DATE=6/1/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250082 (L)
TITLE=TURKEY TRIAL TUESDAY (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=MUDANYA, TURKEY
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: KURDISH LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN WAS QUESTIONED AT LENGTH
BY TURKISH LAWYERS ON TUESDAY ABOUT SUPPORT FOR HIS ORGANIZATION
AND ALLEGATIONS OF MURDER AND DRUG TRAFFICKING. THE QUESTIONING
CAME DURING THE SECOND DAY OF HIS TREASON TRIAL ON THE IMRALI
PRISON ISLAND. CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB REPORTS FROM THE NEARBY
COASTAL TOWN OF MUDANYA.
TEXT: INDEPENDENT OBSERVERS ATTENDING THE TRIAL OF ABDULLAH
OCALAN SAY THE REBEL LEADER WAS QUESTIONED AT LENGTH TUESDAY
ABOUT HIS ORGANIZATION WHICH IS LEGALLY BANNED IN TURKEY, THE
KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY, OR P-K-K.
THEY SAY HE SEEMED MORE IN CONTROL THAN ON THE OPENING DAY OF THE
TRIAL. AND HE PROVIDED NEW INFORMATION, ALTHOUGH THEY SAY HE WAS
VAGUE AT TIMES AND DENIED EVER HAVING ORDERED ANY MURDERS. THE
P-K-K IS ACCUSED OF KILLING 30-THOUSAND PEOPLE DURING ITS 14-YEAR
CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT.
MR. OCALAN ALSO SAID HE NEVER ORDERED THE MURDER OF SWEDISH PRIME
MINISTER OLAF PALME IN 1986, AS HAS BEEN ALLEGED. BUT HE SAID
THE MURDER MAY HAVE BEEN COMMITTED BY FORMER OFFICERS OF HIS
ORGANIZATION.
MR. OCALAN SAID GREECE WAS A MAJOR SUPPORTER AND PROVIDED HEAVY
WEAPONS AND TRAINING CAMPS FOR BOMBERS. HE SAID P-K-K FIGHTERS
ALSO TRAINED IN YUGOSLAVIA AND IN THE CAUCUSES. HE SAID HIS
ORGANIZATION RECEIVED NO OFFICIAL ASSISTANCE IN SYRIA BUT DID NOT
ENCOUNTER ANY OBSTACLES EITHER. HE SAID THE P-K-K HAD A HOSPITAL
IN IRAN THAT WAS KNOWN TO IRANIAN AUTHORITIES, BUT NO MILITARY
CAMPS.
ASKED ABOUT ALLEGATIONS THAT THE P-K-K FUNDS ITS ACTIVITIES
THROUGH DRUG TRAFFICKING, MR. OCALAN SAID HE VIEWS SUCH
TRAFFICKING AS A CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY. HE SAID HE FORBADE IT,
ALTHOUGH HE SAID THE P-K-K MAY HAVE BENEFITED INDIRECTLY FROM THE
GENEROSITY OF DRUG TRAFFICKERS.
/// OPT /// THE KURDISH REBEL LEADER SAID HIS ORGANIZATION'S
INCOME WAS 250-MILLION DOLLARS. HE SAID IT OBTAINED FUNDS BY
OBTAINING WORK PAPERS FOR KURDS IN EUROPE IN EXCHANGE FOR A
PORTION OF THEIR SALARIES.
DEFENSE LAWYERS AT THE TRIAL REPORTEDLY SPOKE VERY LITTLE DURING
TUESDAY'S PROCEEDINGS. HOWEVER, THEY DID COMPLAIN THAT THEY WERE
NOT BEING ALLOWED ENOUGH TIME WITH THEIR CLIENT TO PROPERLY PLAN
HIS DEFENSE. THEY WERE GRANTED MEETING TIME BEFORE AND AFTER EACH
DAY'S PROCEEDINGS./// END OPT ///
ONE OF THE DEFENSE LAWYERS WHO HAS WITHDRAWN FROM THE CASE, AHMED
ZEKI OKCUOGLU, TOLD V-O-A BY TELEPHONE THAT MR. OCALAN IS NOW
MAKING STATEMENTS THAT ARE DIFFERENT FROM WHAT HE SAID BEFORE.
AND HE SAID THE REBEL LEADER SEEMS TO BE UNDER PRESSURE TO SAY
CERTAIN THINGS. ASKED WHAT HE THINKS THE VERDICT WILL BE, MR.
OKCUOGLU SAID HE THINKS HIS FORMER CLIENT WILL BE HANGED UNTIL
DEAD.
/// REST OPT /// MR. OCALAN IS ACCUSED OF TREASON, WHICH
CARRIES A MANDATORY DEATH PENALTY. BUT THAT PENALTY IN TURKEY
MUST BE UPHELD BY PARLIAMENT. (SIGNED)
NEB/SB/PCF
01-Jun-99 3:19 PM EDT (1919 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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