Union cancels demo after ban, others call for civil disobedience
Small shopkeepers union Povek will not stage a planned demonstration in front of the presidential palace on Wednesday due to new measures against coronavirus forbidding mass gatherings in public places until the end of the month.
The union is demanding more support from the state for small businesses, especially for the ones in the Limassol and Paphos districts, where the lockdown forced many people to close their shops.
“These businesses need to be supported by the state in order to be able to pay their rent and repay their loans. It is a matter of paramount importance,” a Povek statement said.
“The state has the responsibility to support small businesses with the same determination with which it imposes bans and restrictions. Their struggle is everyone’s struggle.”
On Tuesday, the government issued a decree banning mass events, gatherings, protests, parades, concerts, outdoor fairs and festivals, in public and private venues.
The ban will remain in place until November 30.
The blanket ban followed a demonstration that turned violent in Limassol last Saturday by people who claim their freedoms have been curtailed by measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus. There are also antivaxxers and others who oppose the installation of 5G networks.
An announcement doing the rounds online, suggested that more protests were on the cards for this Saturday across Cyprus.