Deneia farmer threatened by Turkish army, UN intervenes

A Turkish army officer allegedly threatened a farmer in Deneia on Monday afternoon, while he was tending to his field in the buffer zone.

Deneia community leader Charalambos Alexandrou said the incident occurred at around 2pm on Monday.

Alexandrou told Reporter that a jeep drove up with the officer in question and armed soldiers and tried to make the farmer leave.

The farmer stayed put and the local authorities called the United Nations to intervene.

Members of Unficyp managed to calm things down and asked the residents of Deneia to give them 24 hours to speak with the Turkish troops and request explanations.

Reporter said the residents of Deneia will be accompanying the farmer to his field on Wednesday to sow it as a group.

The National Guard chief of staff has been informed and efforts were being made to notify the foreign ministry, according to Reporter.

Alexandrou said such provocative incidents happen about twice a year and that a solution must be found.