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DATE=2/16/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245571
TITLE=TURKEY / KURDS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=AMBERIN ZAMAN
DATELINE=ANKARA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  ABDULLAH OCALAN, THE LEADER OF THE KURDISTAN WORKERS' 
PARTY, OR P-K-K, HAS BEEN CAPTURED AND BROUGHT TO TURKEY, TURKISH
PRIME MINISTER BULENT ECEVIT ANNOUNCED TUESDAY.  THE PARTY IS 
OUTLAWED BY TURKEY AND MR. OCALAN IS WANTED ON TERRORISM CHARGES.
AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA.
TEXT:  SPEAKING AT A NEWS CONFERENCE TUESDAY, MR. ECEVIT SAID THE
TURKISH STATE HAD KEPT ITS PROMISE AND BROUGHT BACK THE MAN HE 
TERMED A "TERRORIST" TO FACE JUSTICE.
THE TURKISH PRIME MINISTER SAID MR. OCALAN'S ARREST WAS THE 
RESULT OF A 12-DAY COVERT OPERATION WHICH ONLY 10 TURKISH 
OFFICIALS WERE AWARE OF, BUT HE DECLINED TO ELABORATE.
MR. ECEVIT ALSO DECLINED TO REVEAL MR. OCALAN'S WHEREABOUTS, 
SAYING ONLY THAT HE WAS SOMEWHERE IN TURKEY.
MR ECEVIT SAID THE P-K-K LEADER WOULD BE ACCORDED A FAIR TRIAL 
AND THAT HE HAD  NOT  COME TO ANY PHYSICAL HARM DURING HIS 
CAPTURE.  MR. OCALAN WILL LIKELY BE TRIED ON TREASON CHARGES FOR 
WHICH HE WILL LIKELY BE GIVEN THE DEATH PENALTY, IF CONVICTED.
BUT EVEN THOUGH CAPITAL PUNISHMENT HAS  NOT  BEEN ABOLISHED IN 
TURKEY, IT HAS  NOT  BEEN CARRIED OUT FOR MORE THAN 10 YEARS NOW.
MR OCALAN IS WIDELY BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO TURKEY FROM 
KENYA WHERE HE HAD ALLEGEDLY SOUGHT REFUGE AT THE GREEK EMBASSY.
MR. ECEVIT APPEALED TO P-K-K REBELS MONDAY TO TURN THEMSELVES 
INTO THE TURKISH AUTHORITIES. 
                    /// INSERT ECEVIT ACT ///
MR. ECEVIT PLEDGED THEY WOULD BE ALLOWED TO BENEFIT FROM A 
REPENTANCE LAW.
MR. OCALAN'S ARREST CAPS A 14-YEAR EFFORT BY THE TURKISH STATE TO
BRING TO JUSTICE THE MAN IT HOLDS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEATHS OF 
MORE THAN 30-THOUSAND TURKISH CITIZENS.  //OPT// THE P-K-K  HAS 
BEEN WAGING A BLOODY SEPARATIST CAMPAIGN SINCE 1984 FOR KURDISH 
SELF RULE IN THE MAINLY KURDISH SOUTHEAST PROVINCES.  ITS VICTIMS
HAVE INCLUDED THOUSANDS OF UNARMED CIVILIANS SIDING WITH THE 
STATE.
BUT WIDESPREAD UNEMPLOYMENT AND DISAFFECTION WITH THE TURKISH 
STATE HAS BRED SUPPORT FOR THE REBEL LEADER AMONG MANY KURDS. 
MANY CREDIT HIM WITH FORCING THE TURKISH STATE TO RECOGNIZE THEIR
LONG DENIED ETHNIC IDENTITY. HIS CAPTURE WILL  NO  DOUBT COME AS 
A BLOW TO THEM. 
ANTICIPATING MASS PROTESTS IN THE SOUTHEAST, TURKISH OFFICIALS 
SAY SECURITY HAS BEEN STEPPED-UP IN THE KURDISH REGION.
THE P-K-K LEADER HAS BEEN ON THE RUN SINCE OCTOBER WHEN SYRIA, 
BACKING DOWN UNDER TURKISH MILITARY THREATS, ORDERED HIM OUT OF 
THAT COUNTRY.  MR. OCALAN EMERGED IN ROME IN NOVEMBER, WHERE HE 
SPENT TWO MONTHS SEEKING POLITICAL ASYLUM. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/PCF/KL
16-Feb-99 7:40 AM EST (1240 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.