Union leaders pass away in a car crash

The leader of Turkey's Independent Miners' Union Tahir Çetin and a leading member of the union Ali Faik Inter died in a car crash while returning from a protest in the capital Ankara.
Saturday, 10 July 2021 16:57

A meeting was held in front of the union for the Chairman of the Independent Mining Workers Tahir Çetin and labor leader Ali Faik Inter, who lost their lives in a traffic accident on the way back from Ankara, where the Soma miners went to demand their rights.

After the ceremony held in front of the union's Manisa Soma representative office, a march was held in front of the Soma Miner's Monument. The slogans "Tahir Çetin is immortal" and "Ali Faik is immortal" were chanted during the march. A moment of silence was held in front of the monument. Here the miners took the floor.

Mine workers’ car accident,

Mineworkers, who were not prevented from entering Ankara for their struggle to get severance pay, termination pay, and wages, had a car accident on their way back on the 9th of July. Two people had lost their lives.

The mineworkers from Soma, Manisa, who have been struggling for fifteen years to get their pay from Uyar Mining, traveled to Ankara by bus on 4th July to resolve the issue.

Police prevented mine workers and their families from entering Ankara because of their planned protest in front of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources.

The worker delegation consisting of five miners had a meeting with officials from the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources and Mustafa Elitaş, the ruling AKP's Deputy Chairperson.

The mineworkers’ demands were not responded to positively and hence miners decided to travel back to Soma. The General Secretary of Independent Miners Union Tahir Çetin and Ali Faik İnter passed away as a result of a car accident that took place in Kırkağaç, Manisa.

Communist Party of Turkey: Our condolences to workers

‘Either below or above the earth, it is our promise to miners to achieve a social order where workers do not die.’

Following the death of the General Secretary of Independent Miners Union Tahir Çetin and Ali Faik İnter, the Communist Party of Turkey declared:

We have heard that the General Secretary of Independent Miners Union Tahir Çetin and Ali Faik İnter passed away following the car accident on their way back to Soma, Manisa.

We wish condolences to their families, their union, and miners.

The mineworkers have been struggling for their rights for fifteen years against the boss who has been protected by the ruling AKP.

Our pain is great.

We will continue their struggle altogether.

It is our promise to miners to achieve a social order where workers do not die either below or above the earth.

May they rest in peace.