BIOGRAPHY of SEMSI DENIZER
He was born in 1951. He finished Gelik Private Elementary School and than continued his high school education in Kilimli High School. In 1970 while he was a student he worked as a deputy pickman in Gelik quarry. He finished his military service in 1974 and started working in General Mine Workers Union as a bureu worker. In 1976 he started to work in Gelik Coal Enterprises Directorate as an accounted. He participated to the topography courses during that period and than worked as a topographer in the same enterprise. At the ordinary congress of General Mine Workers Union in 1983 he was elected Secretary of Research and than Vice President at the Congress of 1986. In 4 July 1989 he became President with the decision of the executive board. At the congress held in the same year he was elected President. In 1992 Semsi Denizer was elected General Secretary of TURK-IS, he was also elected in the congress of 1995. He was the only candidate at the 6th ordinary congress of General Mine Workers Union held in 6 August 1999.
WE PAY FOR IT
We are struggling for the interest of our workers and our people. We are not afraid to pay for it. The ones who use the expression “They will pay for it” must know that they will pay for it also.
The government must see that the trade unionists have no right to take a backward step and to sacrifice their workers. This event concerns Turkey as a whole, its no joke. Trade unionists must take all the precautions for the interest of the people. TURK-IS executive board can not run away from this responsibility. The trade unionists in front lines and the TURK-IS executive board members have no right to fear. If our fear will damage the people we have no right to be in these posts. We must accept the risk of punishment and struggle for the interest and happiness of our people. The politicians and the government must define their attitude accordingly.
We don’t run after dreams. We don’t ask for the impossible. We want what should have been done.
Don’t misunderstand, when we say we ask for it doesn’t mean we beg for it. We don’t want any donation or a gesture from anybody. We are patient and determined, we wont give up our rights. Rights are not given, rights are taken. THEY WONT GIVE IT, BUT WE WILL TAKE IT!” (16 August 1990, Newspaper heading)
In these last days the target of terror are intellectual and distinguished people. The aim beyond this massacre is obvious. We saw this game. We know where terror wants to steer us. Terror will not reach its aim.
The bullets shot to our distinguished scientist Muammer Aksoy and Cetin Emeç are the bullets shot to our nation’s democracy, freedom and peace. (15 March 1990, a reaction against the Cetin Emeç murder)
“WE SACRIFICED OURSELVES”
“We have already sacrificed ourselves, but our children have a future. They will be educated, they will develop and they will rule. I have said it before. Threats and pressure don’t cut any ice with us. I have lived like a human, never made a concession over my honor. No one can mass around with the honor of a mine worker and of Turkish workers”. (30 November 1990, Newspaper heading)
“We will feel the cold, we will get ill, may be we will die, but we will never let them step over our honor. Us mine workers are patient. We take determined steps. Once we start we fight till the end”. (30 November 1990, the opening of the Gelik strike)
“I am asking now. In order to win, do we have any other chance except insisting for our rights?” (NO)
Are you determined ? (YES)
Are you ready to walk till Ankara (capital) if necessary ? (YES)
Wait for my signal. (The workers wait) They will see! (30 November 1990, the opening of the Karadon strike )
“Either our rights will arrive or we will go to Ankara to take them. This is a fight for bread. No one can condemn our people to anyone.” (11 December 1990, speaking from the window of the trade union).
“The struggle of our workers and the people of Zonguldak is not only economic. We demand a system based upon human rights and freedom. This is the route of our struggle”. (10 December 1990. Human Rights Award Ceremony in Ankara)
“You are writing history with golden letters, I love you, I respect you, I congratulate you, The whole world heard your voices”. (12 December 1990, speaking from the trade union window)
“We take our strength from our workers, from our people. Not from a rentier, business man or a politician. We direct politicians. It has always been the same. We stood behind our case and our matters. We stood in front of problems and self-seekers. We are proud of it. We serve to our workers”. (12 October 1997 , Extraordinary Congress)
“ All the problems will be solved in a country where the politicians do not lie. No one can get away with it. We must act towards our desires not of others. We must see our faults.” (3 July 1998, a visit to Uzülmez)
“ Susurluk accident has revealed those politicians, gangs, armed tribes in Turkey using the state for their personal profits since many years.
...Our people demand these dirty relations to be solved and criminals to be punished.
...Our people and TURK-IS do not want to lose their hope and expectation of a pure society and politics.” (29 September 1997)
“The ones who drag Zonguldak and Turkey in to this position are the ones who never drop the word nationalism from their mouths. How could this be nationalism?. Could there be a nationalist that does not love his people and his country?. They can only act as a cats-paw for the IMF and the World Bank” ( 6 August 1999, the opening of the Congress)
