Turkish unions strike over Soma mine disaster as anger rises

Turkey's trade unions have called for a one-day strike on Thursday over a mining disaster in the western town of Soma which has killed 282. 

The unions are striking against recent privatisation policies of the Erdogan administration, which they blame for the tragedy.

In a joint statement, DİSK (Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey), KESK (Confederation of Public Employees’ Trade Unions), TTB (Turkish Medical Association) and TMMOB (Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects) said that “those who keep up with privatisation... policies, who threaten workers' lives to reduce costs... are the culprits of the Soma massacre and they must be held accountable.”

The unions are wearing black clothes and putting black ribbons on their clothes in commemoration of the victims of the disaster.

They also called on Turks to dress "in black, putting on black ribbons and putting black canvases on their houses’ and workplaces’ windows and/or cars.”

“Hundreds of our worker brothers in Soma have been left to die from the very start by being forced to work in brutal production processes in order to achieve maximum profits,” said the statement.

“We call on the working class, labourers and friends of labourers to stand up for our brothers in Soma.”

The strike follows widespread protests across the country over what is seen by many as a failure of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government to protect mine workers.

Further controversy has arisen after a photo was released on Twitter of one of Erdogan's advisors kicking a protestor.

The man has been confirmed as Yusuf Yerkel, an advisor to Erdogan, Deputy Chief of the Cabinet of Turkish PM office and former graduate student at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London (SOAS). He is expected to make a full statement later today.

Yerkel left the university four years ago with gaining a qualificaiton to work for the Turkish government.

A SOAS source pointed out to the Guardian that the information on its website was out of date.

Erdogan under pressure

Erdogan arrived in Soma midday on Wednesday to inspect the explosion site. At a press conference following his visit to the mine, Erdogan told reporters, "We have witnessed one of the biggest work accidents in our recent history."

Erdogan said enquiries would be launched into the causes of the disaster, but insisted that "such accidents happen". 

He also appeared to downplay the seriousness of the accident, comparing it to other mining disasters elsewhere, saying "204 people died in the UK in 1862 and 361 people in 1864".

But hundreds of distraught family and friends gathered near the building where Erdogan gave a press conference were outraged, with some kicking his vehicle and calling for his resignation as he left.

The disaster risks adding to the political pressure on Erdogan, who faced mass protests last summer and a huge corruption scandal involving his family and key allies in recent months.

"If the claims of negligence at the mine prove true, it will have a political price. Such a development would render corruption allegations targeting Erdogan's government more convincing," Professor Ilter Turan of Istanbul's Bilgi University told AFP.

Dangerous conditions

Explosions and cave-ins are common in Turkey, particularly in private mines, where safety regulations are often flouted.

Turkey's previous worst mining accident happened in 1992 when 263 workers were killed in a gas explosion in a mine in Zonguldak.

A lawmaker from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) said it asked parliament last month to investigate work-related accidents at coal mines in Soma, but the government turned down the request.

"We receive tip-offs every day that workers' lives are under threat," local lawmaker Ozgur Ozel told Turkish media.

"We lawmakers from Manisa are tired of going to miner funerals."

Turkey's ministry of labour and social security said the mine had been inspected eight times in the last four years, most recently on March 17, and was found to comply with safety regulations.

Mining company Soma Komur said it had taken maximum measures to ensure safety.

Soma is a key centre for lignite coal mining and is located around 480 kilometres (300 miles) southwest of Istanbul.