Iliç Mine Disaster Trial Continues: "Not an Accident, but a Massacre" Statement by DISK

ERZİNCAN - Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions (DISK) General President Arzu Çerkezoğlu and DISK General Secretary Tayfun Görgün made a press statement in front of the Erzincan Courthouse for the third hearing of the mining disaster case in İliç district of Erzincan. Çerkezoğlu emphasized that the incident in which 9 workers lost their lives on February 13, 2024 was "not an accident, but a preventable massacre" and called for the prosecution of those truly responsible.

"Chain of Negligence and Capital Greed"

DİSK President Arzu Çerkezoğlu stated that the main causes of the disaster were lack of supervision, a chain of negligence and the disregard of science for the sake of capital interests. Çerkezoğlu stated that millions of tons of cyanide-contaminated soil sliding into the Euphrates River poses a great threat to public health and nature in the region.

The statement reminded that the cyanide leakage at the mine site in 2022 was the first warning, but this incident was only passed with a fine and the mine was reactivated in a short time. It was also emphasized that the warnings of professional chambers and scientists were ignored.

Who are the real culprits?

DİSK claimed that the first expert report showed that the company had failed to meet world standards, but that the report had been changed. He argued that with the new report, engineers and occupational safety experts were targeted and political and administrative officials were tried to be protected.

Çerkezoğlu said, "Those responsible for this massacre are clear: It is those who fail to fulfill their duty of supervision, those who ignore scientific warnings, those who disregard human life with the greed for profit." He stated that true justice will be achieved when those responsible are held accountable before the judiciary.

Call for Justice and Solidarity

DİSK President Arzu Çerkezoğlu said that they will follow the case and called on everyone to follow the case and show solidarity for the right to life, nature and the future. She emphasized the importance of this case "so that there will never be another İliç"