It is both profound and a disgrace that political forces and politicians invest in “shrines” and attempt to rally their party base by “sanctifying” historical figures.
News broke days ago that “the entire leadership” of DISY, under President Annita Demetriou, would attend Grivas’s annual memorial service in Limassol. This isn’t the first or last time DISY officials have attended the memorial. However, the message was deliberately broadcast days in advance that “the entire leadership” would attend. This was no coincidence.
It’s worth remembering that last year, the party’s new President had “other commitments” and didn’t want to get involved. This year? This year she attended because, evidently, the fear of ELAM “brings hell.” She attended because, almost a year before the parliamentary elections, she apparently realised that “modernising the party and society” involves an endless tango with the ghosts of the past. And when the far-right claps, Pindarou must dance.
In normal countries, memorial services – whether for major or minor figures – cannot be political events. However, to evaluate a political act like DISY’s, all facts must be laid bare. Obviously, this was done based on party calculations, supported by polling and other data. And acting with… “wisdom,” they decided the “entire leadership” should participate.
Many political interpretations can be offered. However, historical reality doesn’t have multiple readings. A person isn’t judged solely by one phase of their actions or life, but by the whole picture. And primarily, they’re judged by their actions and behaviour in the final phase of their life. We honour EOKA’s national liberation struggle, of which George Grivas was military leader (and Makarios the political leader). But Grivas’s actions during EOKA B, which he founded and led, cannot be erased or bypassed. These actions were destructive, and we’re still living with their consequences today, with Turkey’s occupation of Cyprus’s territories. These aren’t fairy tales or myths – this is our history.
Another point: The DISY leadership, which always invokes the “father of their faction,” should look up Glafkos Clerides’ statement (in “Phileleftheros” 26.1.1974) about Grivas after Stelios Mavros’s assassination. They should read what he had warned Grivas about. How if he didn’t condemn violence and dissolve his illegal organisation, he would ask Parliament and the people to condemn him as a murderer. A warning that went nowhere as the EOKA B leader died the following day.
Government’s mistake
The government also erred in deciding to be represented at Grivas’s memorial. Because his actions in the final phase of his life undermined the state. His actions and activities led to the coup of 15th July 1974, which paved the way for the Turkish invasion and the continuing occupation of our territories by Turkey. While Grivas died in January 1974, EOKA B under his guidance operated and laid the groundwork for the catastrophic July. Indeed, there were plans, under his leadership, for other coups as well.
Neither Makarios’s memorial nor anyone else’s should be a political event. Politics shouldn’t be conducted inside and outside churches on Sundays, where statements are made. Nor is it a political act to march from the church to Grivas’s hideout, from where he led EOKA B in a war against the legitimate state and democracy.
When the political system finds itself at an impasse, it cannot resort to Makarios and Grivas. It’s one thing for them to be de facto historical reference points, and quite another for them to dominate political discourse in the public sphere decades later. And by saying this, the two are in no way being equated.
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