Miners’ march to Ankara prevented, again

* Photo: Independent Miners' Labor Union

Click to read the article in Turkish

Demanding their unpaid severance and wages for months, even for years now, miners from Ermenek in Karaman province wanted to hold a protest march to the capital city of Ankara today (November 25).

However, the police and gendarmerie forces did not allow the workers to leave the Ermenek Güneyyurt Square, where they had gathered before setting off for the capital. With their path barricaded by the security forces, miners chanted the slogans, "Clear the way gendarmerie, we are coming Ankara" and "There is no turning back but death."

The security forces have intervened into the march.

CLICK - Promises not kept, miners back on the march to Ankara

Direne direne kazanacağız.
Hakkımız için çıktık bu yola almadan dönmeyeceğiz.

Jandarma tarafından şiddetli bir şekilde saldırıya uğradık. Gözaltına alındık. Yaralılarımız var.

Gözaltılar derhal serbest bırakılsın!#ErmenekliMadenciyeYoluAç pic.twitter.com/furKxN5zzq

— Bağımsız Maden İş (@bagimsizmadenis) November 25, 2020

Patrona plaket #MadenciyeBiberGazı#ErmenekliMadenciyeYoluAç pic.twitter.com/DxRIkMiVod

— Bağımsız Maden İş (@bagimsizmadenis) November 25, 2020

While United Miners' Labor Union Chair Tahir Çetin fainted during the intervention, he is now reportedly in good health.

The union has announced on Twitter that 30 workers, including union chair Çetin and organization specialist Büşra Yılmaz, have been detained.

KORKMUYORUZ!
SUÇ İŞLİYORSUNUZ!
Genel Başkanımız Tahir Çetin ve Uzmanımız Büşra Yılmaz 30 işçi Gözaltına alındı.#ErmenekliMadenciyeYoluAç pic.twitter.com/P3QimmvK7E

— Bağımsız Maden İş (@bagimsizmadenis) November 25, 2020

The miners from Ermenek demand that their requests be accepted as in the case of Soma Uyar Mining workers, who ended their march until January 15, 2021 after Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu promised them a solution. (HA/SD)