TKP's June 15-16 march in Soma: 'This country, this people are not for sale'

Thousands of Turkish communists gathered in Soma to mark the 56th anniversary of the June 15-16 Workers' Resistance. The Turkish Communist Party (TKP) organized a march and rally, starting at Cengiz Topel Square and concluding at Soma National Park.

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This country, this people are not for sale.

During the rally, speakers focused on workers' rights, the impact of privatization, and the struggles of miners in Soma. They argued that Turkey's natural resources are being transferred to private companies and called for nationalization. Participants chanted slogans like "This country, this people are not for sale."

Mehmet Horoz, the TKP Soma District Chairman, recalled the "greatest worker massacre in Turkey's history" that occurred in Soma 12 years prior due to privatization and capitalistic policies. He stated that the current companies threaten workers with unemployment and hunger, while benefiting from public resources. Horoz vowed to return mines and power plants to public service through workers' organization, shouting, "Down with your order, long live the workers!"

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This city experienced great suffering 12 years ago, it experienced the greatest worker massacre in Turkey. Because all resources were handed over to a handful of capitalists, what remained was death, blood, and tears.

Ismail Çolak, father of a miner who died in the Soma mine disaster and head of the "301 Miners Association," linked privatization directly to worker deaths. He cited incidents in Soma, Ermenek, Şirvan, and Amasra where miners lost their lives, emphasizing that workers paid the price. Çolak urged workers to engage in organized struggle, stating, "There is no salvation alone; it's either all of us or none of us."

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Your order will fall, the workers will live.

Savaş Sarı, a member of the TKP Central Committee, underscored the historical significance of the June 15-16, 1970, worker resistance, which demonstrated the organized power of the working class. He noted that millions of workers in Turkey face poverty, unemployment, and insecurity, pointing to recent wage and compensation issues for miners. Sarı criticized the transfer of mines and energy facilities to private companies and called for unity and solidarity among workers, asserting that the country's resources are being plundered by holding companies and large capital groups.

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When we say privatization, the first thing that comes to our minds is massacre. 301 workers died in Soma, 18 in Ermenek, 16 in Şirvan. Workers also lost their lives in Amasra while earning their bread. Workers paid the price for these.