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DATE=6/8/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250375
TITLE=TURKEY OCALAN (L-ONLY)  CQ
BYLINE=AMBERIN ZAMAN
DATELINE=ANKARA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  IN THEIR CLOSING ARGUMENTS MADE TUESDAY, TURKISH 
PROSECUTORS DEMANDED CAPITAL PUNISHMENT FOR KURDISH REBEL LEADER 
ABDULLAH OCALAN, WHO IS STANDING TRIAL ON CHARGES OF TREASON.  AS
AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA, THE COURT THEN ADJOURNED FOR 
15 DAYS TO PERMIT MR. OCALAN'S LAWYERS TO PREPARE THEIR FINAL 
DEFENSE ARGUMENTS.
TEXT:  JUST AS THE PROSECUTORS WERE DEMANDING THE DEATH SENTENCE 
FOR THE LEADER OF THE OUTLAWED KURDISTAN WORKERS' PARTY, OR 
P-K-K, HIS FOLLOWERS RENEWED WARNINGS THAT TURKEY WOULD BE 
PLUNGED INTO FURTHER VIOLENCE, IF MR. OCALAN WERE EXECUTED UPON 
CONVICTION.
UNDER TURKISH LAW, MR. OCALAN'S LAWYERS CAN APPEAL THE DEATH 
SENTENCE TO A HIGHER COURT.  BUT THE TURKISH PARLIAMENT HAS FINAL
SAY ON WHETHER OR NOT TO EXECUTE MR. OCALAN. THERE HAVE BEEN  NO 
EXECUTIONS IN TURKEY SINCE 1984 -- A POLICY TURKEY ADOPTED AS 
PART OF ITS EFFORTS TO WIN MEMBERSHIP IN THE EUROPEAN UNION.
THROUGHOUT TRIAL PROCEEDINGS LAST WEEK, THE P-K-K LEADER SAID HE 
COULD ORDER HIS MEN DOWN FROM THE MOUNTAINS AND END THEIR 15 YEAR
LONG ARMED CAMPAIGN FOR SELF RULE IN TURKEY'S LARGELY KURDISH 
SOUTHEAST PROVINCES -- IF HIS LIFE WERE SPARED.
BUT IN BLAMING WHAT HE TERMED "ENEMIES TO HIS LEADERSHIP" WITHIN 
THE P-K-K FOR NUMEROUS ATTACKS LAUNCHED BY THE REBELS AGAINST 
UNARMED CIVILIANS, ANALYSTS SAY MR. OCALAN HAS WEAKENED HIS OWN 
CLAIMS THAT HE HAS FULL CONTROL OVER THE MOVEMENT HE FOUNDED OVER
20 YEARS AGO.
THE TURKISH ARMED FORCES ON MONDAY REJECTED THE P-K-K LEADERS' 
CALL FOR A NEGOTIATED SOLUTION TO THE KURDISH PROBLEM, SAYING 
THEY WOULD NOT TALK WITH SOMEONE THEY CALL "A TERRORIST."
MANY KURDS SAY THEY FEEL FRUSTRATED AND HUMILIATED BY THE P-K-K 
LEADER'S DESCRIPTION OF THE INSURGENCY AS "A MISTAKE," AND HIS 
CLAIMS THAT LIFE FOR KURDS HAD IMPROVED SINCE THE EARLY 1990S.   
HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS SAY THAT IS WHEN ABUSES COMMITTED BY TURKISH 
SECURITY FORCES PEAKED IN THEIR EFFORTS TO CONTAIN THE KURDISH 
INSURGENCY.
OTHER KURDS CLAIM THAT THE P-K-K LEADER HAS BEEN, AS THEY PUT IT,
"BRAINWASHED" DURING HIS FOUR MONTHS SPENT IN CAPTIVITY.  HE WAS 
ARRESTED IN KENYA BY TURKISH SPECIAL AGENTS IN FEBRUARY. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/PCF
08-Jun-99 12:08 PM EDT (1608 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.