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DATE=6/3/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250182
TITLE=TURKEY / HUMAN RIGHTS (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=ANKARA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  IN TURKEY, LEADING HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST AKIN BIRDAL  
(AH-KEEN BEER-DAHL)  HAS GONE TO PRISON FOR SPEECHES IN WHICH HE 
MENTIONED THE KURDISH REBELLION IN SOUTHEAST TURKEY.  V-O-A 
CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB IN ANKARA REPORTS MR. BIRDAL HAD 
APPEALED FOR A DELAY OF THE SENTENCE BUT THAT REQUEST WAS TURNED 
DOWN AT THE LAST MINUTE.
TEXT:  THE PRESIDENT OF TURKEY'S HUMAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATION, AKIN 
BIRDAL, THURSDAY BEGAN SERVING A TWO-YEAR PRISON SENTENCE FOR 
URGING A PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO THE 14-YEAR KURDISH REBELLION. 
BEFORE SURRENDERING, MR. BIRDAL TOLD V-O-A THERE ARE MORE THAN 
150 ARTICLES IN TURKISH LAW WHICH RESTRICT FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND 
HE JOINS 148 OTHERS, WRITERS AND INTELLECTUALS, CURRENTLY IN 
PRISON FOR THEIR REMARKS.
         ///  BIRDAL ACT - IN TURKISH - FADE UNDER  ///
MR. BIRDAL SAID HE IS SAD BECAUSE ON THE EVE OF A NEW CENTURY, 
HIS COUNTRY IS STILL IMPRISONING PEOPLE BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY SAY.
THE HUMAN RIGHTS LEADER THEN ADDRESSED A RALLY OF SEVERAL HUNDRED
SUPPORTERS IN DOWNTOWN ANKARA.
  ///  SOUND OF RALLY - CHANTING AND CLAPPING - FADE UNDER  ///
MR. BIRDAL CALLED IT A DARK DAY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN TURKEY, BUT 
SAID PERHAPS HE WILL BE FREER INSIDE PRISON THAN OUTSIDE.  DOZENS
OF SECURITY OFFICIALS WERE ALSO AT THE RALLY BUT DID  NOT 
INTERFERE.
AFTER THE RALLY, MR. BIRDAL REPORTED TO PRISON OFFICIALS.
AUTHORITIES AT THE LAST MINUTE REJECTED AN APPEAL TO POSTPONE MR.
BIRDAL'S SENTENCE ON MEDICAL GROUNDS.  MR. BIRDAL WAS NEARLY 
KILLED ONE YEAR AGO IN AN ATTACK BY NATIONALIST GUNMEN.  NINE MEN
HAVE SINCE BEEN ARRESTED.  HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS SAY TWO OF THEM 
BELONG TO TURKISH SECURITY FORCES AND THE OTHERS TO A NATIONALIST
PARAMILITARY GROUP CALLED THE GREY WOLVES.
MR. BIRDAL IS STILL PARALYZED IN HIS RIGHT HAND AND REQUIRES 
PHYSICAL THERAPY. THE PROSECUTOR SAID, HOWEVER, THE MEDICAL 
GROUNDS WERE INSUFFICIENT.
MR. BIRDAL FACES ADDITIONAL TIME IN PRISON IF CONVICTED ON A 
SCORE OF SIMILIAR CHARGES WHICH ARE STILL PENDING IN COURT. 
HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD HAVE CALLED ON THE 
TURKISH GOVERNMENT TO FREE INDIVIDUALS IMPRISONED FOR THEIR 
REMARKS AND TO REPEAL THE ARTICLES RESTRICTING FREEDOM OF 
EXPRESSION.  (SIGNED)
NEB/SB/JWH
03-Jun-99 11:39 AM EDT (1539 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.