Protesters chant, ‘Say it loud, say it clear, British bases out of right here’, on the streets of Nicosia.
Britain operates two bases in Cyprus – Akrotiri and Dhekelia (Picture: NurPhoto/Shutterstock/Kostas Pikoulas)
Protesters have taken to the streets of the Cypriot capital calling for Britain to stop two army bases on the island. Round 300 individuals joined the motion on Saturday, marching from the headquarters of the union Pasydy to the presidential palace.
These collaborating carried banners saying, “Cyprus just isn’t your launchpad” and “British bases out”. There have been chants of “Say it loud, say it clear, British bases out of right here”. Marketing campaign group, Afoa, which helped organise the protest, mentioned Cypriots had been being endangered by the struggle between the US, Israel and Iran. The group mentioned in a press release: “We don’t settle for Cyprus being a base of struggle.”
The protest got here after a drone hit RAF Akrotiri final Sunday (March 1). It reignited debate over whether or not the UK ought to proceed its presence in Cyprus.
Protester, Natasha Theodotou, instructed the BBC: “We simply need to have an impartial Cyprus… Simply as we’re occupied by the Turkish authorities we’re occupied by the UK.”
Below a 1960 treaty, the UK operates bases Akrotiri and Dhekelia on Cyprus, which was a British colony.
The UK was criticised by allies over its defence of Cyprus within the wake of the drone strike, which is believed to have been launched by Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Some argue that if the UK cannot defend its bases, then the nation ought to give them up.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has granted permission for “defensive” US motion towards Iranian missile websites from UK bases.
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson instructed the BBC this week has seen Hurricane and F-35 fighter jets fly sorties within the area, capturing down Iranian drones and defending harmless civilians from Iran’s indiscriminate assaults.
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