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DATE=6/18/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250818
TITLE=TURKEY / MILITARY COURT (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=AMBERIN ZAMAN
DATELINE=ANKARA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  A MILITARY JUDGE WILL  NO  LONGER BE AMONG THE PANEL OF 
JUDGES TRYING KURDISH REBEL CHIEF ABDULLAH OCALAN. AMBERIN ZAMAN 
REPORTS FROM ANKARA THAT THE TURKISH PARLIAMENT VOTED 
OVERWHELMINGLY ON FRIDAY TO REMOVE MILITARY JUDGES FROM THE 
SPECIAL STATE SECURITY COURTS WHICH HANDLE "TERROR AND SECURITY" 
CRIMES. 
TEXT: THE TURN OUT WAS HIGH AT FRIDAY'S SESSION AT THE TURKISH 
PARLIAMENT. LAWMAKERS BURST INTO APPLAUSE AS DEPUTY PARLIAMENT 
SPEAKER MURAT SOKMENOGLU ANNOUNCED BALLOT RESULTS. 423 LAWMAKERS 
HAD VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT DISMISSING THE
MILITARY OFFICER FROM THE PANEL OF JUDGES. ONLY 40 OF THOSE 
PRESENT HAD VOTED AGAINST THE REFORM.
THE PRESENCE OF A MILITARY OFFICER IN THE STATE SECURITY COURTS 
HAS LONG BEEN CRITICIZED BY WESTERN LEGAL AND HUMAN RIGHTS 
ORGANIZATIONS. THE EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS RULED LAST YEAR
THAT THE MILITARY PRESENCE PREJUDICED THE IMPARTIALITY OF 
TURKEY'S SECURITY COURTS.
ANALYSTS SAY THE AMENDMENT WAS PUSHED THROUGH BECAUSE OF CONCERN 
THAT THE EUROPEAN COURT WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE THE VERDICT PASSED BY
THE COURT TRYING KURDISH REBEL CHIEF ABDULLAH OCALAN ON TREASON 
CHARGES.
THE LEADER OF THE BANNED KURDISTAN WORKERS' PARTY -- OR P-K-K -- 
IS FACING THE DEATH PENALTY FOR LEADING A 15 YEAR LONG GUERRILLA 
WAR TO ESTABLISH KURDISH SELF RULE IN SOUTHEAST TURKEY. MR 
OCALAN'S TRIAL WILL RESUME NEXT WEEK WHEN THE DEFENSE WILL 
PRESENT ITS CASE.
WESTERN DIPLOMATS HERE SAY FRIDAY'S AMENDMENT IS WHAT THEY TERM 
AN ENCOURAGING SIGN THAT TURKEY'S NEW COALITION GOVERNMENT, LED 
BY LEFTIST PREMIER BULENT ECEVIT, IS SEEKING TO IMPROVE TURKEY'S 
HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD.
BUT HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS SAY THE CHANGE IS MERELY COSMETIC AND 
THAT THE STATE SECURITY COURTS SHOULD BE BANNED ALTOGETHER. 
SCORES OF WRITERS, ACADEMICS AND POLITICIANS HAVE BEEN SENTENCED 
TO JAIL BY THE COURTS FOR EXPRESSING VIEWS DEEMED THREATENING TO 
THE UNITY OF THE TURKISH STATE. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/GE
18-Jun-99 12:01 PM EDT (1601 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.