Akincilar

[chiangbill]

Hi. Does anyone know if the new dirt track road to Akincilar is accessible by a normal car.

[Marions]

Dodgy. My friend who is TC won't use it because of the harm to her vehicle. there is also varying tales of 'it is legal/it is illegal' But sometimes folk do use it, but at your own risk! Sorry can't be more helpful than that.

[chiangbill]

Hi Marions. Thanks for that, been reading about in the newspaper, looks a very interesting place to see. Maybe better to go with the Tulips Group.

[billywiz]

evening changbill
went last week an absolutely brilliant trip, if you are going to see any village in cyprus this is the one. its a place not to miss.

[Owl Lady]

Did you go with an organized trip,? I would love to go there.I wonder if Tulips could organize a trip and gain some money for the charity

[Philoz]

Where is it Please?
As in general direction.
Thanks.

[Marions]

look at the map of TRNC and find Ercan airport. towards the south is what is called a 'tear drop' on the green line(Atila Line) and at the end of that is the village of Akincilar/Louroujina. although you cannot see on the map, entrance is through an army camp and tehnically it is holders of Kimlik cardes only that may pass, unless special permission has bene obtained form the Military for 'yabanci'/foreigners. But the residents of the village have had enough. They want life rbought back to the village. UNDP and EU hav eput money into housing renovation, but many are not used and already cracks are appearing in the walls (two years later). Time for something to be done. As Sultan the muhtar says 'I want people to come to my village'.

The TRNC rep in London has suggested that people write to the government to ask for the place to be opened up.

[tulips]

I have emailed the posters who are interested in the trip direct. If anyone is interested could they email us at tulipscarole@yahoo.com and we will give you any relevant information.

Many thanks

Carole and Sue

[iancrumpy]

But the residents of the village have had enough. They want life bought back to the village. UNDP and EU hav eput money into housing renovation, but many are not used and already cracks are appearing in the walls (two years later). Time for something to be done. As Sultan the muhtar says 'I want people to come to my village'.

Marion, it's always nice to have village houses renovated, but there are are many villages in the TR of NC that would appreciate having their houses done up with EU/UNDP grants.

I don't know if you are aware, but post-74, all the villagers of Akıncılar were offered second homes in Akdoğan, which is just to the east of Ercan. For a number of years no one lived in Akıncılar ... and it was during this time that many of the buildings fell into ruin. However, with the realization that the Turkish military would protect them, some family members moved back to their Akıncılar homes, while other family members continued to live in their Akdoğan homes. Indeed the majority of former Akıncılar villagers chose to continue living in Akdoğan.

By the way, does your article address how quite a few of those living in Akıncılar abuse the high porosity of the "border" around the village ... that said we shouldn't tar all the villagers with the same brush. However, everything considered, my heart doesn't really bleed for those TCs owning houses in Akıncılar ... what with their second homes and EU/UNDP grants.

[Philoz]

@Marions.
Thank you for answering my question.
It's a shame that you can't just drive up there and have a look round,have lunch and spend a bit of money there-always a sure fire way of bringing a place back to life.
I cannot think of a good reason, why it should be so difficult to visit on a casual basis.
Maybe others could enlighten me?

@ Ian,I think a bit of cross border smuggling is regarded as a harmless cottage industry for border towns and villages the world over.
What I don't quite understand is why the locals moved out if they had the military watching over them?
Also,If grants were/are being given out to fix properties up, you would think that all the properties would be in good order?
I suppose, it wasn't the locals fault they ended up on the edge of the 'Green Line' and that they are making the best out of a bad situation,as people do?

[iancrumpy]

I think a bit of cross border smuggling is regarded as a harmless cottage industry for border towns.

In the incident last year involving the theft and smuggling of sheep, the GC shepherd was knocked unconscious - hardly harmless - Furthermore for every financial gain of the smugglers, someone is losing out somewhere. However, as I said above, I don't want to taint every villager with the same brush - most have never been involved with smuggling.

What I don't quite understand is why the locals moved out if they had the military watching over them.

In 1974 the villagers didn't know that the Turkish military would still have such a presence in Cyprus, and in particular around their village ... up to at least 39 years later.

Also, if grants were/are being given out to fix properties up, you would think that all the properties would be in good order?

It was probably felt that an adequate amount had been spent on the houses. Besides many would say there are more worthy causes elsewhere.

I suppose, it wasn't the locals fault they ended up on the edge of the 'Green Line' and that they are making the best out of a bad situation,as people do?

Post-74, a lot of Cypriots were trying to make "the best out of a bad situation". Clearly the villagers of Akıncılar have succeeded more than most in this respect.

Philoz, I think it's admirable that you want to bring some life back to this village and hopefully for other villages in less eye-catching map locations, but I don't have much sympathy with house owners there complaining that the EU/UNDP grants weren't sufficient for adequate renovations to their-now-second homes.

[BLUE BUTTERFLY]

Very interesting. Thank you Ian for taking the time and trouble to keep us informed with, as usual, the facts.

[Philoz]

Ian-Thank you for your interesting and informative reply to my questions.
It seems ironic in a way that the villages relative isolation over the years has resulted in it being an interesting place to visit.

[iancrumpy]

It seems ironic in a way that the villages relative isolation over the years has resulted in it being an interesting place to visit.

