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DATE=6/4/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250248
TITLE=TURKEY / TRIAL (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=ANKARA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THE TRIAL OF KURDISH REBEL LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN HAS 
BEEN ADJOURNED UNTIL TUESDAY (6/8) TO ALLOW PROSECUTION LAWYERS 
TO PREPARE THEIR FINAL ARGUMENTS.  CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB 
REPORTS FROM ANKARA THAT FRIDAY'S SESSION WAS DISRUPTED BY AN 
OUTBURST FROM FAMILIES OF VICTIMS OF THE REBEL ATTACKS.
TEXT:  JUDGES IN THE TRIAL OF ABDULLAH OCALAN WERE OBLIGED TO 
TEMPORARILY CLEAR THE COURT ROOM FRIDAY AFTER VICTIMS PROTESTED A
REQUEST BY DEFENSE LAWYERS TO ALLOW AS CO-PLAINTIFFS FAMILIES OF 
GUERILLAS KILLED IN THE 15-YEAR WAR.
FAMILIES OF VICTIMS OF THE REBEL ATTACKS ARE REPRESENTED IN THE 
CASE, AND SOME OF THEM ARE BEING ALLOWED TO ATTEND THE COURT 
SESSIONS 
ONE MAN REPORTEDLY WAVED AN ARTIFICIAL LIMB IN THE AIR ASKING WHO
WOULD RESTORE HIS LEG.  AND SECURITY FORCES WERE OBLIGED TO 
INTERVENE TO PREVENT  CLASHES BETWEEN THE FAMILY MEMBERS AND THE 
DEFENSE.
DEFENSE LAWYERS RETURNED TO THE COURTROOM FRIDAY AFTER BOYCOTTING
THURSDAY'S SESSION, WHEN THEY WERE THROWN OUT OF THEIR HOTEL.  
JUDGES FOUND THEM ACCOMMODATIONS AT A STATE-OWNED GUEST HOUSE.
THE FIRST WEEK OF THE ABDULLAH OCALAN TRIAL DREW TO A CLOSE WITH 
THE REBEL LEADER AS LIKELY AS EVER TO RECEIVE THE DEATH PENALTY, 
FOR HIS ROLE IN VIOLENCE IN WHICH 30-THOUSAND PEOPLE WERE KILLED.
MR. OCALAN'S TESTIMONY THAT HE DID  NOT  ORDER ANY OF THE 
KILLINGS AND REPEATEDLY SOUGHT PEACE HAS ASTONISHED OBSERVERS 
HERE.
SOME GUERRILLA LEADERS HAVE WELCOMED HIS CALL FOR PEACE WHILE 
OTHERS HAVE REJECTED HIS REMARKS AND CRITICIZED THE DISDAIN WITH 
WHICH HE IS BEING TREATED BY THE TURKISH NEWS MEDIA.
THE PROSECUTION FINISHED CROSS-EXAMINING MR. OCALAN ON FRIDAY AND
WAS ORDERED TO PREPARE ITS FINAL REMARKS.  THE DEFENSE MAY 
REQUEST UP TO 15 DAYS TO PREPARE ITS FINAL REMARKS.  DEFENSE 
LAWYERS SAY THEY WILL ASK FOR MORE TIME BECAUSE THEY HAVE  NOT  
HAD ADEQUATE ACCESS TO THEIR CLIENT. 
COURT PROCEEDINGS HAVE MOVED QUICKLY, AND LEGAL OBSERVERS SAY A 
VERDICT COULD BE RENDERED WITHIN A FEW WEEKS.   (SIGNED)
NEB/SB/PHW/WTW
04-Jun-99 4:55 PM EDT (2055 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.