Further knock to Queen’s Jubilee concert as performer pulls out (Updated)

The charity concert organised by the British bases to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee suffered a further blow on Monday as the well-known Diastasis Cultural Association and the One Dream One Wish Foundation both announced they will no longer participate.

Controversy has engulfed the event as some have decried what they view to be the celebration of a “killer queen” – pointing to Queen Elizabeth II as having been head of state during Eoka’s 1955-1959 liberation struggle from colonial rule.

The Diastasis chorus and dance group had been ticketed to play alongside the Royal Signals and the Military Wives Choir – the latter adding a “military flavour” to the event, according to the British bases.

The event, organised by the British bases and set to take place at the ancient site of Curium on June 2, has suffered a series of cancellations.

A pinned message on the Diastasis Cultural Association Facebook page stated that it will no longer participate.

In addition, One Dream One Wish Foundation – initially set to remain as a beneficiary of the proceeds– has withdrawn interest over “the political dimension the event has now gained”.

Elsewhere, even charitable organisation Little Heroes announced that it withdrew from the event – despite being one of the two children’s cancer charities set to receive donations from the funds raised.

Disy MEP and founder Loucas Fourlas said that he was not initially made aware by the organisers that the event was to honour the queen.

The rockslide appears to have been set off by presidential candidate Giorgos Kolokasides who last week called for the event to be cancelled, arguing that it is provocative and unthinkable for such a celebration to take place as the queen is linked to the darkest moments of Cypriot history.

On Friday, socialists Edek also said the event is unacceptable and blamed the queen for the Turkish occupation.

Queen Elizabeth’s first and only visit to Cyprus took place in 1993 to attend a Commonwealth heads of state meeting. While on a visit to Nicosia to receive the golden key to the city she was greeted with a rowdy protest with demonstrators chanting: “Go Home”.