The struggle waged by the Turkish Cypriot people in their fight for existence and the martyrs that fell during the years of struggle will never be forgotten.
The December 21-25 Struggle and Martyrs Remembrance Week events have begun.
The remembrance week events began with a speech delivered by the Infantry Lieutenant Murat Yanarateş from the Security Forces Command (GKK) on BRT on Wednesday morning and will be broadcast again at 6pm today.
Two ceremonies were realised in the capital Lefkoşa, the first a wreath laying ceremony at the Martyrs Monument and the second a Martyrs Commemoration Programme at the Atatürk Culture Centre in Lefkoşa.
Delivering a speech at the Atatürk Culture Centre, Captain Murat Yanarateş from the Cyprus Turkish Security Forces highlighted the importance of passing onto future generations the incidents of the past.
“As youth you have sworn an oath to protect our republic and our flag at all costs, we shall never abandon our freedom and our flag,” he said.
Yanarateş said that the martyrs had sacrificed their lives during the 11 years of oppression by the Greek Cypriots for the freedom and independence of the Turkish Cypriot people.
“If we are living here freely today, if Turkish Cypriots continue to exist independently, if we are able to dream of a future for our children, then it is because of our heroic martyrs and our veterans,” he added.
Similar ceremonies were also held throughout other major towns and cities in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) today.
Prayers were recited for the martyrs at all central mosques across the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Meanwhile, ceremonies will be held on Thursday, December 22 to remember the Ayvasıl Martyrs.
Turkish Cypriots from villages and towns in Larnaca who were martyred or went missing during the years of the National Struggle and the 1974 Turkish Peace Operation will be remembered on Friday, the 23rd of December.
The Küçükkaymaklı Martyrs will be remembered on Saturday December 25.
Following the ceremony in front of the Küçük Kaymaklı Martyrs Monument, a commemoration ceremony will also be held at the Küçük Kaymaklı Martyrs’ Cemetery for Hüseyin Ruso who died on December 25, 1963 during the resistance put up in the Kaymaklı area.