DİB (Unity for Democracy): Struggle has revealed the lies told by the Ministry of Health

DİB (Unity for Democracy) stated that the rosy picture drawn by the ruling AKP which has billed the workers  for the price of the deepening economic crisis fuelled by the pandemic has now been exposed.

“ONE-MAN GOVERNMENT IS CONTINIOUSLY PAINTING AN OPTIMISTIC PICTURE”

DİB has made a declaration concerning the coronavirus pandemic.

The declaration which drew attention to the fact that the rate of infection is showing a steady increase particularly in Istanbul but also in other cities. The statement further declared that, “workers who are forced to work under poor hygiene conditions are dying in order to make the capitalists richer. The health professionals who are working with insufficient equipment, under very hard conditions, overcoming many barriers are also losing their lives".

"Whilst the one man government is painting a delusional picture almost ridiculing all the deaths. The government is claiming that it is successfully fighting against the pandemic. The sympathetic media channels are also supporting this illusion created by the government, so are the secretaries, small government officials and anybody from top government ranks all the way to the bottom ranks.

"All government representatives are working very hard to get us all believe in the lie that the government has the pandemic under control and that it is doing a good job controlling its spread. They are participating in such lies to create a false illusion of security so that they can maintain their status quo.”

The declaration further said that, the lies told by the Ministry of Health are clearly evident.

"The struggles which have been driven by common sense has revealed the lies manifested by the Health Ministry to date. The health workers' unions, led by the Turkish Doctors Association (TTB), the organisations fighting for democracy and the reaction of the forces of labour and democracy has helped reveal the truth surrounding the pandemic numbers.

"Furthermore, the confusing and unclear statements given by the Health Minister and the stumbling in response to questions posed has made it more evident that the figures were disillusional. The reports presented by TTB and the Istanbul City Councils declaration of the death toll within their borders has confirmed the government's efforts to underrepresent the figures and has forced the government to come up with new fictions ". 

DIB has suggested the following steps to help ease the situation:

• The fight against the pandemic needs to be directed by scientific knowledge and evidence.
• The statistics accrued since the onset of the pandemic needs to be openly accessible for all.
• There needs to be a closer collaboration with the Turkish Doctors Unison, specialist organisations, councils and unions, in the fight against the pandemic.
• The 28 days closure of all non-essential businesses as suggested by TTB needs to be enforced immediately.
• During the period of closure the basic needs of the working people and people in general have to be covered by the government.
• Steps should be taken to prevent/stop redundancies.
• People should be encouraged to work from home where possible and they should be supported to enable working from home. 
• During lockdowns, the needs of the most vulnerable such as children, women, jobseekers, pensioners should be met.
• The vulnerable groups should be provided with free heating, electricity, internet, water, and basic food needs.
• Their debts and credit card repayments should be postponed.
• Any one over the age of 18 should be provided with a basic income.
• City hospitals should be nationalised or be taken under public control.
• The hospitals which were previously closed should be reopened to provide much needed care for the patients.
• Private hospitals should temporarily be nationalised and offer their services to anyone in need. 
• The most suited Covid-19 injection should be purchased and offered free of charge to the most vulnerable and the health workers as a matter of priority.
• It should then be rolled out and offered to everyone for free. 
• The suggestions made by the TTB regarding creating safe working conditions for the health workers should be enforced as a matter of urgency.
• The national budget should put aside more funds for health, education and other essential services.
• Indirect taxation should be reduced and new taxes should be imposed on the most wealthy and large firms.
• The privileges given to the wealthy should be suspended and all the projects which are funded by public funds should be suspended.
• The money raised through such initiatives should be used to offer financial support to the most vulnerable groups within society.
• The unlawful restrictions, limitations, violence and poor treatments imposed with the excuse of the pandemic on the defenders of democracy and workers should cease.
• Fundamental human and democratic rights should be placed under protection.” (EVRENSEL DAILY)