Philoz,
A few years ago, my father-in-law asked me where I'd like to go for a day out - I looked at the map and the phallic-looking "tear drop" around Akıncılar immediately grabbed my eye. Zihni said fine, but in his opinion there was very little to see there. So instead we went and had a kahve in his village square ... and indeed it was Zihni who told me more about the history of Akıncılar. However, I have never been there, so can not reliably tell you if the road is open to all. Zihni (and that is now the third time I've mentioned his name) thinks the road is open to everyone, but that the military occasionally stop and search cars ... probably because of the aforementioned porous border around Akıncılar ... but please don't quote me on any of that.
Ian

[BlockPaving]

As a person who is from Akıncılar (Luricina), I am so happy to see that people are discussing my village and the issues of my village here and everywhere though some of the topics are far away from the truth...Village is a hidden gem in my opinion..and hope one day SOON, an official border crossing can be established with the nearest neighbouring Greek village LYMIA that is around 400 yards to the South of the border. As to visiting the village, still some difficulties are being experienced due to the Turkish military...

[iancrumpy]

some of the topics are far away from the truth

Enlighten us.

[BlockPaving]

Iancrumpy, I am always ready for enlightenment. Do you have a specific point??

[iancrumpy]

Iancrumpy, I am always ready for enlightenment. Do you have a specific point??

Which "topics" are "far away from the truth" ?

[iancrumpy]

BlockPaving,

I have done a lttle more research on your village ... in particular from the local council's web site : http://akincilarbelediyesi.org/Hakkimizda2.html

Apparently the "tear drop" was set up as a transit corridor in 1974 ... that would make sense.

It would certainly seem that the majority of the Akıncılar villagers took the authorities' advice to resettle in Akdoğan, but it would also seem (from the web site) that a minority remained in Akıncılar. Can you confirm this?

You say the military have made life difficult for you, but they are the same military that allowed you the option of continuing to live in a village deep into southside territory. Any comments?

[BlockPaving]

"It would certainly seem that the majority of the Akıncılar villagers took the authorities' advice to resettle in Akdoğan, but it would also seem (from the web site) that a minority remained in Akıncılar". Authorities' advise??? some did, as the village called Lysi offered more attractive choices of accommodation as oppose to their houses in the Village. and some had other reasons. Who knows??

"the military have made life difficult for you, but they are the same military that allowed you the option of continuing to live in a village deep into southside territory." Your research in this matter require more extensive research. Akıncılar is theoretically in the South, as the cease fire line is somewhat 8km to the North of the Village. As to military allowing the people to leave there; Without the cooperation of the villagers, they wouldn't have that option. One should research Akıncılar situation more broadly other than quoting the RULERS' propaganda...Go and visit the village, talk to the locals, talk to those who left the village and talk to those who defended their village during 63 & 74. There are still some alive..

[iancrumpy]

The village called Lysi offered more attractive choices of accommodation as oppose to their houses in the village. and some had other reasons.

But compared to TC migrants from elsewhere in the south, don't you accept that you were more fortunate. You had the option of "attractive choices of accommodation" in Akdoğan and/or staying in the village. Maybe it wasn't pleasant staying in the village houses, but there are many TCs coping with similar houses elsewhere in the north .. without the financial support of the government or the EU.

Without the cooperation of the villagers, they (the army) wouldn't have that option.

I'm sure that's also the case.

One should research Akıncılar situation more broadly other than quoting the RULERS' propaganda.

"Rulers' propaganda"? - Maybe so, but I'm probably one of the first non-TC/Turks to also read the history of the village on the belediye web site ... where the authorities are criticised for the resettlement in Akdoğan.

Go and visit the village, talk to the locals, talk to those who left the village and talk to those who defended their village during 63 & 74.

If I have time I will. But I should also ask you to have another chat with other TCs so that you can better appreciate how they also suffered ... and they didn't receive the financial compensation that your villagefolk did.

some of the topics are far away from the truth

"Far" was certainly an exaggeration BlockPaving

[BlockPaving]

Dear iancrumpy, I am failing to understand what exactly you are trying to find out....But most certainly you are not going to find out everything you are curious about through "Belediye website" or me..Even I have some limitations. Here is a form you may want to subscribe for further insight about the villagers and the village; ah . LURUCINA GURU on Facebook. As to the subject of the restoration cost of some of the buildings in the village by UNDP/EU, some of the town center buildings were restored by these organizations but only their outsides facing the road not insides, therefore the other repair work were undertaken by the owners themselves.

Everything aside, it is fantastic to see non-CT people who show this much interest towards our village. Best regards

[iancrumpy]

I am failing to understand what exactly you are trying to find out

I am not trying to find anything out. I'm merely making the point that what with (1) "attractive" second homes in Akdoğan, (2) renovation grants for at least some houses in the village & (3) the opportunity at least for some in the village to supplement their incomes with an occasional visit to Lymia, I certainly don't feel sorry for your villagefolk.

it is fantastic to see non-CT people who show this much interest towards our village.

And on top of everything your village has a map location that certainly catches the eye - fortune has certainly favoured your villagefolk over those living in probably every other Cypriot village.

[BlockPaving]

What can I say to you iancrumpy, you do talk from your eyes not your mouth. Best you do not come to our village, you will probably get lost on the way back to wherever you live...