Filenews 6 May 2022 - by Fanis Makridis
The concert of the British Bases scheduled for June 2nd at the ancient Kourion amphitheatre has taken on dimensions on the domestic front, but also divides. The event is held in honour of Queen Elizabeth and specifically, as stated in a relevant announcement, in order to celebrate "the platinum jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, her service to our nation for over 70 years and her close support to the Armed Forces".
The reactions, although with... time delay (the event was announced from 11/04), have to do with obvious reasons. As is widely commented on, with the Queen's approval nine fighters of 1955-59 were hanged. Moreover, the scepticism expressed stems from the fact that the proceeds of the event will be donated to the financial support of two Cypriot charities active in the treatment of childhood cancer ("Little Heroes" and "One Dream, One Wish"), but also to a British organization that supports military families, the SSAFA.
"Little Champions" leave
Indicative of the reactions is that the foundation "Little Heroes", founded on the initiative of DISSY MEP, Loukas Fourlas, with the aim of supporting children who are hospitalized in the Paediatric Oncology Department of the Makarios Hospital, decided to withdraw from the event.
In a text message sent yesterday on behalf of the "Little Heroes" to media officials, it is noted: "After being informed about the content and purpose of the event organized by the British Bases, we contacted the organizers and requested that the "Little Heroes" foundation be immediately removed from the list of charities that will receive financial support from the proceeds of the event."
"He had not been informed..."
"F" contacted an associate of Mr. Fourlas within yesterday's day asking for some additional clarifications on the initial inclusion of the foundation in the communiqué of the British Bases (the M MEPs phone was off as he was travelling). In response to a question about the deferred reaction (the announcement for the event was issued on April 11), he said that "friends informed us only yesterday (the day before yesterday) about the purposes of the concert and the inclusion of the foundation in the list of charities. Besides, the announcement of the British Bases had not been made public by the media." He added: "We immediately decided to opt out." He further explained that "no one from the foundation had been informed in advance that it would receive part of the proceeds of the event in question."
"We are not politicians"
As far as the association "One Dream, One Wish" is concerned, despite any reactions, its executives have no objection considering that contributions from wherever they come from are welcome. This emerges from what the president of the Association, George Penidaex, told "F".
"We are not politicians, we are a charity," he said when we asked him for comment. He added that he understands the issue that arises, but he made it clear that "One Dream, One Wish", is designed to serve man and especially children with serious health problems.
"If a parent wants to send his child abroad and is 'burned' to raise money, we will stand by him. We cannot leave a child at the mercy..." he said, and reiterated: "Philanthropy has nothing to do with politics. It has no borders. When we speak humanely, we are all under the same sky."
Mr. Penidaex added: "I wish we had a welfare state and there was no need for our action."
The President of the Association said that there can be no question of love for the country on the occasion of the issue that arose, while commenting on those who raise such an issue, he referred to the coat of arms of England which is at the Presidential Palace and which housed all the Presidents from various party factions. He even wondered why no one reacted to this fact.
He also recalled the "cycling tour" recently organized by the British Bases, with the participation of the Cyprus Police. "The proceeds of this event were shared equally in our association, the 'Little Heroes' and the Anticancer Association," he explained.
He concluded by saying that "our Association is not an organizer of the event and I do not intend to attend either... I have one thing in mind: To help children in need and nothing else."
"Amazing service..."
In the announcement of the British Bases, which was published on 11/04/2022, after recording the basic details of the concert on June 2nd and the participants, the positions of the commander of the "British Forces of Cyprus, Major General Rob Thomson", are listed. The latter, according to the announcement, "stated that the concert will be an act of celebration and a spectacular concert. He said: "Of course this concert will be held to mark 70 years of Her Majesty's amazing service in the UK and the Commonwealth, but I also feel it is an excellent opportunity to celebrate our close friendship and cooperation with Cyprus and the Cypriots."
Intervention by the son of the hanged Andreas Panagidis
For the whole issue there was also an intervention by the son of the hanged hero of EOKA, Andreas Panagidis. The reason for Mr. Aristides Panagidis, who in a letter sent yesterday to "F" and under the title "To Elizabeth", submits his own positions on the issue. It calls, in particular, on all charities that are scheduled to take part in the event, to withdraw their participation, but also on the government to demand the cancellation of the event.
"Justifying his above positions, he notes, among other things: "You will tell me that in their own sovereign space whatever they want they can do. No objection. What I do not understand, however, is the participation of Cypriot charities, Cypriot artists and cultural groups in the festivals organized by the authorities of a state that has no 'principles', since this state did not respect even its signature in the notorious Zurich-London treaties and acted and continues to act to this day in order to partition our country, stubbornly refuses to pay the prescribed rent for the use of Cypriot land and is negative when some foreign officials express, at least, the desire to visit the Imprisoned Graves.
"Note that the Imprisoned Graves are the holiest place of Cypriot Hellenism, since there the English conquerors and with the approval of Elizabeth hanged and buried nine heroes of Cyprus and four others who were killed in battles against the British colonialists. And the officials of the Cypriot protectorate make sure that they meet their instructions and do not allow the visits of foreign dignitaries and diplomats to the Imprisoned Graves. And in order not to think that I am exaggerating, please indicate to me, at least one foreign official or ambassador or diplomat who has visited this place. Moreover, the British of the Bases with these events will celebrate, they say, the friendship of the two states, concealing the fact that with her decisions their queen made some Cypriot black-clad parents and some infants and toddlers orphans and wives crying in the graves of their own dead four years after their death.
