TURKEY: Revolutionary Anarchist Action’s (DAF) Statement about the Soma miners.

Killed by the state – Our sorrow is the seed of our rage

The fire that appeared in the coal mine in Manisa-Soma on 13th of May, became one of the biggest massacres in these lands. With the fire, hundreds of coal miners were poisoned by intensive carbon monoxide. The number of the workers who have died, increased every hour. The minister of energy, minister of labour and the prime minister tried to hide the real number of miners who have died while declaring that “it was a sad work accident”. The prime minister declared that “these kind of accidents could happen anytime.”

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

And the number is increasing. The ones who are responsible for this massacre, are trying to legitimate the “deaths” by saying “this is destiny”. There are protests around the whole coutnry. People are in the streets claiming that it is not destiny nor an accident, it is a massacre by the state and companies.

On 14th May, police attacked the people who protested the creators of this massacre. The state and its armed forces thought they could prevent this anger with plastic bullets, tear gas and gas bombs. But the ones who are in the streets shout together: “Murderer state.”

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 under the surface for gaining money to live. They are the murderers who forced people to work in such condititions where death is inevitable.

We are sorrowful for the ones who were murdered in the mines by capitalists and the state. We are in the street with anger against these murderers. We are not mourning, this is rebellion. Our sorrow is the seed of our anger!

Revolutionary Anarchist Action (DAF)

Source: Brabant Solidarity