The Cyprus Turkish Public Officials Unions (KTAMS and KAMUSEN) launched a warning strike on Thursday at the Central Prison, citing a severe shortage of guards. The strike, held between 08:00 and 20:00, is intended to pressure the government into action.
The unions are demanding that the Public Service Commission (KHK) immediately announce 75 vacant positions for prison guards, 60 male and 15 female , and have given the government a deadline of Friday, May 30, to respond.
Atan “The Commission Must Act Now”
KAMUSEN President Metin Atan, speaking during a press briefing held outside the prison alongside striking workers, emphasized the urgent need for staffing at the facility. He noted that the one-month deadline previously given to the government had now expired.
“The Central Prison operates under unique conditions, unlike any other public institution,” Atan said. “Staff are overworked due to shift rotations, and their social lives are being severely affected.”
He criticized the government’s slow response despite the Prime Ministry’s approval for hiring, stating that the letter is now with the Ministry of Finance but no action has been taken.
“We want tangible results,” Atan asserted. “If the Public Service Commission does not act swiftly to announce the vacancies, we will consider escalating our response. The unions will not be held accountable for any further consequences.”
Atan also highlighted additional staffing shortages, including lawyers, psychologists, social workers, nurses, and financial officers. He noted that unresolved issues surrounding staff overtime continue to burden employees.
Bengihan “Nine Prisoners Deaths in Three Years”
KTAMS President Güven Bengihan also addressed the press, directing sharp criticism at Interior Minister Dursun Oğuz and his undersecretary, accusing them of being “indifferent and irresponsible.”
Bengihan pointed out that nine prisoners have died in the Central Prison over the past three years, attributing the situation in part to chronic understaffing. He also criticized the frequent turnover in the Ministry of Interior, noting that eight undersecretaries have been appointed in quick succession, each costing the public 279,000 TL per month.
“While unnecessary bureaucratic expenses continue, no efforts are made to hire essential personnel like guards, doctors, psychologists, and lawyers,” he said.
Bengihan also criticized current entry policies to the country, highlighting that the prison population now exceeds 800 people, only 190 of whom are TRNC citizens. He sarcastically remarked, “People can’t enter freely, but they arrive waving prayer beads and singing folk songs.”
He added that the workload on police, courts, and prison staff is overwhelming and that the Conditional Release Regulation has been amended six times, with releases occurring twice a month just to manage overcrowding. “If not for these measures, the prison population would easily surpass 1,000,” Bengihan warned.
