the case. To open mouths, I mean.
This comes to the major issue of media independence. Television, which has more influence on citizens, has become filled with rubbish broadcasts and the news bulletins are processed with the written announcements of the government and the parties. Research is completely absent. And from as many newspapers as are left. In Phileleftheros, fortunately, we have freedom and independence to write our opinion and express ourselves without fear and passion. Then comes the chaos.
The rumours circulating about the acquisition of consciences by corrupt businessmen have also reached the café of the smallest village. The citizens will completely lose confidence. And I wondered the other day with good colleagues: How do we win the lost price of journalism? And how do we help eradicate corruption?
The other day, I was reminded of this "girl" who saw herself as an opponent of corruption. She collectively blamed eponymous politicians, but the gunfire turned out to be ineffective. She also became a child of the system... And as the wise men say: White dog, black dog, gun dogs a generation ...
POSTSCRIPT I: "Phileleftheros" is published today along with the authoritative Athenian newspaper To Βηma. This is an important achievement of the publisher of this newspaper, Nikos Pattichis. Phileleftheros, anyway, is the most important media of Cyprus. The newspaper fought national battles and defended democracy on the island when the putschists tried to overthrow it. It remains the great and effective national voice of Cyprus. With the addition of To Bηma, it is further enhanced and offers the reader the opportunity to read the important Greek newspaper. The effort of Nikos Pattichis should be supported and strengthened. Besides, it proves, once again, that publishing is light years ahead of the rest of us.
POSTSCRIPT II: The mere thought that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikos Christodoulides, may be a candidate in the presidential elections, causes fainting in his potential opponents, inside and outside the Democratic Rally. The statements of the former minister. Finance, Harry Georgiadis, basically shows the irritation of the president of DISY Averoff Neophytou, who took the mountains and mountains and gathers ... Watermelons. Apparently he does not know that the fruit thrives on the plain. Cyprus needs a clean candidate who will take it to other levels and fight the corruption that is plaguing the island. The current Foreign Minister, who has succeeded in the post entrusted to him by President Anastasiades, above all, is NOT corrupt. And that's not what the obscene corrupt political and economic establishment likes. The time has come for citizens to elect a Man who does not belong to the establishment. Whoever it is. As long as he is not corrupt. Because corrupt politicians are extremely dangerous for the future of the island.
