Miners on Hunger Strike for 9 Days in Amasya

Click here to read the article in Turkish / Haberin Türkçesi için buraya tıklayın

Miners working at Yeni Çeltek Mine which is operated by Soma Holding in Amasya is on the 9th day of the strike which they started in reaction of being sent to Soma.

34 miners have been taken to hospital till now in the strike, which the miners working at Merzifon Yeni Çeltik Linyit belonging to Gürmin Enerji incorporated in Soma Holding started underground.

Gürmin Enerji was granted pre-license by the end of 2014 to build thermal power plant in Suluova district of Amasya.

"They closed the mine when couldn't build power plant"

Yeni Çeltek Branch President, Hakan Çatal speaking to bianet said Soma Holding took the mine over on purpose of building thermal power plant but the mine has been closed after it gave up.

“The holding wanted to build a thermal power plant here. Nevertheless, it seems it won’t be able to build it for another 3-4 years. That is why they closed the mine but when the mine was closed five months ago, they had promised to re-open it after four months. 90 of the 220 workers had temporarily gone to Soma Işıklar mine, however, they now want the miners left underground and the 48 workers above the ground to go to Soma. They won’t open the mine.

“The miners as well don’t want to leave here. Their families, lives are here. There are those who has only three days left for their pension. 38 of these people cannot receive their payments for 74 days. It is 19th day of the resistance, and 9th day of the hunger strike. We also met with Minister of Transportation, Binali Yıldırım. We want this problem to be solved”.

People’s Republican Party (CHP) MP, Özgür Özel had submitted a summary of proceedings as to the issue in 2015. (NV/TK)