MARONI

Click Here for Map

Maroni is a village situated in the Larnaca district, three kilometers northeast of Ziygi/Terazi and near the south coast. Throughout most of its history this village was inhabited by both Greek and Turkish Cypriots. The name Maroni might indicate that the village was once inhabited by Maronites. Turkish Cypriots did not have an alternative name.
 
 
Historical Population

As can be seen in the above chart, the village had a mixed population from the Ottoman period. In 1831, the population was evenly divided between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. However, the Turkish Cypriot percentage dropped to 31% in 1891. Throughout the British period, while the Greek Cypriot population of the village increased significantly, the Turkish Cypriot population stagnated. In 1960 the Turkish percentage of the village was only 23%.

Displacement:

Although no one was displaced in the late 1950s, during the intercommunal fighting of 1963-4, the Maroni Turkish Cypriots evacuated the village and went to Mari/Tatlısu(363) village. The second conflict-related displacement took place in 1974, when the majority of the Maroni Turkish Cypriots fled to the Turkish-controlled northern part of the divide after August 1974. Those who were left behind and could not flee were eventually transferred to the north by UNFICYP in August 1975. Most of the Turkish Cypriots of Maroni were resettled in Belapais(214), a village in the Kyrenia district. The total number of Turkish Cypriot displaced persons from this village is estimated to be around 150 (130 in 1960).

Current Inhabitants:

Currently the village is mainly inhabited by its original Greek Cypriot villagers. The Turkish Cypriot houses in the village remained unoccupied, and according to Goodwin, they fell into ruin and in 1980 were all demolished by bulldozer. The last Cypriot census of 2001 put the total population at 521.

  


 
REFERENCES
 
Books and Reports:


Websites:



Print