DATE=5/31/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250048
TITLE=TURKEY/TRIAL OVERNITER (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=MUDANYA, TURKEY
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: IN TURKEY, THE TRIAL OF KURDISH REBEL LEADER ABDULLAH
OCALAN IS SET TO ENTER ITS SECOND DAY TUESDAY, AFTER A DAY OF
DRAMATIC OPENING TESTIMONY ON MONDAY. VOA CORRESPONDENT SCOTT
BOBB IN MUDANYA IS COVERING THE TRIAL.
TEXT: THE FACT THAT THERE IS A SESSION TUESDAY SURPRISED MANY
PEOPLE SINCE MR. OCALAN'S LAWYERS AT THE START REQUESTED AN
ADJOURNMENT TO PRESENT THEIR CASE. BUT THEIR REQUEST WAS DENIED
BY THE JUDGES. MR. OCALAN DELIVERED A BRIEF, OPENING STATEMENT
MONDAY MORNING -- DURING WHICH HE APOLOGIZED TO FAMILIES OF THE
VICTIMS OF THE REBEL ATTACKS. HE SAID IF ALLOWED TO LIVE HE
WOULD WORK FOR RECONCILIATION BETWEEN TURKS AND KURDS.
MR. OCALAN ALSO SAID HE WOULD CALL FOR AN END TO THE VIOLENCE IF
THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT SHOWED CLEMENCY. DURING A RAMBLING
STATEMENT MONDAY AFTERNOON, THE REBEL LEADER REITERATED HIS
DESIRE TO SOLVE THE KURDISH PROBLEM. OBSERVERS SAY THE DEFENDANT
ADMITTED PARTIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE 30-THOUSAND DEATHS OF
WHICH HE IS ACCUSED. BUT HE SEEMED TO BE GROPING FOR A POLITICAL
SOLUTION WHICH THE IMPASSIVE PANEL -- MADE UP OF ONE MILITARY AND
TWO CIVILIAN JUDGES -- DID NOT SEEM TO ACKNOWLEDGE. IF
CONVICTED, MR. OCALAN FACES A MANDATORY DEATH PENALTY, WHOSE
IMPLEMENTATION CAN ONLY BE ORDERED BY THE TURKISH PARLIAMENT.
THE KURDISH LEADER HAS BEEN IMPRISONED ON THE IMRALI PRISON
ISLAND, SOUTHWEST OF ISTANBUL SINCE HE WAS CAPTURED LAST FEBRUARY
IN KENYA. HIS CAPTURE FOLLOWED A FOUR-MONTH ODYSSEY DURING WHICH
HE SOUGHT POLITICAL ASYLUM FROM A NUMBER OF COUNTRIES. (SIGNED)
NEB/SB/WFR
31-May-99 8:21 PM EDT (0021 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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