31.05.1999

OCALAN SAYS GOT FOREIGN BACKING FOR KURD REBELLION

IMRALI ISLAND, Turkey, May 31 (Reuters)- Abdullah Ocalan, at the opening of his treason trial on Monday,

said Russia, Germany, Italy, Syria and Greece had all shown tolerance towards his rebel group to varying degrees.

"Just like Greece, in a similar way, Russia, Italy and Germany did not impede the PKK's (The Kurdistan
Workers Party) activities," Ocalan told a court on the Turkish prison island where he is held.

Turkish authorities have long complained that Ocalan's PKK guerrilla group received foreign support,
particularly from Greece and Syria.

Turkey's stern warnings of confrontation late last year forced Syria to expel the rebel leader from a
luxury apartment in Damascus, from where he is believed to have spearheaded the PKK's 14-year armed
campaign for self-rule in southeast Turkey.

"Syria never officially recognised the PKK, but they allowed our activities," he said. Turkey has also
asked Syria to shut down the PKK camps in the Bekaa Vally.

Already tense ties between NATO allies Greece and Turkey further soured in February when it emerged
that Athens had harboured Ocalan at its embassy in Kenya.

Ocalan was later handed over to Turkish special forces and brought to the remote island jail where his
trial is being held. Involvement of Greek officials in Ocalan's hiding has rocked the Greek government
and led to a number of resignations.

Ocalan told the court that Greece had tricked him and played a part in turning him over to Turkish
special forces in Kenya.

"Greece provided us with financial support in various ways. Greek generals visited us in Bekaa (in
Lebanon) but the same generals helped in my capture."

The guerrilla leader did not specify how Russia, Italy and Germany had helped him. But he spent some
time in Russia after leaving Syria. Italy had refused to extradite him to Turkey and Germany declined
to act on an arrest warrant earlier issued for him.

01.06.1999

OCALAN APOLOGIZES

The head of the PKK terrorist organization, Abdullah Ocalan, apologized for PKK violence that claimed
the lives of over 30,000 people and declared himself ready to cooperate with the Turkish State for peace
at the opening of his trial on charges of treason. "For peace and brotherhood at the axis of a democratic
republic, I am ready to serve the Turkish State, and I believe that for this end I must remain alive", Ocalan
told the Ankara State Security Court (DGM) No.2 that is convening on the Imrali Island. Large segments of
Ocalan's trial were broadcast with the approval of the court on the state-owned Turkish Radio and
Television Corporation (TRT). Sitting in a bulletproof and bombproof glass cage, Ocalan told the court
that he had not been subject to torture or maltreatment. Ocalan also stressed that he was neither insulted
nor sworn at during his detention period. Besides the families of the victims of PKK terrorism, several
members of Ocalan's family were also present at the hearing. Ocalan accused Greece, Italy and Russia
of not respecting international law. Ocalan was captured in Kenya and brought to Turkey after he had tried
for months to find a country willing to grant him asylum. The military member of the three-judge panel of the
DGM has been a constant source of criticism in Europe. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit has promised to
propose reform to remove the military officer from such panels. But such reform would require a
Constitutional amendment process. Presiding Judge M.Turgut Okyay said that the trial of Ocalan would
continue uninterruptedly and that even if there were a draft in Parliament for a change in the structure of
the State Security Courts (DGMs), the existence of such a draft could not be considered a viable reason
for adjournment. If Parliament amends the Constitution and the structure of the DGMs can be reformed,
the military judge could withdraw from the case, officials have said. The judge's likely replacement, a
civilian, is already on the Island. Authorities have imposed strict security measures around the courtroom.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Chairman of the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly, Walter Schwimmer,
said that a change in the structure of the DGMs would be a satisfactory and positive step for Europe.
Schwimmer added: "If a death penalty occurs according to the Turkish Criminal Code following a fair
process in line with the European Human Rights Agreement, no one could blame Turkey. However, if
Turkey, which has not been implementing the death penalty for 15 years, implements this penalty on this
trial, then this will be a political decision which will keep Turkey at a distance from Europe"/Hurriyet, Milliyet

