15.05.2014 İstanbul
Drawing attention to the calamitous events taking place in Soma at the 12th Industry Congress held by the İstanbul Chamber of Industry, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu declared that TOBB has launched an aid campaign for the families of the martyred miners with a donation 5 million TL. Hisarcıklıoğlu urged the business community to take part in this campaign.
Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “As TOBB, along with our Chambers and Exchanges in
81 provinces and 160 counties, we want to support the families of the martyred
miners who we consider our charges. With this in mind, we are launching an aid
campaign throughout the country. For the first step, we are donating 5 million
TL to the campaign. I urge all of the business community to take part in the
campaign.”
Stating that, unfortunately, they are experiencing unimaginable anguish
as a result of the calamitous events, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We have lost many
of our worker brothers in Soma as a result of a terrible accident. I pray for
the grace of Allah upon those who have lost their lives. I earnestly share the
anguish of the mourning families and extend to them my condolences.
I pray for the rapid recovery of the wounded. I present my condolences
to our nation. It is in times such as these that we must find solace in each
other. Let us not fight. Let us not indulge in politics. Let us pray that our
anguish does not grow even worse and for the rescue of those still trapped.
If there is any profit in this world unsullied by unjust gain, it is the
earnings of a miner, earned at risk to one’s own life. Therefore, if there is
any neglect, those responsible – regardless of their affiliation to
institutions, public or private – must be punished to the full extent of the
law.
As TOBB, along with our Chambers and Exchanges in 81 provinces and 160
counties, we want to support the families of the martyred miners who we
consider our charges. With this in mind, we are launching an aid campaign
throughout the country. For the first step, we are donating 5 million TL to the
campaign. I urge all of the business community to take part in the campaign.
For it is days like this that solidarity as nation is imperative. It is
on days like these that we are able to perceive just how great a nation we are
and show it. It is now once again time to come together to find solace and to
mend the wounds together.”