Nikos Siikkis recounts the 1974 coup in Paphos

Nikos Siikkis, who was 16 at the time of the 1974 coup in Cyprus, has provided an account of his involvement in the events in Paphos. On the morning of July 15, 1974, supporters of President Makarios received intelligence that military forces intended to initiate a coup from the KEN military camp in Paphos. In a preemptive move, a group of pro-Makarios individuals, including Siikkis, organized an operation to seize the camp. The group successfully entered the facility and took control of the site. During the operation, they arrested the camp commander, Katerinakis, along with an individual named Siellis and members of the Tselepos family. These detainees were subsequently held in the camp's disciplinary block. The narrative highlights the role of civilian participants in resisting the initial phases of the coup within the Paphos district.