The Labour and Democracy Platform of Gaziantep held a press conference on the recent developments in Başpınar in Balıklı Park. The statement demanded an end to the pressure on the workers and called for the release of BİRTEK-SEN chair Mehmet Türkmen.

Oğuz Dağ, branch secretary of Eğitim Sen trade union, read out the statement. Dağ recalled that the governorate's ban decision had been suspended by the court and said: 'It has been proved once again that this illegal ban decision is invalid. Mehmet Türkmen, the chair of BİRTEK-SEN, was illegally arrested in this process. At the same time, another case was opened against Mehmet Türkmen and he was sentenced to house arrest under TCK 301 for "insulting the institutions and organs of the state". We, as the Labour and Democracy Platform of Gaziantep, strongly condemn the illegal arrest of BİRTEK-SEN Chair Mehmet Türkmen and the repression of the trade union struggle.

Dağ stressed that the pressure on the workers demanding their rights increased after the ban was lifted and said, "The workers are being forced to give up their protests by blatant lawlessness. The security forces are trying to divide and disperse the workers with false information and force them into the factories. They are threatening to arrest the workers by shielding the bosses in the areas of resistance. This order, which imposes a 30 per cent misery increase on the workers, is the emergency order'.

Finally, Dağ said, 'BİRTEK-SEN General President Mehmet Türkmen must be released immediately. The pressure, threats and illegal practices against the workers must stop. The emergency practices against the workers in Başpınar must be stopped immediately. Remove the governor, the police and the ban from the workers! (EVRENSEL DAILY)