DATE=7/2/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251347
TITLE=TURKEY / OCALAN (L ONLY)
BYLINE=AMBERIN ZAMAN
DATELINE=ANKARA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THERE IS MOUNTING DEBATE IN TURKEY ABOUT WHETHER TO CARRY
OUT THE DEATH SENTENCE HANDED TO KURDISH REBEL CHIEF ABDULLAH
OCALAN FOR COMMITTING TREASON. AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM
ANKARA.
TEXT: NEWS OF OCALAN'S CONVICTION ON TREASON CHARGES TUESDAY WAS
CELEBRATED IN MOST OF THE COUNTRY. THE FAMILIES OF TURKISH
SOLDIERS SLAIN IN THE 15-YEAR CONFLICT BETWEEN OCALAN'S KURDISTAN
WORKERS' PARTY (P-K-K) AND THE TURKISH ARMY WHOOPED FOR JOY,
BELLY DANCED AND SANG NATIONALIST SONGS. EFFIGIES OF THE P-K-K
LEADER WERE BURNED.
BUT AS THE INITIAL EUPHORIA TRIGGERED BY OCALAN'S CONVICTION
BEGINS TO DIE DOWN, A GROWING NUMBER OF INFLUENTIAL COMMENTATORS
ARE WEIGHING THE MERITS OF HANGING THE MAN TURKEY BLAMES FOR THE
DEATHS OF 30-THOUSAND OF ITS CITIZENS.
IN A THREE-PAGE REPORT LEAKED TO THE TURKISH MEDIA FRIDAY THE
TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY CONCLUDED THAT THE DISADVANTAGES OF
EXECUTING OCALAN FAR OUTWEIGHS THE ADVANTAGES. OCALAN'S ARGUMENT
IN COURT THAT HIS DEMISE WOULD NOT SOLVE TURKEY'S KURDISH
PROBLEM MAY HAVE STRUCK HOME.
EVEN HARDLINERS ACKNOWLEDGE THAT OCALAN'S OFFER TO ORDER HIS MEN
DOWN FROM THE MOUNTAINS SHOULD HIS LIFE BE SPARED IS WORTH
TESTING. TURKEY'S LEFTIST PRIME MINISTER BULENT ECEVIT IS
ALREADY WORKING ON DRAFT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD GRANT EITHER FULL
OR PARTIAL AMNESTY TO P-K-K REBELS IF THEY LAY DOWN THEIR ARMS.
BUT MR. ECEVIT IS ENCOUNTERING STIFF OPPOSITION FROM HIS ULTRA
NATIONALIST COALITION PARTNER, THE NATIONAL ACTION PARTY. OR
M-H-P. THE M-H-P GAINED A SURPRISE SECOND PLACE IN NATIONWIDE
PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS HELD LAST APRIL. ONE OF ITS CAMPAIGN
SLOGANS WAS "HANG OCALAN."
COMMENTATORS SAY THE MOST DIFFICULT TASK FACING THOSE IN FAVOR OF
COMMUTING OCALAN'S DEATH SENTENCE IS TO BRING THE M-H-P ON BOARD.
THE NATIONALISTS HAVE ALREADY BACKED DOWN ON ONE OF THEIR KEY
PLEDGES SINCE JOINING THE GOVERNMENT. THAT WAS TO EASE
RESTRICTIONS ON THE ISLAMIC HEADSCARF IN STATE UNIVERSITIES.
INSTEAD THE GOVERNMENT IS PRESSING AHEAD WITH NEW LEGISLATION
THAT WOULD FURTHER RESTRICT ANY MANIFESTATION OF PIETY DEEMED TO
BE POLITICAL IN NATURE.
ANALYSTS SAY MOUNTING PRESSURE ON TURKEY FROM EUROPEAN
GOVERNMENTS NOT TO EXECUTE OCALAN WILL MAKE IT EVEN HARDER TO
SELL THE IDEA OF SPARING HIS LIFE TO THE TURKISH PUBLIC, BECAUSE
TURKEY WOULD THEN BE PERCEIVED TO BE ACTING UNDER EXTERNAL
PRESSURE. MR ECEVIT ON THURSDAY DESCRIBED EUROPEAN CALLS FOR
CLEMENCY AS UNACCEPTABLE INTERFERENCE IN TURKEY'S DOMESTIC
AFFAIRS. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/JWH
02-Jul-99 6:01 AM EDT (1001 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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