Erzincan Bar Association President Atty. Adem Aktürk: “It’s not a natural disaster, it’s something that came in plain sight…”

Şenol ÇARIK / 12punto.com.tr

Evaluating the mining disaster that occurred in İliç, Erzincan, for 12punto columnist Şenol Çarık, Erzincan Bar Association President Atty. Adem Aktürk expressed his reaction with the words: “When we look at it objectively, we cannot classify this as a natural disaster. It is an event that happened in plain sight. We wrote about this in the press releases we prepared two years ago. We explained that EIA reports should not have been issued, their durations should not have been extended, and that there should absolutely not have been a capacity increase. However, unfortunately, no one listened to our warnings. We are very sad, I cannot find words to say.”

“WE ARE WAITING FOR THE 9 WORKERS TO BE REUNITED WITH THEIR FAMILIES SAFE AND SOUND, THAT IS OUR ONLY WISH!”

Making statements regarding the mining disaster in İliç, Erzincan Bar Association President Atty. Adem Aktürk began his words by saying, “Families have not yet been able to reach their loved ones; the pain is fresh. First and foremost, we are waiting for the 9 workers under the rubble to be reunited with their families safe and sound; that is our only wish.”

Stating that they went to İliç, where the disaster took place, to obtain necessary information on-site and follow the legal process, and that TBB President Atty. Erinç Sağkan and Erzurum Bar Association President Atty. Talat Göğebakan also arrived in the region, Aktürk said, “We had assigned lawyers for the individuals taken into custody. We followed their statement processes. We established the infrastructure to provide legal support to the victim families. We exchanged views with prosecutors and judges at the İliç Courthouse. We conveyed our sensitivity regarding following the legal process to the end and ensuring that the necessary actions are taken against the real culprits.”

Stating that they went to the crisis center and held meetings with the Minister of Interior, the Governor of Erzincan, and the Governor of Tunceli, Aktürk said they received information about the ongoing efforts and the process, and expressed their concerns.

Emphasizing that they will follow the process of conducting an effective and efficient investigation into those responsible for the disaster at the mine until the end, Aktürk stated that as the Erzincan Bar Association, they will provide full legal support to the victim families.

“WE SAID ‘THIS MINE IS NOT REGULAR’!”

Reminding that they prepared a press release on June 27, 2022, under the leadership of the Erzincan Bar Association, which was signed by 75 Bar Association Presidents, Aktürk continued as follows:
“We said, ‘This mine is not regular.’ It is 3-4 kilometers away from the district. There is a cyanide leak that threatens human health; this was also reflected in the national press.
On the other hand, we do not believe that occupational safety measures were taken or that the mine was operating in a healthy manner. We do not believe that the cyanide-contaminated soil that caused the landslide was stacked there in a regular manner. When we look at it objectively, we cannot classify this as a natural disaster. It is an event that happened in plain sight. We wrote about this in the press releases we prepared two years ago.
We explained that EIA reports should not have been issued, their durations should not have been extended, and that there should absolutely not have been a capacity increase. However, unfortunately, no one listened to our warnings. We are very sad, I cannot find words to say.”

“THE REAL CULPRITS MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE BEFORE THE JUDICIARY”

Stating, ‘In the next stage, we will ensure that the real culprits are held accountable before the judiciary and that this investigation is conducted in an effective and transparent manner,’ Atty. Adem Aktürk indicated that the Erzincan Bar Association will be involved in all legal processes.

“WE WANT THE MINE TO BE CLOSED”

Adding that they will invite all Bar Association Presidents to Erzincan in the future to explain the damages of the mine to the public, Aktürk said, “We will invite competent experts in their fields and hold a symposium here. We will conduct inspections at the site where the incident occurred. We will meet with the victim families. We want the operations of this mine to be stopped and for it to be closed. As the Erzincan Bar Association, we will do whatever is necessary regarding an issue that concerns our lives, human health, and our environment.”

News Source: 12punto