Demonstration in North Nicosia

As a close neighbor to many of the uprisings and regime changes, it was shocking to me how little the issues in the region were being discussed. It felt for a while as if I was a world away from the demonstrations, protests, and fighting that have overcome North Africa and the Middle East rather than an hour flight from Cairo.

However, over the past week or two, the walls of Nicosia have begun to tell a different story. Near the coffee shops and main commercial street (Ledra Street) in the Old City, supportive slogans have begun to crop up on plastered walls.

I'm a big fan of the V for Vendetta/Pharaoh stencil in this one.

Then yesterday the reality of demonstration struck Nicosia. For the second time in the last month, Turkish Cypriots gathered around Kyrenia Gate at the north of the circular city walls in numbers unprecedented for the shrinking community. The protest was conducted in response to a number of growing Turkish Cypriot fears including austerity measures planned by Turkey, the massive Turkish military presence on the island, the large population of Turkish settlers in Cyprus, and their wish for self-determination and/or a resolution to the Cyprus Problem. 

Many political parties were represented at the rally in large numbers 

I was mistaken for media personnel and had the opportunity to capture the demonstration from atop an apartment building in the Old City.

Notice how the city walls and gate were used as a seating platform in and around Kyrenia Gate.

Anti-Turkish immigrant, and self-determination signs.

Almost 30,000 people are said to have joined the demonstration which included many speakers and a live band. I was thoroughly impressed with the volume that the protest was able to reach and the passion that the Turkish Cypriots brought to the rally. I hope Ankara could hear Nicosia today.