GREEK and Turkish Cypriots, still in a state of shock after Sunday's clashes in the UN controlled buffer zone, were stunned by the high casualty toll announced yesterday.
Apart from the young Greek Cypriot who was killed, another 58 were wounded. Twenty two Turkish Cypriots and 10 Austrian UN soldiers of the United Nations peacekeeping force (UNFICYP) were also injured.
Violence broke out when thousands of Greek Cypriot motorcyclists, attempted to cross the buffer zone to complete the last leg of their ride from "Berlin to Kyrenia", a small port town on the Turkish held north coast. "They undertook this ride to assert the right of all peoples to freedom of movement within their own countries and to protest the 22 year old occupation of north Cyprus by the mainland Turkish army.
The worst clashes took place at the village of Dherynia, which overlooks the occupied, abandoned city of Famagusta on the south east coast of the land.
The Greek Cypriots, unarmed and on foot, entered the buffer zone in small groups and were set upon by Turkish and Turkish Cypriot militants from the ultra nationalist "Grey Wolves" and "Hearth" movements, who were armed with guns, staves, clubs, stones and iron bars.
According to Ms Silvana Foa, the spokeswoman of the UN Secretary General, Dr Boutros Boutros Ghali is expected to criticise the government of Cyprus for failing to prevent the bikers from going ahead with their protest and the Turkish Cypriot administration and Turkish army command for introducing organised violent elements into the BUN buffer area and the adjacent "security zone".
The Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr Rauf Denktash, blamed the violence on the Greek Cypriots and called upon the government of the republic to resume direct negotiations on a settlement of the Cyprus problem on the basis of the present "realities" of division and separation.
The Cyprus Foreign Minister, Mr Alecos Michaelides, hoped the clashes could spur the international community to resume the search for a settlement.
Patsy McGarry adds: It was "a normal 350 day" in Cyprus yesterday, according to Irish UN sources, but tensions were expected today as the funeral takes place of the Greek Cypriot youth killed in clashes with Turkish Cypriots.
Gardai are investigating the youth's death, and attended his post mortem yesterday. Some gardai were among the UN observers at Dherynia, in the cast of Cyprus, on Sunday as the clashes took place.
There are 45 Irish personnel serving with the UN on the island - 15 gardai and 30 from the Army. Chief Supt Liam Quinn, Supt Matthias Cosgrave, two inspectors, three sergeants, and eight other gardai are based at Famagusta, Pyla, and Athienou.
Irish UN sources suggested that incidents such as took place in Cyprus on Sunday "happen in Lebanon every day" but are ignored there because of the absence of a similar media presence.
