The Liberation Struggle 1955-59

"BROTHER CYPRIOTS, From the depths of the centuries all those who have glorified Greek history in their struggle to preserve freedom gaze upon us… The whole of Hellenism, which watches us anxiously, and with national pride, gazes upon us. Let us reply with our deeds that we will be "braver than the bravest"… INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATS, Look upon your work. It is shameful that in the 20 th century peoples must shed their blood in order to obtain the God- given gift of freedom, for which we too have fought at the side of your peoples and for which you at least claim to have fought against Nazism and Fascism. GREEKS, Wherever you might be, hear our voice: Forward! ALL TOGETHER FOR FREEDOM FOR CYPRUS. E.O.K.A., THE LEADER DHIGENIS". These were just some of the demands put forward by the Greek- Cypriots in the first EOKA proclamation, when on the morning of 1 st April 1955 they were embarking on the struggle for libera- tion. The goal of the struggle was to throw off the British colo- nial yoke and to fulfil the wish of the entire Greek-Cypriot peo- ple for union with Greece. In the historic plebiscite of the 15 th of January 1950, by which the Greeks of Cyprus expressed their deepest wish, 97% of the Greek population voted for union with Greece. The demand for union with Greece goes back much further than that, however. Cyprus, an integral part of the Hellenic world, had been left outside the boundaries of the Greek State, and therefore the desire of its people to return to the national homeland was entirely natural. However, Britain’s colonial policy left no room for hope. The first dynamic reaction to colonial subjugation was the 1931 uprising. The October uprising, as it has become known, marked the first dynamic and bloody attack by the Greeks of Cyprus against colo- nial rule. The movement was put down and there followed a period of terrorism, suppression of national feeling and systematic silenc- ing of the people. It was forbidden to raise the Greek flag and play the Greek national anthem. "With God’s help, faith in the good fight, the support of the entire Greek population and the help of the Cypriot people, WE ENTER INTO THE STRUGGLE TO THROW OFF THE BRITISH YOKE. Our slogan is one that has been handed to us by our forefathers as a sacred heritage: "VICTORY OR DEATH".