FOREIGN DIPLOMATS APPRECIATE THE HISTORIC TRIAL

Representatives of foreign missions in Turkey who watched the trial of Abdullah Ocalan, the chief of the
terrorist PKK organization, stated that they found the trial perfectly disciplined and well-organized.
Benjamin Jonathan, the Head of the Political Department of the British Embassy, said that he found the
trial quite well-organized and added that he did not expect Ocalan to start his defence in the afternoon. On
the other hand, Eric Walsh, the Third Secretary of the Canadian Embassy, said they observed that Ocalan
was quite healthy. /Turkiye/

OCALAN TRIAL COVERED BY FOREIGN MEDIA

One of the most effective newspapers in world, "The New York Times", stressed yesterday that Abdullah
Ocalan would be punished by death penalty same as his aide, Semdin Sakik. The article by Stephen
Kinzer added that if the trial was in line with international standards, the world would understand why he
would have been found guilty. Meanwhile, during its live broadcasts CNN Television stressed that Ocalan
had not been tortured during his detention and evaluated Ocalan as a "rebel against Turkey for the last 15
years". Italian "Il Giornale" said, "What terrorist Abdullah Ocalan did in the past are not forgotten. He will
give an account of them at the court." German "Express" newspaper quoted former Undersecretary of
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Werner Hoyer, saying: "A trial conducted in line with international law will be a
chance for Turkey." One of the German world-famous magazines, "Der Spiegel", issued yesterday
reported Turkish nation was certain that Ocalan was a criminal. It also added that Semdin Sakik, the
second man of the terrorist organization, accused Ocalan as a killer. British "Independent" newspaper
used the title, "The last nail was drived on the coffin of Ocalan", adding that the PKK suffered a great blow
with Ocalan's capture. "The Guardian" claimed that Ocalan, who had threatened Turkey's unity for the last
15 years, deserved to be tried. French radio station, "France Info", aired news about Ocalan trial for every
half hour saying that violent activities launched by the PKK had caused great reaction among Turkish
nation. "Le Figaro" newspaper gave the trial from the cover. Greek television and radio stations
announced the trial on live, claiming that the trial would not be in line with European standards. /Sabah/

PKK LEADER CONFESSES PKK SUPPORTERS

ANKARA (June 1) XINHUA - Abdullah Ocalan, leader of Turkey's outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK),
Tuesday confessed at his trial that many Middle East and European countries and clandestine groups
had collaborated with his group.

Turkey's Ankara Security Court No. 2 on Monday started the trial of Ocalan on charges of treason on the
Imrali Island near Turkey's western province of Bursa.

Answering questions by the presiding judge of the trial, Ocalan listed Syria, Greece, Cyprus, Iran, Iraq,
Yugoslavia, Armenia, Britain, Greek Orthodox Church and clandestine extreme-left Turkish groups as
some of the collaborators of the PKK, the semi-official Anatolia News Agency reported Tuesday.

Ocalan said that PKK members who received training in Greece were often airlifted to southeastern
Turkey or northern Iraq through Syria, Lebanon or Iran.

He added that Iraq in particular had provided intelligence to the gang about Turkish military operations
in northern Iraq. Additionally, he claimed that northern Iraq had become a free arms "bazaar" after the
Gulf War in 1991, and the PKK had bought some weapons there.

Meanwhile, Ocalan denied that his group was responsible for the 1986 assassination of Swedish Prime
Minister Olof Palme, but said that some rebels who had broken away from his group may have had a
hand in the slaying.

Palme was shot dead in a Stockholm street as he and his wife walked home from a movie theater.

The PKK, led by Ocalan, has been fighting a 15-year-long war for an independent Kurdish state in
southeastern Turkey, which has claimed over 37,000 lives since August 1984.

