Tensions High, Another Mob Strikes News Media

Michael Hedges July 21, 2021 - Follow on Twitter

Endless tensions are a reporting thread common across the world. There is climate change and destructive weather. There is tension from the continuing coronavirus pandemic. Dictators cause tensions, relish in the disruption and reward their stampeding mobs. Yoga is the answer.

Rioters ransacked Cyprus television channel Sigma TV this past Sunday, reported AFP (July 18). Cyprus has an emerging fourth spike in coronavirus infections and authorities recently announced new restrictions. This set-off the anti-vaccination mob, which earlier had gathered at the Cyprus presidential palace in Nicosia. It was just a short march to the television station. Editorially, Sigma TV has taken a stand favoring public health measures.

Sigma TV news anchor Nestoras Vassiliou was live on-the-air as the mob streamed into the building, finding their way to the studios. Screams and sounds of breaking glass could be heard. “The hooded thugs, after completing their protest at the presidential palace, came here where they caused damage,” said another reporter, quoted by Greek Reporter (July 19). “Dozens of our colleagues who were working at that time were attacked by the cowardly mob that infiltrated our building.”

A dozen protestors had been arrested by Tuesday, reported Kathimerini Cyprus (July 20). Sigma TV is operated by Dias Media Group, which has headquarters in the same facility. Sigma TV and Dias Media have been targets of earlier anti-vaccination and health restriction protests. Sigma TV has been on-the-air since 1995 and web portal SigmaLive launched in 2007.

By coincidence, the storming of Sigma TV came just hours before Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan paid a visit to Cyprus (July 19), the northern part claimed by Turkey as a separate country. The occasion was the 47th anniversary of Turkey’s military annexation of the zone, which it - and no one else - calls the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The United Nations calls it the “occupied part of Cyprus.” President Erdogan has been pushing a “two-state solution” to wrest the northern territory from Cyprus and the European Union. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said “never, ever.”

President Erdogan has been widely criticized - outside of Turkey - for his many extra-territorial ambitions as well as less than stellar approach to human rights and press freedom. He doesn’t take criticism well - like other dictators - and jails news reporters often and with impunity. News reporters working for foreign outlets are being denied press cards with increasing frequency.

Turkish authorities refused press credentials for German news magazine Middle East correspondent Jonas Breng, who planned to work from Istanbul, noted German media portal Kress DE (July 5). He was the second Stern reporter denied accreditation by the Presidency Communications Directorate (CIB), which answers only to President Erdogan. ”The Turkish authorities did not give Stern a reason for this, again negative, decision,” said the publisher in a statement. Instead, Herr Breng will report on the region from Athens, Greece. Stern reporter Raphael Geiger was denied accreditation from Turkish authorities in 2017. He is now the magazines’s New York correspondent. According to Reporters sans Frontieres/Germany (RSF) (July 20). The CIB has rejected or denied accreditation to 1,371 requests from 10,486 applicants in the past three years.

There is no critical news coverage from Turkish state broadcaster TRT, said a statement from the International Press Institute (IPI) (July 15). The once well-regarded public broadcaster has “become an absolute state-propaganda outlet.” Earlier this month President Erdogan, by decree, replaced the entire TRT executive board with persons “known for their close relations to the government and AKP (Justice and Development Party) officials.”

Meanwhile, back in Cyprus, President Erdogan lauded the reopening of the derelict village of Varosha that was abandoned during the 1974 war. “A new era will begin… which will benefit everyone,” he said, quoted by Reuters (July 20). “(The) unilateral decision announced today by President Erdogan and (Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin) Tatar risks raising tensions on the island,” said High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell.

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