MARDİN - Bubo Taş, who set himself on fire against the heavy isolation on PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan, was very impressed by Hayri Durmuş, with whom he was held in the same ward, and has always wanted to take the struggle further since 1980.

 

Reminding the words of Kurdish scholar Musa Anter, "I am both the witness and the defendant in this case" before setting his body on fire, Bubo Taş explained the reason for his act and said: "I am performing this act on my own will tonight. This action is for Abdullah Öcalan, the president of Kurdistan. He has been in solitary confinement for 22 months. I curse this isolation. If a person cannot speak because he is in isolation for 22 months, we Kurds here must stand up for our President. Otherwise, we will all be destroyed one by one on this path.”

 

66-year-old Bubo Taş, who set himself on fire against the heavy isolation on PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan, asked Kurdish Artist Xelîl Xemgîn to prepare a song in Kurdish about his action in the video he took before he died.

 

After being taken into custody with the September 12 military coup, Bubo Taş, who was put in the same ward with Mehmet Hayri Durmuş, one of the leading commanders of the PKK in Diyarbakır Prison No. 5, was held in prison until 1986. Bubo Taş, who was subjected to heavy torture like many other people held in Diyarbakır Prison No. 5, continued his political activities after he was released from prison. Bubo Taş, who started his political work with the DEP in the 1990s and then continued with HADEP and DEHAP, also took on responsibilities in the DTP and DBP. Bubo Taş, who was also a member of the Artuklu Municipality Council from the DBP list between 2009 and 2014, also took an active part in the 78's Association. He was released from prison in June 2022.

 

HE WAS SELFLESS AND CREATIVE

 

Mehmet Şükrü Değirmenci, who has been involved in politics in the BDP for many years with Bubo Taş, stated that Bubo Taş has been involved in political work throughout his life and said, "He was a smart person. He never stopped working, he was selfless. He was so pure, clean and honest. He wanted to spend all his energy for his people. Sometimes he didn't even see his family and children, caught up in work. He was creative even though he had financial challenges. He always did his work with a smile on his face and he accepted all criticism. He was growing with that criticism."

 

'HE GAVE STRENGTH TO OTHER PEOPLE'

 

Noting that Bubo Taş gave them strength when he told them about the September 12 military coup and what he went through in the Diyarbakır Prison, Değirmenci said, “He was mostly influenced by Hayri (Durmuş). He spoke about other friends as well but Heval Hayri took great care of him back in prison and he was very impressed by him. He never lived for himself since the 80's. What guided him al the beginning, guided him at the end."

 

'WE STAND WITH OUR CHIN UP'

 

Necdet Taş, Bubo's niece said: "His family came second for him. His priority was the movement. He went in and out of prison until 6 months ago. Never changed his ways. We have questions in our minds about if we were able to help him. This is why we are sad. We are sad but we stand with our chin up. He walked on a sacred path. We commemorate him with respect."

 

MA / Ahmet Kanbal