On Tuesday, May 13, at 15.00 pm, Turkey witnessed one of the greatest tragedy’s of its history when an explosion killed over 300 and trapped more than 700 mine workers in Soma Coal, a private lignite mine in Soma. The whole country is in a state of mourning with the 1000′s of family members who are devastated from losing their loved ones.
Just about 10 days before the accident in Soma, PM Erdogan’s party rejected a proposal made by the opposing party in parliament to discuss and take action about workers safety in coal mines throughout Turkey. Earlier Prime Minister Erdogan stated in a press conference that “explosions like this in these mines happen all the time.”
Yesterday thousands of people, many grieving, marched in memorial of the Soma miners and to demand a change to routinely ignoring workers safety conditions, while money is allocated to other projects. On PM Erdogan’s visit to Soma yesterday he was greeted with kick’s to his vehicle and was booed by grieving protesters and called a “murderer” and “thief.”
Agency LeJournal is reporting that Nazım Serhat Fırat one of their photographers is still detained over his photographs. Below is one of Nazım
The video reportedly showing PM Erdogan punching a man happens when taking refuge in a mini-market. According to reports, Erdogan grabs a citizen around his neck and asks “Why are you running away?!” Then punches him then and lets him go. His bodyguards continue to punch the man afterward. (1:40 in the video)
Also on Thursday, images and a video appearing to show one of Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan’s closest aides attacking a detained protester in the wake of the mining tragedy in Soma caused furor in the mourning nation. British newspaper The Telegraph reports that footage that emerged online shows Yusuf Yerkel, a staffer for Prime Minister Erdogan, as he flails to kick a man being held down by paramilitary police on Wednesday.
