Today’s Zaman offers condolences to families of mine victims
Date posted: May 15, 2014
ISTANBUL
Today’s Zaman offers its condolences to families of victims who were killed in Tuesday’s blast at the Soma coal mine.
Today’s Zaman also calls on Turkish officials to do their utmost to regulate privately owned and operated mines to ensure the safety of all workers and miners. The tragic incident in the Soma mine once again reveals the need for a stronger inspection of mines including the safety conditions of workers in line with international standards.
The steady rise of accidents, blasts and other disasters in mines and at construction sites raises concerns over the safety conditions of workers. The rising number of worker deaths should prompt the Turkish government to revisit its policies and develop a new strategy to deal with any shortcomings or problems that are the main sources of this unacceptably high number of casualties.
MHP deputy dismissed gang allegations against Hizmet Movement
“[Hizmet Movement] is very transparent under the surveillance of the government. You would go a great wrong if you accuse [Gülen] as a gang affiliated person without any verdict of conviction by a prosecutor,” stated Yılmaz.
Columnist fired from pro-gov’t daily after critical comment over Soma
In a similar development, the Yenişafak daily, another pro-government newspaper fired columnist Süleyman Gündüz for his refusal to toe the newspaper’s line against Hizmet Movement (also known as Gülen movement) led and inspired by Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen.
The Erdoğan-Did-It Conspiracy
While on its face, the notion that elements in the Turkish military loyal to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan deliberately launched a “fake coup” to justify a crackdown on Erdoğan’s enemies sounds farfetched, the belief is taking hold not only among Turkey’s staunch secularist minority and followers of Pennsylvania-based cleric Fethullah Gülen, but also among those who know the Turkish military well.
MGK plan in action
A National Security Council (MGK) plan — dated Aug. 24, 2004, titled the “Plan to Crack Down on the Fethullah Gülen Group in Turkey” and undersigned by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, ministers and military commanders of the time — is already being implemented. Though the government claims it was not put into action, there are several indications to suggest that the MGK plan is in effect.
‘Erdoğan signed MGK decisions to curb Gülen movement that Ecevit resisted’
Democratic Left Party (DSP) Chairman Masum Türker has said that controversial decisions made by the National Security Council (MGK) to curb the activities of the Gülen movement were ignored by former Prime Minister Bülent Ecevit in 2000 but signed by then-Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Aug. 25, 2004.
Purge-victim businessman sent back to prison a week after stomach cancer surgery: son
Hacı Boydak, a Kayseri-based Turkish businessman, has been put in solitary confinement only one week after he underwent a cancer surgery, according to his son.
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