Turkish miners begin hunger strike after weeks of protest
The miners unfairly dismissed from Fernas Mining owned by the ruling AKP deputy Ferhat Nasıroğlu, have begun a hunger strike after their march to the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry in the capital Ankara was violently repressed by the police.
Duvar English
Miners fired from Fernas Mining on Oct. 14 decided to advance their protest to a hunger strike after being dismissed for unionizing. The company belongs to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy Ferhat Nasıroğlu, and has repeatedly fired workers who demanded better conditions.
The workers had initially begun a march from western Manisa province's Soma district to the capital Ankara on Sept. 25.
On Oct. 2, they were stopped by police at the Ankara border. Opposition deputies transported the Fernas miners by bus to the parliament after police blocked their attempt to enter and voice their concerns.
Despite presenting their demands to AKP lawmakers, the miners did not receive a resolution and continued their protest at Kurtuluş Park in Ankara.
Seeking "a representative, a response, and a solution," the miners attempted to march to the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry. Police intervened during the march, and one miner who felt unwell was taken to the hospital.
Miners announced their hunger strike decision at Kurtuluş Park in Çankaya having exhausted all other options. "We have decided not to eat until we achieve a solution," announced the miners.
"We met with all political parties in Parliament and spoke with department heads at the ministerial level. No one could tell us we were wrong, but no one offered a solution either. From this moment on, we are cutting off communication with politicians, the media, and authorities. We won’t take a single bite, nor will we say another word. We demand that this issue be treated as one of the most important problems facing Turkey," the miners declared.