The House of Representatives has approved a private members’ bill establishing a register of enclaved persons, aimed at documenting those who, as a result of the Turkish invasion and ongoing occupation, have lived or continue to live under conditions of enclavement in the occupied areas of the Republic.
The bill was submitted by Kyriakos Hatzigiannis, a DISY MP for Famagusta district, and Rita Theodorou Superman, a DISY MP for Kyrenia district. It was approved by the House, alongside a unanimous AKEL amendment clarifying the categories of persons to be included in the register.
What the register will include
The register will record the details of all persons who remained permanently in areas not controlled by the Republic from 20 July 1974 onwards and who either continue to reside there or have since moved to areas under the Republic’s control.
It will also include the children of enclaved persons who either remain permanently in the occupied areas or who previously resided there and later moved to the free areas for any reason.
For those who relocated to areas controlled by the Republic, inclusion in the register will not depend on the reason for their relocation or on whether they later returned to the occupied areas.
The details of all deceased persons falling within the above categories will also be included.
Clarifications introduced through amendments
The AKEL amendment was adopted unanimously and seeks to clarify the categories of enclaved persons whose details will be recorded. It also provides that, for those who moved to areas under the Republic’s control, there should be explicit reference to relocation resulting from coercion and inhuman treatment.
Following discussions at the House refugees committee, the definition of the term “enclaved person” was revised to ensure comprehensive coverage of all affected individuals.
Creation and maintenance of the register
The bill was further amended to change the method by which the register will be created. Instead of relying initially on applications submitted by enclaved persons, the register will be compiled by the competent authority based on available data from independent and reliable sources, as assessed by that authority.
Both the initial compilation and subsequent validation, updating or supplementation of the register will be carried out in cooperation with the Service for Humanitarian Issues of Missing and Enclaved Persons under the Office of the Presidential Commissioner, as well as any other competent authority of the Republic or independent body.
An annex will be added to the law specifying the information to be included in the register, such as the person’s place of permanent residence, place of residence in the occupied areas and duration of enclavement. Provision is also made for the electronic submission of any information or documents required by the competent authority.
Positions of MPs
Speaking after the vote, co-sponsor Rita Theodorou Superman said that enclaved persons and their children wrote a chapter of history under extremely difficult conditions, adding that society has a national and historical obligation to establish this register. She said it would also assist in restoring any rights due to them.
Kyriakos Hatzigiannis spoke of the moral restoration of enclaved persons alongside the long-standing economic support they have received, saying the register would serve as a useful tool to address long-standing gaps.
AKEL MP Nikos Kettirros, chair of the refugees committee, said the bill covers a gap of almost half a century and described the register as both the smallest and the most necessary register a country like Cyprus should have.
DIKO MP Zacharias Koulias referred to the suffering endured by enclaved persons under the occupation regime, noting ongoing violations of human rights.
DIKO MP Michalis Yiakoumi said the state should have taken the initiative to create such a register years ago, adding that it would facilitate state support for enclaved persons and their descendants.
Independent MP Alexandra Attalidou highlighted the struggle of enclaved persons to keep their communities and language alive, calling for greater generosity and empathy by the state in certain cases.
DIKO MP Pavlos Mylonas questioned whether sufficient documentation exists of the abuses suffered by enclaved persons under the occupation, including sexual violence and killings, and said parliament could play a stronger role through parliamentary diplomacy.
Source: CNA