DATE=2/19/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245729
TITLE=TURKEY / KURDS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=AMBERIN ZAMAN
DATELINE=ANKARA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: TURKISH WARPLANES ATTACKED KURDISH REBEL BASES IN
NORTHERN IRAQ ON FRIDAY, AS TURKISH TROOPS CONTINUED THEIR HUNT
FOR REBEL UNITS HIDING OUT IN THE RUGGED MOUNTAINS IN NORTHERN
IRAQ. AMBERIN ZAMAN IN ANKARA REPORTS THE CROSS BORDER OPERATION
WAS LAUNCHED AFTER MONDAY'S CAPTURE OF KURDISH REBEL CHIEF
ABDULLAH OCALAN
TEXT: TURKEY'S SEMI-OFFICIAL ANATOLIAN NEWS AGENCY REPORTS THAT
THE SEPARATIST KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY, OR P-K-K, SUFFERED HEAVY
LOSSES DURING THE OFFENSIVE -- WHICH IS BEING CARRIED OUT JOINTLY
BY TURKISH FORCES AND FIGHTERS FROM AN IRAQI KURDISH GROUP. THE
IRAQI KURDISH FACTION, THE KURDISTAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY, OR K-D-P,
IS CLOSELY ALLIED WITH TURKEY.
HUNDREDS OF P-K-K REBELS FLEEING THE TURKISH OFFENSIVE WERE
REPORTED TO BE CROSSING INTO IRAN AND IRAQI GOVERNMENT CONTROLLED
TERRITORY.
THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT CALLED ON TURKEY TO "IMMEDIATELY" WITHDRAW
FROM IRAQ AND ACCUSED THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT OF "CARRYING OUT
GENOCIDE AGAINST ITS KURDISH POPULATION IN ORDER TO PLEASE THE
UNITED STATES."
INSIDE TURKEY, VIOLENT CLASHES CONTINUED FOR A SECOND DAY BETWEEN
PRO-P-K-K DEMONSTRATORS AND TURKISH SECURITY FORCES.
ONE YOUNG KURDISH MAN WAS REPORTED TO HAVE DIED DURING A
DEMONSTRATION IN SUPPORT OF CAPTURED P-K-K LEADER ABDULLAH
OCALAN. IN THE MAINLY KURDISH SOUTHEAST REGION, SEVERAL
DEMONSTRATORS WERE DETAINED AFTER TRYING TO SPRAY PRO-OCALAN
SLOGANS ON A WALL.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TURKISH HUMAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATION, AKIN
BIRDAL, SAYS NEARLY 600 KURDISH ACTIVISTS, INCLUDING SEVERAL
RIGHTS DEFENDERS, ARE IN POLICE DETENTION.
MEANWHILE, TURKISH PRIME MINISTER BULENT ECEVIT ANNOUNCED THAT
THE PRISON ISLAND OFF THE COAST OF ISTANBUL, WHERE THE REBEL
CHIEF IS BEING HELD, HAD BEEN DECLARED A "FORBIDDEN ZONE" FOR
"SECURITY REASONS."
THE MOVE IS LIKELY TO RAISE FURTHER INTERNATIONAL CONCERNS ABOUT
THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH THE MAN TURKEY BLAMES FOR THE DEATHS
OF 30-THOUSAND OF ITS CITIZENS IS BEING HELD. NEW PICTURES OF
THE REBEL CHIEF FOLLOWING HIS CAPTURE IN KENYA MONDAY, SHOWED MR.
OCALAN APPARENTLY IN GOOD HEALTH THOUGH EXTREMELY APPREHENSIVE.
IN A SEPARATE DEVELOPMENT, PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT ORDERED HIS
MINISTERS DURING A CABINET MEETING FRIDAY TO DRAW UP AN EMERGENCY
INVESTMENT PACKAGE FOR TURKEY'S WAR RAVAGED SOUTHEAST REGION.
PROMINENT KURDISH BUSINESSMEN HAVE WELCOMED THE MOVE, SAYING IT
WILL GENERATE FRESH CONFIDENCE IN THE GOVERNMENT.
MEANWHILE, TURKISH PRESIDENT SULEYMAN DEMIREL CALLED FOR THE
SPEEDY ENACTMENT OF LEGISLATION KNOWN AS THE "REPENTANCE" LAW
WHICH WOULD ENABLE P-K-K REBELS, STILL IN COMBAT, TO BE GRANTED A
PARTIAL OR FULL PARDON BY THE GOVERNMENT. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/JWH/JO
19-Feb-99 12:41 PM EST (1741 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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