DATE=6/21/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250918
TITLE=TURKEY CLASHES (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=ISTANBUL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: TURKISH FORCES HAVE REPORTEDLY KILLED SEVEN KURDISH
REBELS IN SOUTHEASTERN TURKEY, WHILE SUSPECTED KURDISH REBELS
HAVE ATTACKED THE HOME OF A LOCAL OFFICIAL IN THE REGION. V-O-A
CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB REPORTS FROM ISTANBUL THAT CLASHES
BETWEEN THE REBELS AND SECURITY FORCES HAVE INTENSIFIED DURING
THE TREASON TRIAL OF KURDISH REBEL LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN. THE
TRIAL IS SCHEDULED TO RESUME ON WEDNESDAY.
TEXT: AUTHORITIES IN THE SOUTHEASTERN CITY OF DIYARBAKIR MONDAY
SAY THE CLASHES BETWEEN SECURITY FORCES AND KURDISH REBELS TOOK
PLACE DURING THE WEEKEND IN THE PROVINCES OF MUS, SIRNAK AND
MARDIN. THEY DID NOT SAY WHETHER THERE WERE ANY GOVERNMENT
CASUALTIES.
AT THE SAME TIME, GUNMEN BELIEVED TO BE KURDISH REBELS ATTACKED
THE RESIDENCE OF THE LOCAL GOVERNOR IN KIZILTEPE, NEAR TURKEY'S
BORDER WITH SYRIA. THE ATTACKERS REPORTEDLY FIRED REPEATEDLY AT
THE OFFICIAL'S HOME BEFORE FLEEING. EIGHT POLICEMEN WERE WOUNDED,
TWO OF THEM SERIOUSLY.
CLASHES HAVE INTENSIFIED BETWEEN REBELS AND SECURITY FORCES IN
SOUTHEASTERN TURKEY, SINCE THE TRIAL BEGAN THREE WEEKS AGO OF THE
LEADER OF THE P-K-K KURDISH REBEL GROUP, ABDULLAH OCALAN. THE
TRIAL IS DUE TO RESUME ON WEDNESDAY AFTER A TWO-WEEK RECESS, AND
THE DEFENSE IS TO PRESENT ITS FINAL ARGUMENTS.
// OPT // THE TRIAL IS BEING CONDUCTED BY A SPECIAL SECURITY
COURT OF THREE JUDGES, ONE OF WHOM HAS BEEN A MEMBER OF THE
MILITARY. HOWEVER, THE SPECIAL COURTS HAVE BEEN CRITICIZED BY
INTERNATIONAL LEGAL GROUPS. THE TURKISH PARLIAMENT LAST FRIDAY
AMENDED THE CONSTITUTION TO REMOVE THE MILITARY JUDGE. HE IS DUE
TO BE REPLACED BY A CIVILIAN SUBSTITUTE, WHO HAS BEEN ATTENDING
THE COURT SESSIONS ON THE PRISON ISLAND OF IMRALI OFF THE TURKISH
COAST. // OPT //
MR. OCALAN HAS ADMITTED OVERALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE P-K-K'S
ACTIVITIES, BUT SAYS HE DID NOT ORDER ANY OF THE 30-THOUSAND
KILLINGS COMMITTED BY THE GUERRILLAS IN THEIR 15-YEAR WAR.
IF CONVICTED, MR. OCALAN FACES THE DEATH PENALTY. TURKEY HAS NOT
ADMINISTERED THE DEATH PENALTY SINCE 1984.
MR. OCALAN HAS SOUGHT TO MOVE THE TRIAL TO THE POLITICAL LEVEL,
SAYING IF HIS LIFE IS SPARED, HE WILL WORK FOR AN END TO THE
VIOLENCE. THE REBELS SAY IF MR. OCALAN IS EXECUTED, THEY WILL
INTENSIFY THEIR STRUGGLE.
///REST OPT.///
THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT BELIEVES IT IS WINNING THE WAR AGAINST THE
REBELS. IT BELIEVES THE CAPTURE OF MR. OCALAN LAST FEBRUARY, IN A
COVERT OPERATION IN KENYA, AND OF HIS SECOND-IN-COMMAND THE YEAR
BEFORE, HAS WEAKENED THE P-K-K.
THE MILLIYET DAILY NEWSPAPER MONDAY REPORTED THAT TURKISH
AUTHORITIES HAVE CONSTRUCTED MORE CELLS ON IMRALI ISLAND IN
ANTICIPATION OF ANOTHER COVERT OPERATION AIMED AT CAPTURING OTHER
KURDISH LEADERS.
THE REBELS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS HAVE OFFERED TO NEGOTIATE AN END
TO THE VIOLENCE. THEY SAY, HOWEVER, THEY CAN CONTINUE THE
STRUGGLE INDEFINITELY IF NECESSARY, AND ANY EXECUTION OF MR.
OCALAN WILL ONLY STRENGTHEN THEIR MOVEMENT. (SIGNED)
NEB/SB/GE/RRM
21-Jun-99 10:31 AM EDT (1431 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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