Former Greek Cypriot minister's 'massacre' confession: 'EOKA-B killed all the children'

Sharing the last photograph taken of primary school children who were killed in the 1974 Maratha massacre on her social media account, former GCA Foreign Minister Erato Kozaku-Markoullis stated that the Turkish Cypriots were killed by EOKA-B.

In her post, where she used the words, "All the children were killed by EOKA-B. This photograph once again reveals the tragedy that took place," Markoullis pointed out that although the perpetrators of the massacre are known, the Greek Cypriot administration has not taken any steps regarding this matter.

Former Foreign Minister Markoullis expressed her reaction to the authorities with the message, "No one has been punished for these heinous crimes."

While some Greek Cypriot users who commented under Markoullis's account claimed they were unaware of the massacre, others argued that there were justifications for the massacre.

Following the reactions, Markoullis made the photograph the cover photo of her social media account.

A FIRST IN TERMS OF ACKNOWLEDGING THE MASSACRE

It was reported that this post by Markoullis is the first of its kind by an official who has served in the GCA to acknowledge the massacre of civilians in Maratha.

Former Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister Erato Kozaku-Markoullis had also shared a photograph of the mass graves of Turkish Cypriots who were massacred in Maratha-Santalaris and Aloa 8 years ago.

Some Greek Cypriots acknowledge that the systematic attacks and massacres against Turks in Cyprus between 1963 and 1974 were carried out solely by the terrorist organization EOKA-B.

Officials from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), however, emphasize that the massacres against Turks were carried out within the framework of the Akritas and Enosis plans, and that these plans were put into practice with the approval of Greek and Greek Cypriot state officials.

TRNC officials, arguing that Greek Cypriot soldiers and police participated in the attacks against Turks in Cyprus, have shared numerous pieces of evidence and documents on this subject.

'THE PEACE OPERATION BROUGHT PEACE NOT ONLY TO TURKS BUT ALSO TO GREEKS'

TRNC President Ersin Tatar, in a speech, stated that the massacres against Turkish Cypriots in Maratha-Sandallar and Atlılar on August 14, 1974, went down in history as "unpunished mass killings," and said, "The genocide that took place here was carried out by Greek Cypriot soldiers and police. We have seen with documents that Greek Cypriot authorities gave the order to commit these murders and that the genocide was carried out by Greek Cypriot soldiers and police. Although the crimes of those who committed these murders are proven by documents, they were not tried. We know very well what happened in Cyprus. The Cyprus Peace Operation brought peace not only to Turks but also to Greeks."

MARATHA-SANDALLAR AND ATLILAR MASSACRE

On August 14, 1974, 126 Turkish Cypriots, consisting entirely of women, children, and the elderly, were killed by Greek Cypriot soldiers, police, and the terrorist organization EOKA in the villages of Maratha-Sandallar and Atlılar and placed in mass graves.

The mass grave in the village of Atlılar was discovered on August 20, 1974, and the mass grave in Maratha-Sandallar was discovered on September 2, 1974, after a shepherd noticed a hand on the surface of the soil.

The Maratha-Sandallar and Atlılar Massacre was cited by the Turkish Armed Forces as one of the reasons for the second phase of the Cyprus Peace Operation.

News Source: 12punto