Harita Mandoles is a prominent figure in the history of Cyprus, particularly known for her resilience and activism following the 1974 Turkish invasion. During the invasion, she witnessed the tragic murder of her husband. This event marked her deeply and spurred her lifelong commitment to seeking justice and closure for the families of the missing persons. Mandoles has become a symbol of the anti-occupation struggle, tirelessly advocating for the return of refugees to their homes and the determination of the fate of those who disappeared during the conflict. Her story and efforts have been documented in the book “As Truthfully – The Life of Harita Mandoles” by Eurydiki Pericleous Papadopoulou, highlighting her enduring fight against the occupation of Cyprus.
How do you feel when you go to schools each year to talk about the tragedy of Cyprus and the missing persons?
I feel great satisfaction seeing the children’s reactions, as they are eager to learn what happened in 1974. There was no other way to convey what we experienced to the younger generations who showed great interest in learning. Our schools do not teach the recent history of Cyprus and what happened in 1974, about the coup and the invasion.
What do you hope to achieve with the public presentation of your story and the search for your loved ones?
I hope to help free my country and to determine the fate of every last missing person so their families can find some peace. I want the Greeks of Cyprus, Greeks everywhere, and foreigners to learn what really happened and how the military and Turkey behaved during the invasion. The refugees in 1974 did not leave their homes willingly but under the threat of guns that killed in cold blood, raped, and abused. We will not forsake our land and will fight until we return.
What were your greatest challenges while searching for your missing loved ones?
We did not have the support or assistance of Greece, which, as a larger country and NATO member, could have applied some pressure on Turkey, which has withheld information about our missing persons. Cyprus, unfortunately, cannot exert pressure. Europe watches the ongoing occupation, colonization, and the families’ suffering without doing anything. In contrast, sanctions were imposed on Russia because the invasion affected their economic interests.
How did the loss and the 34-year awaiting affect your personal life and mental health?
There was no personal life, only the struggle for survival, as I had to raise two small children without any financial help from anywhere and the struggle to determine the fate of our missing and to return to our Kyrenia. My mental health strengthened over the years with God’s help and turned into determination and patience to continue fighting.
Do you believe that the Cypriot government and international organizations did everything possible to find the missing and bring justice?
Unfortunately, no. Neither Cyprus, nor the United Nations, nor Greece, nor Europe did anything. They always encountered the superpower Turkey, the economic interests of the major countries, and ignored the pain we felt and continue to feel. We feel a great injustice and immense pain.
The beloved and well-known actress Despoina Bebedeli portrayed you in the series “Famagusta.” How did you feel about having your story depicted in the TV series?
Mrs. Bebedeli came to meet me, listened to me, felt my pain, and thus performed the role. For this reason, I thank her very much. She gave me a voice through the series so that people could learn what we went through. Television is a means to bring these stories into everyone’s home. If we don’t learn what happened and understand it, we might experience it again.
What message do you want to send to the younger generations about the tragedy of Cyprus and the struggle for justice?
The younger generations are our hope. They must continue the struggle for liberation. People forget, focus on their problems, and move on. Cyprus is under occupation with 40,000 Turkish soldiers ready in the occupied areas. We are not safe and must not forget. We must claim and fight. Turkey is illegally in our Cyprus, and we must not legitimize the faits accomplis of the invasion, i.e., accept the settlers and give away half of our homeland.
How do you see the future of Cyprus, and what are the most important steps to heal the wounds of the past?
For the wounds to heal, there must be justice, a fair solution. The illegal settlers must leave, the Turkish Cypriots should return to their homes, and we to ours. Foreign troops must leave and let the people of Cyprus find a solution. Today, thousands of foreigners live in Cyprus without problems. The Turkish claim that the Cyprus problem is a minority issue is no longer believable. The major powers must exert pressure on Turkey and not equip it with arms. I do not consider it progress to accept the invasion and sign a solution that divides the people of Cyprus and creates discrimination.