Turkey: Our sorrow is the seed of our rage

DAF Statement on the Soma miners killed by the state

The fire that appeared in the coalmine in Manisa-Soma on 13th of May, became one of the biggest massacres in these lands. As a result of the fire, hundreds of coal miners were poisoned by intense levels of carbon monoxide. The number of workers who have died increases hour by hour. The Minister for Energy, the Minister for Labour and the Prime Misinter have tried to hide the real number of the miners who have died while declaring that “it was a sad work accident”. The Prime Minister has declared that “This kind of accident could happen anytime.” [Türkçe] [ελληνικά]

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Our sorrow is the seed of our rage

The fire that appeared in the coalmine in Manisa-Soma on 13th of May, became one of the biggest massacres in these lands. As a result of the fire, hundreds of coal miners were poisoned by intense levels of carbon monoxide. The number of workers who have died increases hour by hour. The Minister for Energy, the Minister for Labour and the Prime Misinter have tried to hide the real number of the miners who have died while declaring that “it was a sad work accident”. The Prime Minister has declared that “This kind of accident could happen anytime.”

While thousands of people were waiting near the mine, trying to get news of their relatives who were inside the coal mine, the ambulances, funeral vehicles and cold storage vehicles showed the seriousness of the massacre. The number of dead miners increased: 78, 151, 245, 282…

The number is still increasing. The ones who are responsible for this massacre are trying to legitimate the “deaths” by saying “this is destiny”. There are protests whole around the country. People are on the streets protesting that it is neither destiny nor accident, it is a massacre by the State and the companies.

On 14th May, the police attacked people who were protesting against the creators of this massacre. The State and its armed forces thought they could prevent this anger with plastic bullets, tear gas or gas bombs. But those who are on the streets are shouting together: “The State is a Murderer”.

State officials and bosses of the energy companies are claiming that they are mourning. But they are the murderers who forced the people to work hundreds of meters from the surface in order to earn enough money to live. They are the muderers who forced people to work in such condititions where death is inevitable.

We hold the sorrow of those who were murdered in the mines by capitalists and the State. We are on the street with anger, against these murderers. We are not mourning, this is rebellion.

Our sorrow is the seed of our anger!

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