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DATE=5/31/99
TYPE=CORESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250021
TITLE=TURKEY TRIAL BEGINS (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=MUDANYA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO: THE TRIAL OF KURDISH REBEL LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN HAS 
OPENED ON A HEAVILY GUARDED PRISON ISLAND SOUTHWEST OF ISTANBUL. 
CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB REPORTS FROM THE NEARBY TOWN OF MUDANYA 
THE JUDGES TURNED DOWN A REQUEST BY THE DEFENSE FOR AN 
ADJOURNMENT IN ORDER TO BETTER PREPARE THEIR CASE.
TEXT:   ABDULLAH  OCALAN  APPEARED BEFORE HIS ACCUSERS MONDAY 
LOOKING SOMBER BUT IN GOOD HEALTH.  HE SAT AND AT TIMES STOOD 
BEHIND AN ENCLOSURE OF BULLET PROOF GLASS.  IN HIS OPENING 
STATEMENT THE KURDISH REBEL LEADER ASKED FOR FORGIVENESS FROM THE
FAMILIES FOR THE REBEL ATTACKS AND HE SAID HE SHOULD BE ALLOWED 
TO LIVE IN ORDER TO WORK FOR PEACE AND BROTHERHOOD BETWEEN TURKS 
AND KURDS.  THEN HE LISTENED IMPASSIVELY AS THE CHARGES AGAINST 
HIM WERE READ OUT.  
THE NEWLY BUILT COURTROOM ON THE PRISON ISLAND OF IMRALI WAS 
FILLED WITH SCORES OF PEOPLE INCLUDING FOREIGN DIPLOMATS, 
JOURNALISTS, AND RELATIVES OF THE VICTIMS.  SOME OF THE RELATIVES
HELD PHOTOGRAPHS OF FAMILY MEMBERS KILLED BY THE REBELS IN THEIR 
CAMPAIGN FOR AN INDEPENDENT KURDISH HOMELAND..  
THE GREATEST PRESENCE BY FAR, HOWEVER, WAS OF SECURITY FORCES WHO
ARE SEEKING TO PREVENT ANY ATTACK AGAINST THE REBEL LEADER.  MR. 
OCALAN IS ACCUSED OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEATHS OF 30-THOUSAND
PEOPLE AND IS REVILED BY MANY IN TURKEY AS A TERRORIST AND A 
KILLER OF CHILDREN.
THE KURDISH LEADER  WAS CAPTURED LAST FEBRUARY IN KENYA AFTER A 
FOUR MONTH ODYSSEY DURING WHICH HE SOUGHT POLITICAL ASYLUM FROM A
NUMBER OF COUNTRIES.  HE IS CHARGED WITH TREASON, WHICH CARRIES A
MANDATORY DEATH SENTENCED.  IF CONVICTED THE SENTENCE IS 
AUTOMATICALLY APPEALED AND ULTIMATELY MUST BE UP BY THE TURKISH 
PARLIAMENT. 
HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS HAVE CALLED FOR A POSTPONEMENT OF THE TRIAL 
SAYING MR. OCALAN'S LAWYERS HAVE  NOT  BEEN ABLE TO PREPARE AN 
ADEQUATE DEFENSE.  THEY ARE ALSO CALLING FOR A CONSTITUTIONAL 
AMENDMENT TO REMOVE THE MILITARY JUDGE IN THE TRIAL -- ONE OF 
THREE JUDGES WHO SIT ON THESE SPECIAL SECURITY COURTS.  SOME 
TURKISH LEADERS SAY THEY SUPPORT SUCH AN AMENDMENT BUT THEY SAY 
THE JUDGES ARE INDEPENDENT AND IT IS UP TO THEM TO DECIDE WHETHER
TO ADJOURN THE OCALAN TRIAL. (SIGNED")
NEB/SB/CB-T/PLM/KL 
31-May-99 7:18 AM EDT (1118 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.