CHP files charges against government

CHP parliamentary group Deputy-Leader Haluk Koc, speaking at a press conference in Parliament, said: "The AK Party executives, especially Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Forestry Minister Osman Pepe and their bureaucrats are violating the constitution and the law. We are calling on the prosecutors to do what’s necessary."

Koc noted there was a forest fire in Serik, Antalya on July 23, claiming that forestry laborers were taken to the notary and were forced to change their unions as the fire was continuing. Koc said laborers were being forced to join the Tarim-Orman-Is Union of Hak-Is from Orman-Is of Turk-Is.

Koc criticized the AK Party government for trying to impose its narrow point of view, noting that the consequences of such an attitude were plain to see in many areas, most recently in the speed-train tragedy. Koc claimed the AK Party was now trying to dominate and render useless the labor unions and confederations and occupational organizations, while strengthening another confederation.

Koc said that according to Orman-Is meeting’s minutes, it was the prime minister who had called for the change in unions for Forestry Ministry bureaucrats, who in turn, put pressure on the laborers. Koc said that seasonal laborers were promised permanent posts as an incentive to change unions.

Koc added that the forestry laborers in Mugla, Antalya and Finike were threatened with dismissals if they failed to join Tarim-Orman-Is by the end of the day.