02.06.1999

OCALAN CONFESSES

The head of the PKK terrorist organization, Abdullah Ocalan, confessed yesterday at his trial on Imrali
Island that many Middle Eastern and European countries and clandestine groups collaborated with the
PKK. Answering questions of the presiding judge of the trial, Ocalan listed Syria, Greece, Southern
Cyprus, Iran, Iraq, Yugoslavia, Armenia, Britain, Greek Orthodox Church, clandestine extreme-left Turkish
groups and the ASALA as some of the collaborators of the PKK. He said Yugoslavia has provided
camps for training of PKK members, and the PKK had commercial relations with Greece. He remarked
that particularly after 1990, Greece started providing all kinds of support for the PKK including an array of
'terrorist training' in Greece. He pointed out that PKK members who received training in Greece came to
southeastern Turkey or northern Iraq through Syria, Lebanon or Iran. Ocalan said until he left Syria, he had
never gone to Greece. In Iran, he said, the PKK did not have any training camps, but had a hospital. He
stressed that Iranian officials were informed of the hospital's operations. He also complained that Iran was
not always cooperative with the PKK, and many of the weapons sent to the PKK through Iran were
confiscated by that country. Ocalan said that Iraq in particular had provided intelligence to the PKK about
Turkish military operations in northern Iraq. Additionally, he claimed that northern Iraq had become a
free-arms 'bazaar' after the Gulf War, and the PKK had bought some of its weapons from there. Refuting
charges that the PKK had training camps in Southern Cyprus, Ocalan stated that the Greek Orthodox
Church was providing financial assistance to the PKK, but at the official level, contacts with the
Greek-Cypriot Administration were 'very weak'. He said the Greek Cypriot passport he was carrying when
he was captured by Turkish intelligence units and security teams was obtained by the PKK's Athens
representative, Fethi Demir, from Southern Cyprus. /Hurriyet, Milliyet, Sabah

ECEVIT: "EVERYBODY SHOULD TAKE LESSONS FROM OCALAN'S SITUATION"

Remarking that those who intend to destroy the unity and solidarity of Turkey and to prevent her rapid
development and growth via terrorist actions will be unable to succeed in their goals, Prime Minister
Ecevit said, implying Ocalan, "Everybody should take lessons from the currently poor situation of those
who eventually understood that they cannot cope with a strong state like Turkey and who were condemned
to face with the plain reality in the end." Likewise, Ismail Cem, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who
addressed a speech during the ceremony held in Ankara as part of the `Foreign Ministry Martyrs'
Memorial Day', pointed out that the struggle against terrorism has been carried out in line with
international agreements and it falls within the scope of responsibility of each country. Cem added,
"Terrorism has been cursed in all over the world. Those who still continue to engage in such actions are
indeed displaying their ugly faces." President Suleyman Demirel noted that Turkish diplomats have
become the target of Turkey's enemies while at the same time gaining the respect of friendly countries.
The President also said that Turkey will be the insurance of peace and stability in her region and the
officials of the Minister of Foreign Affairs are continuing their efforts in line with this consciousness. State
Minister Sadi Somuncuoglu said that only the requirements of justice will be fulfilled during the trial
process of Abdullah Ocalan, the chief of the terrorist organization. Answering the questions of journalists
prior to the Nationalist Action Party (MHP) Parliamentary Group meeting, Somuncuoglu said, "After 15
years, the terrorist chief has been surrendered to the Turkish justice in the end. Now, only the
requirements of justice will be fulfilled." As regards the peace message of Ocalan, Somuncuoglu said,
"Naturally, he will try every means to save himself." Meanwhile, Recai Kutan, the leader of the Virtue Party
(FP), argued that the media organizations are exaggerating the Ocalan trial and the real agenda of the
people is tried to be undermined. Remarking that the case is very important for Turkey but other important
problems should not be ignored as well, Kutan said, "It is wrong to overconcentrate on this trial as if one
tries to suppress other problems." /Cumhuriyet/

POSITIVE APPROACH TOWARDS OCALAN COURT

The Chairman of the Legal Affairs Commission of the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly,
Finnish MP Gunnar Jansson, described both the court and the judge as "independent". He stressed that
the trial was in line with the 'European standards". He implied that if Ocalan was sentenced to death
penalty, they would not interfere in the decision. However, he added, if Turkey annuls death penalty,
Europe will welcome this. /Hurriyet/

OCALAN CHARGES BRITAIN

In the third day of his trial, Abdullah Ocalan brought heavy charges against Britain. Ocalan said, "Britain
broadcasts against me. I believe that they have strong manipulative tendencies and are pursuing a
deliberate Kurdish policy in this way. Britain wants the Kurds to remain a problem for Turkey; I have
developed my own attitude against this." /Hurriyet/

