Livestock farmers blocked the road from Aradippou to Athienou on Saturday morning as they weighed their next steps after being refused an exemption from the requirement to cull all animals in units where foot-and-mouth cases are found.
Agricultural organisations were briefing farmers on the closed road in the Sopaz area, where the mood was described as explosive. Strong police forces were at the scene but had not intervened up to that point.
An affected farmer said: “They tell us they will bring us other animals, but if you destroy my mental state, if you destroy me as a person, what will become of us?”
Earlier, farmers from across Cyprus gathered in the livestock area of Oroklini to stop the culling of sheep and goats at a colleague’s unit. Protesters blocked the roads leading to the area and said they would not allow Veterinary Services officials to enter.
A coffin had been placed on the roof of a vehicle, underlining the anger among the protesters. Despite poor weather and rain, the farmers remained on the road in case anyone tried to enter the area.
Police were also deployed to Oroklini and the number of farmers there increased. Some had travelled from Paphos and Limassol.
Assistant police director of Larnaca Stavros Foukkaris was at the scene and spoke to the farmers, who said they would not leave the area or allow the culling of the animals to go ahead.
Speaking on state radio on Saturday morning, government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said the right to protest was fully respected, but stressed that the views of experts had to be taken into account. He also warned that because the virus is highly contagious, any gathering would increase the risk of it spreading.
Agricultural organisations were due to brief farmers at 9.30 am in the Sopaz area of Aradippou on Friday’s contacts with European Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare Olivér Várhelyi and President Nikos Christodoulides. Farmers were then expected to decide their next moves, with tougher action not ruled out, while police forces remained in the area.
