Arınç evaluates incidents after Soma tragedy

ISTANBUL — Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç, late Wednesday has made remarkable statements about the Soma tragedy and incidents which have followed it, including allegations about Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's adviser Yusuf Yerkel kicking a protestor.

Saying that he has personally witnessed the incident, Arınç described it as horrible, adding that he would not try to justify Yerkel's offensive action because the police already subdued the protestor as he was lying on the ground. "Why would anyone kick someone lying on the ground?" Arınç asked, noting he does not approve such actions. He explained that if the protestor wishes to file a legal complaint, he is free to do so. Another option would be to launch an administrative investigation about the incident by the Office of the Prime Minister as Erdoğan's adviser Yerkel was appointed by this institution. Arınç also criticized the medical report Yerkel requested following the incident and called it "tragicomic" because he was the one who attacked another person but was not assaulted. Recently Erdal Kocabıyık, the protestor who was kicked by Yerkel, said Yerkel called him to apologize and both sides expressed they were sorry about the incident.
Kocabıyık also stated he will not be filing a complaint about Yerkel and the issue has been resolved.

With regards to the investigation on Soma, Arınç said the legal experts are currently taking care of the issue and said nobody should act like a judge and issue criminal charges while adding that if prosecutors make mistakes for any reason, the courts will address these and called everybody to stay away from affecting the trial process. Noting the case will not be limited to the legal investigation, Arınç reiterated that an administrative investigation will also take place and take into consideration the negligence on behalf of the employers, flaws and faults and as well as the persons and institutions.