Filenews 4 June 2022 - by Vassos Vassiliou
The government has placed barbed wire at the boundaries of the buffer zone in the area of Astromeritis up to Akaki, in order to prevent the passage of migrants in the areas controlled by the Republic, but in addition to them it will have to deal with poachers and smugglers.
Already, one of the six gates that were installed was ripped off by strangers who, according to information from "F" by local residents, tied it up and pulled it with a vehicle. Along the way, it is not excluded that other entrance/ exit gates will suffer the same fate. The reason why some people do not want the gates to work is also the fact that they will be monitored with cameras, so, in theory, they will record who enters and who comes out.
Of course, residents of the areas affected are also opposed to the installation and operation of gates, as well as farmers. Especially some farmers react to the fact that the width of some gates is such that there is no room for a combine to pass nor other machines that drag other agricultural tools and so are forced, as we have been told, to bypass a few kilometres to enter the buffer zone. It is noted that the owners of houses that have been built or are built within the buffer zone are also affected.
Another thing that concerns farmers is the fact that the doors will only open with a code. Already, as we have been told, the communes have been asked to prepare a list of people who will go in and out of the buffer zone for work, but some have reportedly reacted by demanding that this project be taken over by the ministry. Especially as far as the code is concerned, we were told that hundreds of immigrants are working in the area, legally or illegally, and they claimed that the application on the mobile phones of the beneficiaries may be used by other people, neutralizing the promoted measures. Local residents also claim that some of the foreigners working in the buffer zone are cooperating with smugglers and guiding migrants on passages they can use to cross into the free areas.
The Commune of Astromeritis, Aris Constantinou, before whom we raised the fears expressed by farmers of Katokopia, that Turks may occupy or begin to cultivate the fields of the Greek Cypriots which will be cut off with the placement of the gates, said that this fear is also his but is shared by other communes. Already, as he said, the Turkish commune of occupied Katokopia has raised this issue which is troubling. Moreover, Mr. Andreas Masouras, speaking on behalf of a group of landowners of the buffer zone in Astromeritis, cited information according to which the Turkish commune announced that he will collect the fees related to the cultivation of the fields in the buffer zone of Katokopia.
Another vulnerability found by farmers in the area is the possibility of someone tying the barbed wire and tearing it apart, so that all the measures are neutralized.
Concern of communes and residents
The Commune of Astromeritis, interpreting the concerns of residents, said that one issue that concerns is the fight against fires. The grasses were clipped and the barbed wire is not visible and the question is where the fire trucks will pass through, he said. Moreover, the handling of the fire is concerning - when it spreads to both sides of the barbed wire, inside and outside the buffer zone, when the fire brigades will be required to make a large circle until they reach the other side, what happens?
Mr. Constantinou mentioned that it is a problem that there are single and double gates, since wide agricultural machinery cannot pass through the first ones.
Regarding the effectiveness of the measures that have already been taken, namely the barbed wire, both residents and the Commune of Astromeritis claim that the passage of foreigners has begun again. If they cannot proceed, they move to other places, under the guidance of traffickers, where there are no barbed wire and pass.
Regarding the forms that the communes were asked to fill in, Mr. Constantinou said that the ministry was asked to ask those entering the buffer zone to fill in a special form stating the gate through which they will pass. It was considered that this is the job of the ministry, he said.
Finally, an issue raised mainly by farmers is the reduction of the value of their land.
