DATE=2/23/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245847
TITLE=TURKEY / OCALAN (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=AMBERIN ZAMAN
DATELINE=ANKARA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: IMPRISONED KURDISH REBEL LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN HAS BEEN
CHARGED WITH TREASON BY TURKISH OFFICIALS. AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS
FROM ANKARA THE CHARGE FOLLOWS BY ONE-WEEK HIS CAPTURE IN NAIROBI
BY A TEAM OF TURKISH SPECIAL FORCES.
TEXT: THE LEADER OF THE KURDISTAN WORKERS' PARTY, WHICH TURKEY
HAS OUTLAWED, IS BEING CHARGED WITH TREASON. ABDULLAH OCALAN
FOUNDED AND LED THE GROUP'S 14-YEAR-LONG ARMED CAMPAIGN FOR
SELF-RULE IN THE MAINLY-KURDISH SOUTHEAST REGION.
LEGAL EXPERTS SAY IF CONVICTED, MR. OCALAN WILL LIKELY BE HANDED
THE DEATH SENTENCE BY A SPECIAL STATE SECURITY COURT THAT
INCLUDES A MILITARY JUDGE. BUT FEW BELIEVE AN EXECUTION WILL BE
CARRIED OUT.
A TEAM OF TURKISH LAWYERS WHICH VOLUNTEERED TO DEFEND THE
CAPTURED REBEL CHIEF IS STILL AWAITING PERMISSION TO TRAVEL TO
THE PRISON ISLAND NEAR ISTANBUL WHERE HE IS BEING HELD. ONE OF
THE LAWYERS -- OSMAN BAYDEMIR -- WAS CLEARED TO TRAVEL TO IMRALI
ISLAND. ACCORDING TO TURKISH TELEVISION REPORTS, HE COULD NOT DO
SO TUESDAY, DUE TO POOR WEATHER CONDITIONS.
MR. OCALAN WAS BROUGHT TO TURKEY LAST WEEK AFTER TURKISH SPECIAL
FORCES SEIZED HIM ON HIS WAY TO NAIROBI AIRPORT. REPORTS THAT HE
SPENT 12-DAYS, PRIOR TO HIS CAPTURE, AT THE GREEK AMBASSADOR'S
RESIDENCE IN NAIROBI HAS LED TO FURTHER TENSIONS BETWEEN TURKEY
AND GREECE.
TURKISH PRIME MINISTER BULENT ECEVIT SAID (TUESDAY) HE HAS
INSTRUCTED THE FOREIGN MINISTRY TO LOBBY WESTERN GOVERNMENTS TO
HAVE GREECE ADDED TO THE LIST OF COUNTRIES THAT SUPPORT
TERRORISM. HE BASES THAT ON WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS GREECE'S
SUPPORT FOR A SEPARATIST TERRORIST GROUP THAT WAS FIGHTING
TURKEY'S LEGITIMATE GOVERNMENT. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/PCF/RAE
23-Feb-99 8:48 AM EST (1348 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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