DATE=1/4/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=TURKEY / KURDS (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-257762
BYLINE=AMBERIN ZAMAN
DATELINE=AMKARA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Turkish prosecutors ruled today/Tuesday that
the country's Foreign Minister, Ismail Cem, did not
violate the law when he called last month for easing
current bans on Kurdish language broadcasts. From
Ankara, Amberin Zaman has the details.
TEXT: The news was widely welcomed by Western
diplomats and Kurdish activists here, who say the
ruling is an encouraging sign that what they call
unfettered debate of the Kurdish issue is finally
being officially tolerated. They say this will likely
boost Turkey's chances of joining the European Union
(E-U.
One of the conditions for Turkey's possible E-U
membership is that it respond to the Kurds' demands
that they be permitted to broadcast and educate freely
in their own language.
Hopes that Turkey would respond to those calls rose
when Foreign Minister Cem told a private Turkish news
channel that - as he put it - everyone should be
permitted to broadcast in their mother tongue.
Mr. Cem clearly went too far for some people. A
private citizen, Abdul Geylani Aksumer, petitioned an
Ankara state security court for the foreign minister
to be tried for breaching article eight of the anti-
terror law prohibiting separatist propaganda. ///OPT
/// Had he been tried and convicted Mr. Cem could have
been sentenced for up to three years in jail. /// END
OPT ///
Turkish remains the official tongue under Turkish law.
But some Kurdish language music cassettes and radio
broadcasts are tolerated so long as their content is
strictly non-political. The prevailing tendency among
Turkish policy makers, and the military in particular,
is to maintain the status quo. Many fear that once the
Kurds are granted cultural rights they will press for
even further rights such as autonomy.
The quest for those rights is at the heart of a 15
year armed campaign by rebels of the outlawed
Kurdistan Workers' Party, known as the P-K-K.
/// REST OPT ///
Initially, the guerrillas were seeking independence.
But they later downgraded their demands to Kurdish
autonomy. Today, their captured leader, Abdullah
Ocalan, says granting the Kurds cultural rights will
be enough to satisfy their demands and says he is
ready to make peace with the Turkish State. From his
island prison he has ordered his fighters to halt
their attacks and to withdraw from Turkish territory.
So far, they have obeyed.
Analysts say that if the Turkish State maintains a
hard line stance against the Kurds not only will it
destroy virtually all chances of joining the European
Union, it will also extinguish hopes of achieving a
lasting peace with its Kurdish population. (Signed)
NEB/AZ/GE/JO
04-Jan-2000 10:48 AM EDT (04-Jan-2000 1548 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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