Parliament approves setting up of commission to probe Soma disaster

ANKARA - Anadolu Agency

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Parliament has decided to set up a commission to investigate the country’s deadliest mine accident that happened in Soma and claimed the lives of 301 mine workers.

Motions submitted by the ruling and opposition parties to launch an inquiry commission to investigate the causes of the accident and determine the necessary measures against such incidents were accepted at the General Assembly on May 21.

The commission will consist of 17 members and will work for three months after the commission head, deputy head and spokesperson are elected.

Speaking at Parliament, the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) Manisa lawmaker, Muzaffer Yurttaş, said a commission was launched for the mine accident in Zonguldak’s Kozlu district in 2010, but stressed that this was not enough, adding that “business ethics” were needed.

Meanwhile, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Balıkesir deputy Ahmet Duran said Soma had become the symbol of “ambition and rapacity.”

MHP Manisa deputy Sümer Oral said the examinations conducted since the accident show that the disaster occurred because of “serious negligence and mistakes.”