DATE=2/17/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245629
TITLE=TURKEY / KURDS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=AMBERIN ZAMAN
DATELINE=ANKARA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: TURKISH TELEVISION HAS SHOWN THE FIRST PICTURES OF
KURDISH REBEL LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN AFTER HIS SEIZURE IN KENYA
BY TURKISH SPECIAL FORCES. AMBERIN ZAMAN IN ANKARA REPORTS
PICTURES OF THE LEADER OF THE OUTLAWED KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY
(P-K-K) WERE TAKEN DURING HIS FLIGHT TUESDAY ON A PRIVATE JET
THAT BROUGHT HIM TO TURKEY.
TEXT: FLANKED BY HOODED MEMBERS OF TURKISH SPECIAL FORCES, MR.
OCALAN WAS SHOWN FIRST WITH HIS EYES BLINDFOLDED, ARMS CROSSED,
WRISTS HANDCUFFED, SITTING IN THE PRIVATE JET WHICH FLEW HIM TO
TURKEY.
MR. OCALAN WINCED AS THE BANDAGE WAS SLOWLY REMOVED. HE LOOKED
DAZED AND IN PAIN, AND COULD BARELY SPEAK. ASKED IF HE NEEDED
MEDICAL HELP BY A DOCTOR ON THE PLANE, MR. OCALAN DEMURRED. HE
SPOKE IN BARELY AUDIBLE TONES. BUT, TURKISH T-V REPORTED HIS
FIRST WORDS WERE THAT HE WANTS TO BE OF SERVICE TO THE TURKISH
PEOPLE AND THAT HE LOVES THE TURKISH PEOPLE.
TURKISH PRIME MINISTER BULENT ECEVIT RENEWED PLEDGES OF A FAIR
AND JUST TRIAL FOR TURKEY'S MOST WANTED MAN. THE P-K-K LEADER IS
BLAMED FOR THE DEATHS OF MORE THAN 30-THOUSAND PEOPLE DURING A
14-YEAR ARMED CAMPAIGN FOR KURDISH SELF-RULE IN TURKEY'S MAINLY
KURDISH SOUTHEAST PROVINCES.
TURKISH TELEVISION SHOWED A FAKE DIPLOMATIC PASSPORT ISSUED TO
ABDULLAH OCALAN BY THE GREEK CYPRIOT GOVERNMENT IN 1995 IN THE
NAME OF MAVROS LAZAROS WHICH BORE A KENYAN VISA STAMP.
PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT CONFIRMED IN AN INTERVIEW WITH THE C-N-N
NEWS CHANNEL THE P-K-K LEADER IS BEING HELD AT A PRISON ON THE
ISLAND OF IMRALI ON THE MARMARA SEA. HE SAID MR. OCALAN'S TRIAL
WOULD NOT LIKELY LAST TOO LONG.
THE KURDISH REBEL LEADER IS BEING CHARGED WITH TREASON, AN
OFFENSE THAT IS PUNISHABLE BY EXECUTION IN TURKEY. MR. ECEVIT
TOLD C-N-N HE PERSONALLY IS OPPOSED TO CAPITAL PUNISHMENT AND
POINTED OUT LEGISLATION IS PENDING IN THE TURKISH PARLIAMENT TO
END THE DEATH PENALTY. BUT MR. ECEVIT SAID THERE IS STILL
RESISTANCE TO ITS BEING BANNED.
EARLIER, THE PRIME MINISTER TOLD REPORTERS HE WOULD PUSH FOR
INVESTMENT IN THE IMPOVERISHED KURDISH REGIONS WHERE UNEMPLOYMENT
AND ILLITERACY REMAINS WIDESPREAD. ECONOMIC HARDSHIP COUPLED
WITH WIDESPREAD DISAFFECTION WITH THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT CREATED
A FERTILE RECRUITING GROUND FOR THE KURDISH REBELS.
IN A RELATED DEVELOPMENT, TURKISH OFFICIALS SAID THEY HAVE
RELIABLE INFORMATION A LEADERSHIP STRUGGLE ERUPTED WITHIN THE
RANKS OF THE REBEL GROUP FOLLOWING MR. OCALAN'S ARREST. HIS
BROTHER OSMAN IS SAID TO HAVE DECLARED HIMSELF THE NEW P-K-K
CHIEF, BUT IS BEING CHALLENGED BY TWO OTHER SENIOR PARTY
COMMANDERS, MURAT KARAYILAN AND CEMIL BAYIK. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/JWH/RAE
17-Feb-99 9:16 AM EST (1416 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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