DATE=6/2/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250110
TITLE=OCALAN TRIAL (L ONLY)
BYLINE=AMBERIN ZAMAN
DATELINE=MUDANYA, TURKEY
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: KURDISH REBELS SAY THEY ENDORSE PEACE CALLS MADE BY THEIR
LEADER, ABDULLAH OCALAN, WHO IS ON TRIAL FOR TREASON ON A SMALL
TURKISH PRISON ISLAND IN THE SEA OF MARMARA. BUT AS AMBERIN
ZAMAN REPORTS FROM MUDANYA, THE REBELS MADE CLEAR THEY WILL NOT
SURRENDER THEIR ARMS UNLESS THE TURKISH GOVERNMENTS AGREES TO
THEIR DEMANDS FOR POLITICAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS.
TEXT: IN A STATEMENT ISSUED IN EUROPE, THE OUTLAWED KURDISTAN
WORKERS PARTY, P-K-K SAID IT FULLY BACKS WHAT IT TERMED THE
HISTORIC EFFORTS OF ITS LEADER. BUT THE REBELS ALSO INDICATED
THEY HAD NO INTENTION OF SURRENDERING UNLESS THE TURKISH
GOVERNMENT TAKES STEPS TOWARDS SOLVING THE KURDISH ISSUE.
ANALYSTS SAY THE REBEL STATEMENT IS INTENDED TO SIGNAL TO THE
TURKISH GOVERNMENT THAT IT IS NO LONGER ACTING UNDER THE ORDERS
OF MR. OCALAN, EVEN THOUGH THE REBELS STILL REFER TO HIM AS THEIR
LEADER, LIKELY OUT OF LOYALTY.
JUST HOURS BEFORE THE P-K-K ISSUED ITS STATEMENT, TWO TURKISH
SOLDIERS WERE KILLED IN A SUICIDE BOMB ATTACK CARRIED OUT BY A
P-K-K REBEL IN THE SOUTHEASTERN TURKISH PROVINCE OF SIRNAK.
MR. OCALAN'S OFFER TO WORK TOGETHER WITH THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT
-- MADE ON THE FIRST DAY OF HIS TREASON TRIAL WHICH BEGAN ON MAY
31ST -- HAS PROVOKED SHARP DIVISIONS AMONG HIS FOLLOWERS.
MR. OCALAN IS FACING THE DEATH PENALTY FOR FOUNDING AND LEADING
THE REBEL GROUP WHICH HAS BEEN FIGHTING FOR KURDISH SELF RULE
SINCE 1984. HE SAID HIS LIFE NEEDS TO BE SPARED SO THAT HE CAN
HELP NEGOTIATE PEACE BETWEEN TURKS AND KURDS. HE WARNED THAT
UNLESS HIS APPEAL IS HEEDED, TURKEY WOULD BE PLUNGED INTO FURTHER
VIOLENCE.
KURDISH SOURCES IN THE MAINLY KURDISH SOUTHEASTERN PROVINCE OF
DIYARBAKIR SAY THEY ARE -- IN THEIR WORDS -- BITTERLY
DISAPPOINTED BY MR. OCALAN'S FAILURE TO SPEAK OF RIGHTS ABUSES
COMMITTED BY TURKISH SECURITY FORCES IN ITS EFFORTS TO SUPPRESS
THE P-K-K REBELLION. MANY SAID HE APPEARED MORE CONCERNED WITH
SAVING HIS OWN LIFE THAN ADVANCING THE RIGHTS OF THE KURDISH
PEOPLE.
OTHERS ARGUE, HOWEVER, THAT MR OCALAN'S STRATEGY IS PINNED ON
HOPES THAT THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT WILL CONSIDER HIS OFFER. BUT
WITH THE P-K-K NO LONGER UNDER HIS EFFECTIVE CONTROL, ANALYSTS
DOUBT THAT HE IS IN A POSITION TO IMPOSE HIS WILL ON THE REBELS.
MR OCALAN HIMSELF APPEARS TO SUGGEST THAT EVEN BEFORE HIS CAPTURE
BY TURKISH FORCES IN KENYA LAST FEBRUARY HE DID NOT HAVE FULL
CONTROL OVER HIS MEN. HE SAID ON THE SECOND DAY OF HIS TRIAL
TUESDAY THAT MANY OF THE ATTACKS CARRIED OUT AGAINST CIVILIANS
AND UNARMED SOLDIERS BY HIS MEN HAD OCCURRED AGAINST HIS WILL.
(SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/JWH
02-Jun-99 9:11 AM EDT (1311 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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