PALESTINE DENIES SUPPORT TO PKK

Fuat Yasin, the Palestinian Ambassador to Ankara, has denied Ocalan's argument that PKK militants had
been trained in camps belonging to the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and said, "The PLO
has never supported the PKK". Remarking that they had no ties with either the PKK or Abdullah Ocalan,
Yasin said that certain groups excluded from the PLO might have supported the PKK. /Milliyet/

OCALAN JUDGE WEEPS AT YOUNG WIDOW'S TESTIMONY

IMRALI ISLAND, Turkey, June 3, (Reuters) - A Turkish judge wept Wednesday at the
testimony of a young widow at the treason trial of Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah
Ocalan, who answered her words with a bow.

Nurse Yildiz Namdar, fighting back her own tears, told the court how Ocalan's rebels
had identified her husband as a soldier at a false military checkpoint in eastern
Turkey.

Further down the road, they again stopped the packed car, dragged her husband out
into the dark night and shot him dead.

"Are human rights only for the rebels and not for these slain martyrs?" Namdar
asked Ocalan through the bullet-proof glass screen that surrounds him at this
high-security trial.

"What did we do to you? What did we do to you to deserve this?"

Many in the rows of bereaved relatives, journalists, lawyers and foreign diplomats
watching the trial wept with her.

Chief Judge Turgut Okyay, a tall, gray-haired patrician figure, removed his
spectacles and wiped his eyes clear with a handkerchief.

An agitated and baffled-looking Ocalan listened attentively.

He rose slowly to his feet and bowed toward Namdar.

"I share your pain," he said, repeating the phrase as he returned to his seat.

But relatives of "martyrs," whose testimony the court has heard for two days,
rejected Ocalan's sympathy.

"Execute him," they shouted, rising to their feet from their places in the audience.

Ocalan faces a possible death penalty for allegedly orchestrating 14 years of an
armed campaign for Kurdish self-rule in which more than 29,000 rebels, soldiers
and civilians have died.

04/06/1999

EU REPORTER: "OCALAN CONTRADICTS HIMSELF"

Andreas Barsony, the EU's Reporter for Turkey, said that Abdullah Ocalan while making calls for peace is
contradicting himself and he seems to have lost his control over the organization. Watching the fourth day
of the Ocalan trial, Barsony answered the questions of a group of journalists. Barsony said that Ocalan
seems healthy and it is apparent that he is being held in comfortable conditions. Answering a question
concerning Ocalan's wish for peace, Barsony said, "They have made calls for peace before as well. He
contradicts himself; he says `I can ensure the surrender of those PKK militants in the mountains and
thereby stop terrorism', but when questions about the actions of the PKK, he says `I do not know". It
seems he has lost his control over the PKK. You cannot trust Ocalan." Barsony also added that the trial
process is just. Meanwhile, responding to an American journalist's claims that there are considerable
restrictions on the prtess in Turkey, Barsony answered, "I was told that Kurdish newspapers were banned.
However, I bought a Kurdish newsapaper in Diyarbakir. There was an interview with Ocalan in it.
Notwithstanding, I was not subject to any kind of maltreatment." /Milliyet/Hurriyet/

PKK OFFENDED BY OCALAN

The terrorist PKK organization has been shocked by the statements of Abdullah Ocalan. PKK terrorists,
particularly those who are still in prison, refuse to listen to TV or radio bulletins so as not to hear any news
concerning Ocalan's statements. Other groups who are still in the mountains talk to each other through
radio-communications asking, "Have we suffered a miserable life for years for nothing?" Terrorists are
realizing that they have been dying for nothing and chasing for a dream which could never be achieved.
Meanwhile, most of the terrorists in prison have declared stated their loyalty to the State and some still in
the mountains have yielded to the State. /Aksam/

PKK CAMPS IN THE NETHERLANDS

It has been proved that the PKK has training camps in the Netherlands. According to the Dutch
Intelligence Service (BVD), the PKK set up political and military camps in the Netherlands in order to train
those PKK members who come from Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia. It is reported that young people
from other European countries were also trained there. The Dutch "De Telegraaf" newspaper reported
that the government is aware of the existence of these camps. /Sabah/Star/

