Soma miners’ march to Ankara banned by governor’s office

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A few weeks ago, workers of Uyar Mining company announced that they would march from Soma, Manisa to Ankara on October 12. While the miners, unable to receive their compensation for eight years, were preparing for the march, the Governor's Office of Manisa has banned the march, together with almost all types of other meetings and demonstrations.

While the COVID-19 outbreak has been cited as the reason for the ban, Başaran Aksu, the Independent Mine Workers' Union Training and Organization Expert, has commented on the ban for bianet.

Aksu has stressed that miners and the union announced the march 20 days ago and informed the Ministry of Interior, the Provincial Security Directorate and the governor's offices along their intended route.

"An institution that does not take initiative for the protection of workers' rights prevents a march which was announced 20 days ago, which means taking a stand against workers," Aksu has protested.

Aksu has stated the following about the issue:

'An interesting point about the ban...'

"When we went to the Some Sub-Governor's Office to make a notification yesterday, they verbally told us that they would not let the march and that it would be better if we could take a bus to Ankara.

"When we were about to submit our petition, they kept us waiting and delivered the ban of the Manisa Governor's Office by hand. It was 20 days ago when we announced that we would march. We also stressed this point in our statement for the press that we held in the Soma Square.

"But, now, they are confronting us with a decision of ban. They refer to the circular letter of the Ministry of Interior; however, the ministry's circular letter is only about general assemblies and events. Just taking our demonstration into consideration, the governor's office has acted like a lawmaker and banned all events for a period of 15 days.

"It was just on Monday when we submitted the schedule of our march to the Provincial Security Directorate. They confront us with this decision now.

"There is something interesting about the decision. Commercial activities to be undertaken with the aim of getting economic benefits have been excluded. Therefore, it is a decision that protects the employer while disregarding workers' rights.

"Because there is a group of workers whose economic interests have come to harm. It is also a type of commercial activity. All in all, for eight years, the workers have been unable to get what they have deserved."

In the related decision of the Governor's Office, "all types of events and demonstrations including hunger strikes, sit-ins, placing wreaths, opening stands, setting up tents, commemorations, etc. have been banned in Manisa and its districts from October 6 to October 20, 2020 at 23.59 p.m."

Karaman Governor expected to meet the employer

Aksu has stressed that despite the ban, there will be no change in the schedule of the march and they will be marching to Ankara as planned.

He has also shared information about the situation of Cenne and Seba Mine workers who have been unable to get their wages and compensations for over a year in Ermenek in Karaman province.

Noting that the Karaman Governor's meeting with the employer scheduled for October 6 has been postponed, Aksu has said:

"Our attorneys are now working about the receivables of the workers, they are making calculations. We will send our calculations to the Governor's Office of Karaman. The Governor will meet the employer tonight. We are now waiting for a result." (HA/SD)