Miners’ march to Ankara prevented by gendarmerie again

Unable to receive their wages and compensation for over a year now, miners from Ermenek in Karaman province wanted to march to the capital city of Ankara on October 12. Miners’ march has been once again prevented by the gendarmerie.

İstanbul

Miners’ march to Ankara prevented by gendarmerie again

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Attempting to march to Ankara as they have been unable to get their wages and compensation for over a year and as the authorities have not kept their promises, the miners from Cenne, Seba and Turap Mines in Ermenek in Karaman province have been once again intercepted by security forces.

DİRENE DİRENE KAZANACAĞIZ!
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— Bağımsız Maden İş (@bagimsizmadenis) October 27, 2020

Resisting for their rights, miners decided to march from Turkey's Central Anatolian province of Karaman to the capital city of Ankara on October 12.

However, they were prevented from marching by the gendarmerie. While three miners were wounded in the ensuing intervention of the gendarmerie, one miner was detained. Following these incidents, workers met with the authorities and they were promised that the problems would be solved.

Giving time to authorities for the fulfilment of their demands till 5 p.m. yesterday, workers came together at Ermenek Güneyyurt Square.

As their demands have not been met as promised, they wanted to march to Ankara in protest; however, the gendarmerie officers did not allow them. Staging a sit-in protest in front of the barricades, the miners were warned that the gendarmerie would intervene unless they dispersed.

Chanting the slogan, "Clear the way, gendarmerie; we are coming, Ankara," workers continued their sit-in protest there.

Refusing to leave the square, the miners spent the night there, keeping watch. As of today, the miners have been resisting for their rights for 58 days.