FRENCH MUSICIAN CONDUCTS ONE-MAN ANTI-OCCUPATION

PROTEST IN CYPRUS

Web Posted: 19:27 GMT+2

_Nicosia, 16/08/1998 (MPA)_ A French musician and avid friend of Cyprus

conducted a 24 hour one-man anti-occupation protest at the Dherynia

checkpoint on Thursday to demonstrate against the continued occupation of

the island's northern third.

According to the Cyprus News Agency, Michel Maillard, who is married to a

Greek Cypriot from the Turkish occupied town of Famagusta, said he will

remain under a tent at the Dherynia checkpoint, in the eastern coast, just

like refugees did back in 1974.

His 24-hour vigil coincides with Thursday's 24th anniversary of the second

phase of the Turkish invasion, and the second anniversary since the murder

of Greek Cypriots, Tasos Isaak and Solomos Solomou, brutally killed by

Turkish extremists during demonstrations in the Dherynia buffer zone in

1996.

Maillard said that "the world rushed to save Kuwait, the world is crying

for Kosovo, but the world forgets the drama of Cyprus".

With his symbolic protest, Maillard said he wants to "say no to the fait

accompli which the Turkish invasion has imposed to secure the division of

Cyprus".

He said it is a shame that European countries, and especially France which

is a human rights advocate, continue to support Turkey, a country where

human rights are violated every day.

Maillard said the people of Cyprus should have the freedom of movement in

their own country and refugees should be able to return to their homes.