DATE=6/30/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251264
TITLE=TURKEY VERDICT REACT (L/S VER)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=ISTANBUL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
///// USE OPT MATERIAL FOR LONG REPORT. /////
INTRO: IN TURKEY, THE NEWS MEDIA ARE HAILING THE DEATH SENTENCE
HANDED DOWN TUESDAY TO KURDISH REBEL LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN. BUT
AT THE SAME TIME, COMMENTATORS DISAGREE ON WHETHER THE SENTENCE
SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED. CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB REPORTS FROM
ISTANBUL.
TEXT: MASS CIRCULATION NEWSPAPERS USED BANNER HEADLINES
(WEDNESDAY) TO ANNOUNCE THE DEATH SENTENCE AGAINST ABDULLAH
OCALAN.
THE "SABAH" NEWSPAPER SAID -- THE EXECUTIONER IS HANDED OVER TO
THE EXECUTIONER. THE "HURRIYET" DAILY PUBLISHED A PICTURE OF AN
INFANT KILLED IN A REBEL ATTACK AND SAID -- THE CRY OF THE
BABIES.
BUT COMMENTATORS DIFFERED IN THEIR ASSESSMENTS. WHILE SOME
CALLED FOR THE DEATH SENTENCE TO BE CARRIED OUT, OTHERS SAID
TURKEY'S LARGER INTERESTS SHOULD COME FIRST, NOTING THE EXECUTION
OF OCALAN WOULD CREATE MORE VIOLENCE AND WOULD HURT RELATIONS
WITH EUROPE AND THE WEST.
/// REST OPT FOR SHORT CR ///
JOURNALIST ERTUGRUL KURKCU (EHR-TUR-UL KURK-CHU) SAYS THE PROBLEM
IS NOT JUST WHETHER TO EXECUTE OCALAN, BUT WHETHER TO CHANGE
THE WAY THE KURDISH ISSUE HAS BEEN HANDLED FOR THE PAST 20-YEARS.
MR. KURKCU SAYS THE DECISION WILL BE DIFFICULT BECAUSE TURKISH
SOCIETY HAS BEEN POLARIZED BY THE CASE.
/// KURKCU ACT ///
SINCE OCALAN'S CAPTURE AND HIS TRIAL, TURKISH SOCIETY
HAS ETHNICALLY DIVIDED ON POLITICAL LINES. AND KURDS ARE
FOR OCALAN AND TURKS ARE FOR KILLING OCALAN.
/// END ACT. ///
A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MEDIA WATCH GROUP, "REPORTERS WITHOUT
BORDERS," SAYS THE POLARIZATION HAS BEEN AGGRAVATED BY THE
TURKISH NEWS MEDIA. JOURNALIST NADIRE MATER SAYS TURKISH
TELEVISION STATIONS HAVE FOCUSED ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY ON FAMILIES
OF THE SOLDIERS WHO WERE KILLED IN REBEL ATTACKS.
/// MATER ACT ///
THEY ARE JUST [PROVOKING] AND MANIPULATING THE PEOPLE.
AND FOR INSTANCE, YESTERDAY (TUESDAY) -- CONCERNING THE
DEATH PENALTY -- THEY WERE INTERVIEWING THE PEOPLE AND
WHEN YOU WATCHED THE TELEVISION YOU WOULD SEE (THINK)
THAT EVERYBODY IN TURKEY IS ON THE SIDE OF THE DEATH
PENALTY. THAT IS NOT TRUE OF COURSE, JUST LIKE OTHER
PLACES IN THE WORLD.
/// END ACT ///
/// OPT /// MR. KURKCU SAYS MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE TRIAL WILL
MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT TO SPARE
OCALAN'S LIFE AND PURSUE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS.
/// SECOND KURKCU ACT ///
THERE ARE REASONABLE VOICES, BUT THEY ARE STILL VERY
LOW. AND WE ARE WITNESSING AN UGLY NATIONALISTIC
EUPHORIA, WHICH I BELIEVE TURKEY HAS NOT DESERVED.
/// END ACT. // END OPT.///
POLITICAL LEADERS IN TURKEY HAVE REACTED CAUTIOUSLY, SAYING
JUSTICE MUST PURSUE ITS COURSE. OBSERVERS SAY THAT BECAUSE OF
THE CURRENT MOOD, THE TURKISH PARLIAMENT -- WHICH ULTIMATELY MUST
UPHOLD THE DEATH SENTENCE -- WOULD LIKELY VOTE FOR EXECUTION.
BUT THEY SAY TURKEY HAS SIGNED A MORATORIUM ON EXECUTIONS WITH
THE EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS, THIS MUST BE OVERTURNED IN
ORDER FOR OCALAN'S SENTENCE TO BE CARRIED OUT. (SIGNED)
NEB/SB/PCF/RAE
30-Jun-99 9:09 AM EDT (1309 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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