Soma Labor and Democracy Forces: We have not forgotten Soma, we will not forget, and we will not let it be forgotten!

12punto.com.tr

On the 10th anniversary of the loss of our 301 lives, we have come together to say 'Enough is Enough' so that no new tragedies occur and our hearts are not broken again.

In the statement, which said, "We are raising our voices together," the following expressions were included:

"Tomorrow is May 13, 2024.

Exactly ten years ago, we lost 301 of our lives in the mining massacre, and 162 workers were injured. The pain of Soma became one of the greatest worker massacres in the history of the Republic and in the world.

The case, which was opened with charges of 'killing with probable intent', 'causing injury resulting in death', 'causing the death and injury of multiple people through conscious negligence', and 'causing the death and injury of multiple people through negligence', began to be heard at the Akhisar High Criminal Court in 2015.

The expert report announced in 2016 stated that the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources and the Ministry of Labor and Social Security had negligence and fault.

In the evaluation regarding the General Directorate of Mining Affairs (MİGEM) affiliated with the Ministry of Energy included in the report, attention was drawn to a series of deficiencies, from the fact that production was twice as much as planned, the capacity of the main ventilator providing ventilation was not changed despite the increase in production, and gas masks not allowing workers to escape from the mine, to production pressure, the lack of effective communication and alarm systems within the mine, and the lack of planning for emergencies.

The case concluded in July 2018. In the case where 51 people were tried, 37 were acquitted, and 14 defendants received sentences far below what they deserved for 'causing death and injury by negligence'.

A trial process was experienced in which the panel of the court was changed, and three members of the 12th Chamber of the Court of Cassation, which requested the increase of the sentences, were replaced.

We wanted the Soma Case to be a lesson to the bosses. We wanted no new worker deaths or new tragedies. It did not happen.

Today, while all these responsible parties walk free, the lawyers who intervened on behalf of the families were punished by being shown other cases, and they are in prison.

Miners continue to die in their workplaces.

On October 8, 2014, 18 mine workers in Ermenek,

On November 17, 2016, 16 mine workers in Şirvan,

On October 14, 2022, 42 mine workers in Amasra,

On February 12, 2024, 9 mine workers in İliç lost their lives.

According to ISIG data, around 2,000 workers lose their lives in their workplaces every year. A work-related murder is committed every five hours. If it continues like this, workers will continue to lose their lives. Bosses will not take the necessary precautions so that their profits do not fall, and inspections will be superficial.

The 28 public officials who were sued and accused of 'misconduct in office' regarding the 2014 mining disaster, in which 301 workers lost their lives, could only be brought before a judge 10 years later. The first hearing was held on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at the Soma Criminal Court of First Instance. The case was adjourned to September 12, 2024.

This case is of great importance for the necessary precautions to be taken in mines and for inspections to be carried out regularly. Following this case is important to prevent new deaths. We invite everyone to the hearing to be held on September 12, 2024.

On the 10th anniversary of the loss of our 301 lives, we have come together to say 'ENOUGH IS ENOUGH' so that no new tragedies occur and our hearts are not broken again. We are raising our voices together.

WE HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN SOMA, WE WILL NOT FORGET, AND WE WILL NOT LET IT BE FORGOTTEN!

SOMA LABOR AND DEMOCRACY FORCES"

News Source: 12punto