Nicosia, Cyprus. Farmers marched to the presidential palace on Saturday carrying a coffin to protest the culling of livestock during an ongoing outbreak of foot and mouth disease. They delivered a letter to President Nikos Christodoulides calling for an immediate end to broad culling measures.
March to the palace despite warnings
The farmers initially gathered at the GSP Stadium at Nicosia’s southern extremity before marching northwards to the presidential palace. The veterinary services department had urged them not to march, citing concerns that the protest could contribute to the further spread of the disease.
Demands to halt culling of healthy animals
In a letter submitted to Christodoulides, the farmers said people in the sector across the country were “in a state of despair” and demanded the “immediate end of across-the-board culling” of livestock. The letter stated that “the massacre of healthy and asymptomatic animals” should end and described the “blind application of protocols” sending entire units to the slaughterhouse as an “economical and ethical crime.”
Claims about testing, antibodies and vaccinations
The farmers said some animals had tested positive without showing symptoms, which they argued indicated the animals had contracted the disease in the past and developed antibodies. They said they did not oppose the culling of animals exhibiting symptoms but demanded an immediate halt to testing of animals that had already been vaccinated.
Compensation demand and criticism of handling across the Green Line
The letter also called for “immediate and full compensation” for lost earnings. It blamed the Turkish Cypriot community, which saw an outbreak of the same disease last year, accusing Turkish Cypriot authorities of failing to stop the spread and accusing the European Union and the government of facilitating them.
Calls for publication of officials’ names and criticism of EU visit
The farmers demanded the “immediate publication of the names and responsibilities” of veterinary services department officers dispatched to the European Commission or contributing to technical committees for implementing the Green Line regulation or the protected designation of origin (PDO of halloumi) in the occupied territories. The letter said the public should know who was “suggesting facilitations for the other side” while approving culling of animals in government-controlled areas. It also criticised the visit of EU commissioner Oliver Varhelyi to Cyprus, saying it appeared to have the singular aim of eradicating the entire animal population, whether asymptomatic or not.
What steps do you think authorities should take to control the outbreak while addressing farmers’ concerns?
