Özgür Özel: We stand behind the miners until the last penny is paid and their rights are secured

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel met with Doruk Madencilik workers, who are continuing their protests in front of the holding company's headquarters after company representatives failed to keep their promises.

In his statement here, Özel said, "We have been following the struggle of the Doruk Madencilik workers—the friends who organized under the Independent Mine Workers' Union (Bağımsız Maden-İş) and raised their voices—together for a long time.

The miners issued a call to come here today, at this hour. We came here to both hear and amplify their voices. Valuable executives and leaders from many political parties are here, and there will be statements throughout the day," he said.

"Three ministers acted as guarantors, but the promise was not kept"

Özel continued his remarks as follows:

"I would like to summarize it briefly. Bağımsız Maden-İş carried out its first organization in Soma after rights were denied, rights were violated, and survivors were dismissed following the accident, and promises were not kept. You all followed this. They marched here many times, barefoot, to claim the rights of the Soma miners. Their founding president, Tahir Çetin, lost his life in a traffic accident. Now, they are fighting for 180 laborers at Doruk Madencilik. As you know, Doruk Madencilik is a mine operated by Yıldızlar Holding, a company favored by the government and very close to the ruling power. This mining company holds 2,600 mining licenses in its pocket. It receives countless incentives and loans from the state. Yet, it is a company that even takes birth grants or money meant for an injured miner, misappropriates those funds, denies the miners their rights, and owes 160 million lira to 180 miners in unpaid wages accumulated over months and years. The Doruk Madencilik workers set out from Beypazarı a month ago, in the second half of April, and marched to Ankara—they marched barefoot. They made their voices heard and came to the Parliament. They slept in parks in Ankara and spent the nights there. On April 28, the state gave these friends a promise. Three ministers acted as guarantors. They said, 'Go, all your receivables will be deposited on May 15. We guarantee it.' Now it is June. Almost three weeks have passed since May 15, and no money has been deposited. They are still not letting the miners in from Beypazarı."

"We all stand behind the miners until the last penny is paid and their rights are secured"

Addressing the fake news circulating today when the call was made to come here, Özel said, "News like 'The money has been deposited, an agreement has been reached.' On my way here, I called the President of Bağımsız Maden-İş, Mr. Gökay Çakır, and spoke with him. They say, 'No money has been deposited. Such news is being spread. We are here until we get our money, and we are continuing the struggle.' If they are playing games to make it look like an agreement was reached just to weaken the call made to the public here, they cannot fool any of us. They cannot fool the miners.

We, as the Republican People's Party (CHP), are here; the Workers' Party of Turkey (TİP) is here, the DEM Party is here, I saw the TKP, the EMEP is here, and valuable deputies from the IYI Party are here. Together, we will support the struggle until the value of this sweat is received. If there is public support, this money will be collected. Do not forget, in his May 1st speech, Erdoğan said, 'We have paid the miners' money.' Look, the lie they tell is being broadcast to all of Turkey on 20 television channels at once. But the reality is; the miners have not received their rights, the promise made was not kept, and there is still no money deposited. They want to come here to make their voices heard.

105 miners are currently under blockade there. Our miner friends who managed to reach here alone yesterday through various ways, and 36 people here in front of the SSS Yıldızlar Holding gate, are demanding the reward for their sweat. My final word is this: We all stand behind the miners until the last penny is paid and their rights are secured. We are telling all our citizens: it was your heartfelt support for their honorable struggle that forced them to take a step back before the holiday. If the Doruk Madencilik workers are to get this money, they will get it with public support. Everyone should stand behind labor, the laborer, and the miner. Thank you," he said.

Additionally, the program was attended by Zafer Party Chairman Ümit Özdağ, Workers' Party of Turkey (TİP) Chairman Erkan Baş, members of parliament, political party representatives, miners, and their relatives to support the mine workers.