"Amnesty's Amnesia

Amnesty Interntional has acted yet again as the three wise monkeys - seeing, hearing and saying nothing - in connection with the gross and continuing violation of human rights by Turkey in the occupied north of Cyprus.

The only human rights problems in Cyprus, according to Amnesty, have to do with the shortcomings of the amended law on homosexuality among men and the beating up of illegal immigrants by police.

The ethnic cleansing policy pursued by Turkey in the occupied north of the island, the violation of the basic human rights of the expelled Greek Cypriots, whose properties have been seized and who are not allowed to return to their homes as well as restrictions imposed on the enclaved, are ignored completely by Amnesty as they have been in previous reports.

This is difficult to understand in view of the fact that Amnesty is certainly harshly critical of human rights violations in Turkey itself. Surely the report should have been just as critical of Turkey's responsibility, and culpability, in connection with human rights violations in north Cyprus.

Amnesty's continuing refusal to refer to north Cyprus is inexcusable, particularly in view of the decision of the European Court of Human Rights that Turkey, as the occupying power, is solely responsible for everything taking place in the occupied north of the island."