Today, we are deeply devastated and in great grief as a nation. We are facing one of the biggest disasters Turkey has faced in its' history. A mine complex in Soma has exploded in flames for unknown reasons trapping many miners deep underground. Many of the workers had no access to an emergency refuge where they could have sheltered from the flames and choking fumes.
More then an accident, this is a big human rights' crime committed by the government and the mine owners who did not take adequate safety measures and exploited their workers in every means. Hundreds of lives are lost and yet there is no adequate number given of the lost ones or any reliable explanation being made on this horrible tragedy!
In our mourning to all the miners who have lost their lives, the ones who are injured and in respect to their families whom are going through very challenging and troubling times, we have decided to cancel our trip to Indonesia for the award ceremony. There is still a lot of work to be done, and a lot of fight to be given on the front of human rights here in our own home, before we get ourselves honored in any way, anywhere...