TOMA, accronym for "Vehicle for Intervention in Social Events" in Turkish has marked our last year. There has not been a day we did not burn its ears, a day spent without it.
TOMAs are the most symbolic object against the Gezi Resistance, trees and defenders thereof.
We heard it was saying, “They even talked with the trees in Gezi Park, but nobody called me upon the stage.”
In that case, it’s the TOMA’s turn on the mic…
How has the past year been?
I have no private life anymore; I’m constantly harassed. As soon as I get on to the avenue, I see camera flashes. Even so-called human rights journalists publish huge photos of me. I have eyes on me wherever I go. I went through so much, and not one official, let alone the Prime Minister call and ask how I was.
What did you go through?
One time they broke my nozzle. And whenever my water runs out, I encounter discrimination and seen as useless. İzmir Municipality begrudged me its water. Such inhumanity! I already have stones, Molotov cocktails constantly hailed at me. The other day they climbed on top of a colleague in Adana, but no-one’s reporting on that. As if the protestors are not enough, we’re also dealing with The Last TOMAbender.
But is it not true also that you wet people, burned them with chemicals, injured them with pressurized water?
You’re misrepresenting me. They drugged my water when they did that, I was never asked... Besides, we do what we’re told. Also might I add, we’re only friends with the police; we don’t have a special relationship or anything...
By the way, there was a POMA*, remember that?
Look, I also have friends actually who are POMAs. They’ve acquired more fame and fandom than me. Beware of my impersonators; no one disperses social events better than me!
Yes, we’re aware (!) You were caught vacationing in Bodrum latest?
What? No. Vacationing? We have neither vacation nor days off. That was a business trip, the president went and so we followed. We work day and night, to be honest.
Do the police not take good care of you? You seem reproachful.
They do actually. For instance today we relocated to one of Istanbul’s prettiest squares, to a police station near Taksim Square [talking about the Atatürk Culture Center or AKM] and I’m practically all but swimming in everything I could need. But everybody except the police keep giving me these dirty looks; some even spit when no one is looking!
What did I ever do to you? (DD/PU/BM)
* POMA: Vehicle for Intervention in Police Events
* Click here to read the article in Turkish.
