Turkish miners begin underground hunger strike after 25 days of protest

Miners at Özşen Madencilik in Edirne have escalated their 25-day protest by initiating a hunger strike deep within the mine. The workers, represented by the Independent Miners' Union, are demanding their wages, overtime pay, and severance. They have vowed not to surface until their demands are met, stating, "Either our rights will be given, or we will not leave here. Let us perish where we starved."

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Either our rights will be given, or we will not leave here. Let us perish where we starved.

The protest began after 25 days of demonstrating above ground yielded no progress. The miners' resolve is firm, with one stating, "Today is the 25th day of our resistance. For 24 days, we tried every way to make our voices heard above ground. There was no agreement or development from anywhere. As of today, we have started a hunger strike underground with our friends. Let no one try to get us out; we are determined in this cause. We will either die or get our rights. We are not leaving until our rights are given."

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Today is the 25th day of our resistance. For 24 days, we tried every way to make our voices heard above ground. There was no agreement or development from anywhere. As of today, we have started a hunger strike underground with our friends. Let no one try to get us out; we are determined in this cause. We will either die or get our rights. We are not leaving until our rights are given.

Adding to the tension, the Independent Miners' Union reported a communication blackout. The employer allegedly disabled the mine's control center, which was the usual means of contacting the workers. "We cannot get news from the miners! We normally communicate with our friends who have locked themselves in the mine and are on a hunger strike through the control center. However, the control center was disabled by the EMPLOYER. That's why we can't get news about the health status of the miners inside," the union stated. They hold the Kiremitçiler Group responsible for any harm that befalls the miners and have called for public attention to the situation.

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We cannot get news from the miners! We normally communicate with our friends who have locked themselves in the mine and are on a hunger strike through the control center. However, the control center was disabled by the EMPLOYER. That's why we can't get news about the health status of the miners inside. The Kiremitçiler Group is responsible for anything that happens to our friends.