DATE=5/30/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250005
TITLE=TURKEY TRIAL SCENESETTER (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=MUDANYA, TURKEY
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
//EDITORS: TRIAL DUE TO BEGIN MONDAY AT 0700 UTC APPROXIMATELY
WATCH FOR UPDATES//
INTRO: IN TURKEY, AUTHORITIES ARE PREPARING FOR THE TRIAL OF
KURDISH REBEL LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN WHICH IS DUE TO BEGIN MONDAY
MORNING ON A PRISON ISLAND IN THE MARMARA SEA SOUTHWEST OF
ISTANBUL. CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB REPORTS FROM THE NEAR-BY
COASTAL CITY OF MUDANYA THAT THE KURDISH LEADER FACES THE DEATH
PENALTY FOR TERRORIST ACTS WHICH HAVE CAUSED THE DEATHS OF MORE
THAN 30-THOUSAND PEOPLE.
TEXT: THE DAY BEFORE THE TRIAL OF ABDULLAH OCALAN WAS PLEASANT
AND SUNNY IN THIS SMALL COASTAL TOWN ACROSS THE WATER FROM
ISTANBUL. FAMILIES STROLLED ALONG THE DOCK AND DRANK TEA IN
CAFES OVERLOOKING THE OCEAN.
HOWEVER, THE QUAY TO BE USED BY BOATS TAKING PARTICIPANTS TO AND
FROM IMRALI PRISON ISLAND WHERE MR. OCALAN IS TO BE TRIED WAS
CORDONED OFF AND WAS GUARDED BY SCORES OF SECURITY FORCES
EQUIPPED WITH ARMORED VEHICLES AND ANTI-RIOT TRUCKS. HELICOPTERS
CIRCLED THE SKIES OVERHEAD AND SPEED BOATS PATROLLED THE
COAST-LINE AS PART OF THE EXTENSIVE SECURITY MEASURES BEING TAKEN
FOR THE TRIAL.
ABDULLAH OCALAN HAS BEEN IMRALI ISLAND'S ONLY PRISONER SINCE HE
WAS CAPTURED LAST FEBRUARY IN A SPECIAL FORCES OPERATION IN
KENYA, WHOSE DETAILS ARE NOT FULLY KNOWN.
AUTHORITIES ARE ALLOWING ONE DOZEN OBSERVERS, MOSTLY JOURNALISTS
AND DIPLOMATS ON TO THE ISLAND EACH DAY TO WATCH THE PROCEEDINGS.
THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT WANTS THE TRIAL TO BE FAIR AND THE VERDICT
OF THE JUDGES TO BE ACCEPTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.
HOWEVER, HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS ALREADY ARE CRYING FOUL. THE
REPRESENTATIVE OF HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH, JOHNATHAN SUGDEN IS IN
MUDANYA AND TOLD V-O-A HIS ORGANIZATION HAS NUMEROUS CONCERNS
ABOUT THE TRIAL.
//SUGDEN ACT//
WE CALL ON THEM TO REFORM THE STATE SECURITY COURTS IN
LINE WITH INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS AND WE CALL UPON THEM
TO PROTECT THE LAWYERS, HIS DEFENSE LAWYERS FROM ANY
POSSIBLE ATTACKS, TO MAKE SURE THAT HIS DEFENSE ARE
GIVEN EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE HIM WITH A PROPER
DEFENSE.
//END ACT//
MR. SUGDEN SAYS MR. OCALAN'S LAWYERS HAVE NOT HAD PRIVATE ACCESS
TO THEIR CLIENT TO PREPARE THEIR CASE. HE ALSO SAYS THE STATE
SECURITY COURT THAT IS TRYING THE REBEL LEADER IS NOT CONSIDERED
IMPARTIAL BY INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS. AS A RESULT HUMAN RIGHTS
ORGANIZATIONS ARE CALLING ON THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT TO POSTPONE
THE TRIAL SO THAT CERTAIN REFORMS CAN BE ENACTED.
THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT HOWEVER, IS UNDER CONSIDERABLE PRESSURE TO
OPEN THE TRIAL BECAUSE OF THE ATROCITIES COMMITTED BY MR.
OCALAN'S ORGANIZATION, THE KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY, OR P-K-K.
RELATIVES OF VICTIMS OF THE P-K-K HAVE DEMONSTRATED ALMOST DAILY
DEMANDING A SPEEDY TRIAL AND THE DEATH PENALTY FOR MR. OCALAN.
TURKEY HAS NOT CARRIED OUT THE DEATH PENALTY SINCE 1984 ALTHOUGH
DOZENS OF PEOPLE HAVE RECEIVED IT. THE TURKISH PARLIAMENT WOULD
HAVE TO APPROVE ANY DEATH SENTENCE FOR MR. OCALAN. THIS
REQUIREMENT AND THE OTHER REFORMS BEING CONTEMPLATED MEAN THE
FATE OF ABDULLAH OCALAN IS UNLIKELY TO BE KNOWN FOR SOME TIME.
(SIGNED)
NEB/SB/ENE-T/WFR
30-May-99 6:31 PM EDT (2231 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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