Political parties in the Turkish-occupied north are at odds over whether crime is increasing after the opposition called for a special debate on public safety.
The extraordinary session, requested by the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), could not proceed because no “MPs” from the three coalition parties attended. Their absence left the chamber without a quorum.
Üstel dismisses security concerns
Speaking to Bayrak on Tuesday, National Unity Party (UBP) leader and “prime minister” Ünal Üstel said the session was an attempt to create the impression of a “security crisis” by citing increased crime on the streets, in workplaces, schools and wider society.
“They are spreading propaganda as though there were a war on the island, simply to push us into an economic crisis. What is more, they are doing so during the busiest period for tourism, the driving force of our economy, while the Greek Cypriot side is preventing tourists from third countries from crossing from the south to the north,” he said.
Üstel argued that available figures did not indicate a surge in crime and said the CTP had not requested data from the “competent institutions” before calling for the extraordinary session.
He also said that “special permits” for private gun ownership had been issued, adding that the authorities would do so again if necessary.
Üstel maintained that there was no security problem in the north, pointing to the recruitment of more than 1,000 new “police officers”.
Opposition challenges crime claims
Communal Democracy Party (TDP) leader Zeki Çeler asked Üstel to explain what he meant when he said that “security is measured by numbers, not by creating impressions”.
Çeler challenged him to take part in a debate with other party leaders if he genuinely believed there was no security problem.
He also accused Üstel of avoiding dialogue and appearing on television programmes where he spoke alone.
“Since he loves numbers so much, I promise I will bring him plenty of figures and statistics for him to explain,” Çeler said.
Teksen Köroğlu, a member of the central executive council of Kudret Özersay’s People’s Party (HP), called for a population census.
“If you do not know the size of the population, you will pay the price in hospitals, traffic, the environment, housing prices, markets, infrastructure, water, electricity and public safety,” he said.
Teachers warn about school violence
The Cyprus Turkish Teachers’ Union (KTÖS) separately raised concerns about violence and bullying in schools.
In a written statement, KTÖS General Secretary Burak Maviş said the problem had reached alarming levels.
“It is a serious misconception to view violence exclusively as a disciplinary problem. The solution lies in strengthening the education system,” he said.
Maviş described the problem as structural and said addressing it required “public” responsibility. He identified stronger psychological counselling and guidance services in schools as a central part of the response.
Only 26 psychological counselling and guidance teachers currently serve 110 schools overseen by the “Primary Education Department”.
The teachers are appointed by the “Public Service Commission”, with approximately one guidance teacher available for every 850 pupils.
Source: CNA.
