International Union Members Commemorate Ankara Bombing Victims

Representatives from a number of international unions gathered in front of Ankara's main train station in the Ulus district on Wednesday to commemorate those who lost their lives in a terrorist attack in Ankara four months ago.
A total of 102 people were killed and more than 500 wounded near the train station when twin explosions hit a rally organized by pro-Kurdish and leftist activists on Oct. 10, 2015. The terrorist Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) emerged as the major suspect behind the attack.
Among those who gathered in front of the train station were members of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), who attended the ceremony at the invitation of two Turkish unions, the Confederation of Revolutionary Workers' Unions (DİSK) and the Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions (KESK).
After observing a moment of silence for the victims of the attacks at 10:04 a.m. -- the same time the bombs were detonated -- ETUC Confederal Secretary Luca Visentini and ITUC Deputy General Secretary Jaap Wienen spoke to the press.
Saying that they shared the sorrow of those who lost family members in the attack, Visentini argued that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government does not respect civil freedoms and union rights. “It's not possible for international unions to remain quiet in the face of this situation. We will fight together until we guarantee union rights, civil freedoms and press freedom in Turkey,” Visentini said.
“Your government has turned into a dictatorship. They use terrorism as an excuse [to oppress people]. It [the AK Party] restricts freedom of press and expression, union rights and right to assembly and demonstration. Government pressure on you is increasing every single day, and the latest developments bring the times of the military coups to mind,” Wienen said.
Union members laid flowers at the scene of the two explosions following the press statements.

İSMAİL SERÇE | ANKARA [Cihan/Today's Zaman]