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DATE=2/17/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245640
TITLE=OCALAN PROTEST UPDATE (S/L)
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THREE KURDISH DEMONSTRATORS WERE SHOT DEAD IN BERLIN 
WEDNESDAY WHEN PROTESTERS TRIED TO STORM THE ISRAELI CONSULATE 
THERE.  DEMONSTRATIONS CONTINUE IN SEVERAL EUROPEAN CITIES AS 
ANGRY KURDS PROTEST THE ARREST OF REBEL LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN.  
MOST DEMONSTRATIONS HAVE BEEN AGAINST GREEK DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS 
BECAUSE OF REPORTED GREEK LINKS TO THE ARREST -- A CHARGE GREECE 
HAS DENIED.  CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN IS FOLLOWING 
DEVELOPMENTS FROM LONDON.
TEXT:  // SOUND OF CHANTING AND FADE -- ESTABLISH AND UNDER //
KURDS CHANT SLOGANS AND SING KURDISH SONGS AS THEY CONTINUE THEIR
VIGIL FOR A SECOND DAY OUTSIDE THE GREEK EMBASSY HERE IN LONDON. 
AN ESTIMATED 80 KURDS REMAIN INSIDE, THREATENING A HUNGER STRIKE 
IF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY DOES  NOT  PROMISE TO PROTECT 
ABDULLAH OCALAN'S RIGHTS AS HE FACES TRIAL IN TURKEY ON CHARGES 
OF TERRORISM.
WHEN NEWS OF THE BERLIN KILLINGS REACHED THE LONDON CROWD, THE 
DEMONSTRATORS BOWED THEIR HEADS FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
DEMONSTRATIONS LIKE THIS ONE IN LONDON -- SOME OF THEM VIOLENT --
ERUPTED FOR A SECOND DAY WEDNESDAY ACROSS EUROPE AS KURDS 
CONTINUE THEIR PROTEST AGAINST TURKEY'S ARREST OF THE KURDISH 
SEPARATIST LEADER.
                       ///OPT THE REST///
KURDISH PROTESTERS HERE IN LONDON SAY THEY ARE ANGRY AT THE 
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY FOR ABANDONING THE KURDISH CAUSE.   ONE 
DEMONSTRATOR CRITICIZES THOSE WHO DESCRIBE MR. OCALAN AS A 
TERRORIST.
                     ///DEMONSTRATOR ACT ///
         WHEN BRITAIN OR AMERICA GO IN WAR, THEY KILL PEOPLE. SO 
         IN WAR THERE IS KILLING. SO WHY SHOULD ONLY WE PAY THE 
         PRICE WHEN WE KILL AND THE OTHERS NOT? 
                        /// END ACT /// 
FOR NEARLY 15 YEARS, ABDULLAH OCALAN AND HIS KURDISTAN WORKERS 
PARTY HAVE WAGED A GUERRILLA WAR AGAINST TURKISH RULE OF OVER THE
MOSTLY KURDISH-POPULATED SOUTHEASTERN AREA OF TURKEY.  AN 
ESTIMATED 30-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN THE CONFLICT.   
MR. OCALAN NOW FACES THE DEATH PENALTY ON CHARGES OF TERRORISM.
AT THE GREEK EMBASSY IN LONDON, MORE KURDS KEEP ARRIVING AS THE 
DAY WEARS ON. THEY SAY THEY ARE COMING TO SHOW THEIR SOLIDARITY 
WITH THE PROTESTERS STILL INSIDE THE EMBASSY.
          ///SINGING -- ESTABLISH, FADE AND SUSTAIN ///
DOZENS OF DEMONSTRATORS SIT ON THE GROUND, WRAPPED IN HEAVY 
BLANKETS, SINGING KURDISH SONGS AND PASSING ON NEWS OF 
DEMONSTRATIONS IN OTHER CITIES.  MOST SAY THEY WILL STAY AS LONG 
AS THE OTHER PROTESTERS REMAIN INSIDE THE GREEK EMBASSY.  SOME 
SAY THEY WANT TO STAY AS LONG AS ABDULLAH OCALAN REMAINS IN 
CUSTODY IN TURKEY. (SIGNED)
                 /// FADE UP SINGING AND OUT/// 
NEB/LMK/PCF/JO
17-Feb-99 12:01 PM EST (1701 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.