Artists express support for miners’ resistance: ‘We march with miners’

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish

Artists have supported the miners' decision to march to the capital city of Ankara for their wages and severance not paid for months, even years.

In support of the miners' march from Soma district in Manisa province and Ermenek district in Karaman province to Ankara, a group of artists have shared their video messages of solidarity under the hashtag "#MadenciyleYürüyorum" (I am marching with the miner).

Among the ones who have joined the campaign are actors and actresses Genco Erkal, Pelin Batu, Levent Üzümcü, musicians Yeşim Salkım, Leman Sam, writer Murat Uyurkulak, Ahmet Ümit, Hüsnü Arkan and TV presenter Öykü Serter. In the video messages that they have shared on their social media accounts, artists have announced that if no developments occur until November 16 (Monday), the miners will resume their march.

Some of these video messages are as follows:

Sunucu dostumuz Öykü Serter direnen madenciyle yürüyor.
Sen de madenciyle yürü!@Laforizma#MadenciyleYürüyorum pic.twitter.com/0u6g8skbUK

— Bağımsız Maden İş (@bagimsizmadenis) November 12, 2020

Öykü Serter: "I have a question to the government: When will you acknowledge the rights of the righteous? You protect the bosses and the capital, but you are still stalling the miners who have been waiting for their severance to be paid for 14 years. And, as if it was not enough, you are oppressing them. We have all heard your outrage of 'Is that so, the regiment commander?' They ask: When will you make us this payment? We are on the side of the righteous. Give the miners their rights, Ankara."

'Because they are right...'

Yazar dostumuz Pelin Batu direnen madenciyle yürüyor.
Sen de madenciyle yürü!@pelinbatutr#MadenciyleYürüyorum pic.twitter.com/rguRJro4TC

— Bağımsız Maden İş (@bagimsizmadenis) November 12, 2020

Pelin Batu: "Miners from Soma and Ermenek set off on their march. They were beaten and taken into custody on their way to Ankara, but they do not give up in any way at all. Because they are right. Our hearts beat with them. We stand with you."

'These problems must be resolved'

Sanatçı dostumuz Leman Sam direnen madenciyle yürüyor.
Sen de madenciyle yürü!@lsdomicim#MadenciyleYürüyorum pic.twitter.com/U0iFb4Zuu7

— Bağımsız Maden İş (@bagimsizmadenis) November 12, 2020

Leman Sam: "The entire society must be disturbed by the violence against our laborers whose rights have been usurped by the employer. I am ashamed of uttering brief sentences on these platforms in the name of defending the rights of our brothers and sisters treated hostilely by the state. These problems must be resolved before people are hurt. I wish power of endurance to all our fellow laborers."

'I would like to ask the government...'

Haksızlık karşısında susulmaz #MadenciyleYürüyorum pic.twitter.com/aL1hQf1kYE

— Yesim Salkım (@yesimsalkim) November 12, 2020

Yeşim Salkım: "These are our mine workers who work day and night and whose families and children wait for them while we are sleeping in our warm beds... They have their severance pays that they have deserved, but unfortunately they cannot receive them.

"I would like to ask the government: You have made things easier for everyone, from the bosses and dignitaries to friends and family... If that is the case and there is a case won, then this bread is the right of the miners and their children. Why don't you give people their rights? If you do not make these people their rightful payments until November 16, we will all march together with our mine workers." (AÖ/SD)