Divided We Stand

Conflict claims lives in divided Cyprus

Divided We Stand For more than 30 years the United Nations have been keeping a fragile peace on the divided island of Cyprus. Since the Turkish army occupied the North in 1974, Greek-Cypriots and Turkish-Cypriots have occupied separate parts of the island.
Since the Turkish army occupied the North in 1974, Greek-Cypriots and Turkish-Cypriots have occupied separate parts of the island. In 1996 Greek-Cypriot bikers broke through the UN barriers and fought with Turk-Cypriot youths. One Greek was beaten to death. In this film the bikers attempt to place a wreath on the spot where their comrade died. Fired-up on nationalist zeal, a youth tries to climb a flag pole to raise the Greek flag. He is shot dead. The UN is trying to break the cycle of bitterness by bringing together Greek and Turkish Cypriots for what they call bi-communal meetings. But the struggle for peace has to soothe deep wounds on both sides. In a regular vigil, mothers stand with photos of their missing sons around their necks. They believe the Turks have their sons imprisoned. On the other side, gruesome photos of Turkish victims are prominently displayed along the border crossings. Against a Mediterranean sunset a bicommunal choir sings for Cypriot union. It should be a symbol of progress except that tonight, in a testament to the on-going tension, the Turk-Cypriot choir members have been banned from performing...

Produced by ABC Australia
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