Greek Cypriot Police Manhandles Turkish Cameraman

LEFKOSA - Greek Cypriot police has manhandled Gurol Sekerler, the cameraman of Turkish Ihlas News Agency (IHA) who wanted to proceed from Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to the Greek Cypriot side from the Ledra Palace Border Gate to hold an interview.
Sekerler said on Monday, ''Greek Cypriot policemen told me that those who were born to parents from Turkey could not proceed to the Greek Cypriot side any longer, and he did not allow me. When he noticed that my camera was recording, he told me to give the video-tape to him. When I rejected it, two policemen pushed me into a room. Microphone of my camera was broken during the quarrel.''
Sekerler said that Greek Cypriot policemen slightly manhandled him in the neck, and photocopied his identity card.
Aslan Munguc, the editor in chief of Channel-T of TRNC, was also not allowed to proceed to the Greek Cypriot side due to the same reason.
Turkish journalists protested the event.
(UK-AÖ) 23.02.2004