August 14, 1996…
Before the tears for the loss of Tassos Isaac had even dried, just three days later, the earth was once again drenched in blood—this time that of Solomos Solomos, dressed in black, who could not bear to see the occupying flag flying over Cypriot soil.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
A large crowd headed to the roadblock in Deryneia to lay a wreath in memory of Tassos Isaac, who had died next to the barbed wire fence. At that point, new clashes broke out, as anger had not yet subsided.
Solomos, 26, Tassos Isaac’s second cousin, enraged by the situation that had darkened his soul for 22 years and had now cost his cousin his life, broke away from the crowd and ran toward the occupied territories. “I’m going to take down the flag,” he told his friends.
Members of the peacekeeping force tried in vain to stop him, but Solomos was determined to take down the flag at any cost.
He crossed the barbed wire and, with a cigarette in his mouth, climbed the flagpole. Then three shots rang out, and Solomos fell to the ground, covered in blood.
A bullet struck him in the neck, the one fired by Kenan Akin, who in 2004 admitted to murdering Solomos and blamed the then-commander of the occupying forces, Halil Sandrazam.
The Republic of Cyprus issued an arrest warrant against five individuals for the murder of Solomos Solomos:
- Kenan Akin, Minister of Agriculture of the pseudo-state
- Erdal Hacıali Emanet, head of special forces in the occupied territories
- Atila Sav, head of the police in the occupied territories
- Hasan Kuntaksi, Lieutenant General of the occupying forces
- Mehmet Karli, Brigadier General of the occupying forces
On June 24, 2008, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Turkey was guilty of the cowardly murders of Tassos Isaac and Solomos Solomos.
Thirty years later, the issue of accountability for the murders remains unresolved, with the demand for justice continuing to be at the center of commemorative events.
“Those who became friends with Death depart with a cigarette on their lips”
It is believed that the song was written about Solomos Solomos, who “became friends with Death” and “departed with a cigarette on his lips.” On the album, Alkaios dedicates this song—a heavy zeibekiko—to the heroes Tasos Isaac and Solomos Solomos, in memory of the young men who fell for their country.
“He Was Crazy”
“He was crazy, and they wasted a bullet on him,” sings Notis Sfakianakis, with lyrics by Christos Kretzovalis and music by Vasilis Dimas, in which “the immortal returns to the wind, and these immortals never leave—they live forever.”
“Greek hero”
His sacrifice also moved Stelios Rokkos, who calls him “Greek, tough guy, a true hero.” With lyrics by Nikos Gritsis, the singer pays tribute to Solomos, whom “only a single bullet could bring to his knees.”