PKK TERRORISTS ISSUE A 'LOYALTY' PETITION

Eight members of the PKK terrorist group in the Kahramanmaras E-category prison sent a petition to the
Ministry of Justice in which they expressed their loyalty to the Turkish Republic. They declared their full
belief in the unity of the State and their devotion to the Turkish Republic adding that the PKK is a terrorist
organization. Elsewhere, a PKK terrorist was sentenced to a twelve-and-a-half-year prison term due to
receiving explosives training in Romania. Furthermore, eight PKK terrorists were sentenced to death and
another eight of them were sentenced to imprisonment between three and 10 years by Diyarbakir No.3
State Security Court. /Sabah/Star/

PKK IN PANIC

It is reported that PKK militants in the mountains of Northern Iraq have responded to Abdullah Ocalan's
calls for peace during his trial on Imrali. According to data provided by the Turkish intelligence units, in a
radio conversation between three PKK militants it was decided to support the `peace and
democratization process' proposed by Ocalan. Experts commenting on the current situation of the
terrorist organization remark that the PKK may concentrate on an `active defence system' and tend to
merely respond to operations carried out by security forces, avoiding separate offensive actions of its
own. /Milliyet/

07.06.1999

PKK IS COLLAPSING

The PKK terrorist organization has confessed that members have scattered following the capture of
Abdullah Ocalan. In a pro-PKK publication, it was stated that there is an atmosphere of anarchy within the
PKK. /Hurriyet/

08.06.1999

TSK: STRUGGLE AGAINST TERRORISM WILL CONTINUE

The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) yesterday categorically denied having any contact or meetings with the
PKK terrorist organization. A written statement issued by the General Secretariat of the Office of General
Staff yesterday said that the TSK would continue with its determined struggle against terrorism with the
support of the Turkish nation. During the hearings last week, Abdullah Ocalan claimed a military officer
had contacted the PKK in Europe and peace moves were allegedly discussed. The TSK statement said
that it had never accepted the PKK as a counterpart in any form. /Hurriyet/

09.06.1999

TURKEY: Prosecutors seek death penalty for Ocalan
Reuters, Imrali Island

Turkish prosecutors have demanded the death penalty for Abullah Ocalan, the
Kurdish rebel leader, for the armed separatist campaign which his guerrillas
have vowed to escalate if he is executed. Mr Ocalan stands accused of treason
and responsibility for the deaths of more than 29,000 Kurdish rebels, Turkish
troops and civilians killed since his Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) took up
arms in 1984.

Judges adjourned the case for 15 days to allow Mr Ocalan's lawyers to prepare their
summing-up and a verdict is expected towards the end of this month. Turkey has
not carried out an execution since 1984.

Mr Ocalan has offered to help negotiate an end to the fighting and bring the
guerrillas down from the mountains of the mainly Kurdish south-east of the country
in return for his life being spared. His PKK commanders, still at large in remote
hideouts in Turkey and northern Iraq, said they backed his call but warned of
increased violence if their leader hanged.

PROSECUTORS DEMAND DEATH FOR OCALAN

In their closing arguments during the trial of the head of the PKK terrorist organization, Abdullah Ocalan,
prosecutors reiterated that Ocalan should be sentenced to death. The presentation of the prosecutors'
final arguments indicated that the trial is quickly approaching its end and could conclude before the end of
the month, judicial observers said. After an unexpectedly short two-hour session yesterday, the court ruled
for the adjournment of the case to June 23 to give Ocalan's lawyers time to prepare for his final defence.
/All papers/

DEMIREL: "GREECE IS AMONG THE MAIN SUPPORTERS OF TERRORISTS'

President Suleyman Demirel said yesterday that Greece was pursuing hostile policies against Turkey in
every area and added: "Greece is among the main supporters of the PKK terrorist organization". Demirel
received the Head of the Foundation for Children with Leukemia, Dr.Ustun Ezer, and the Head of the
Thrace-Rumelia-Balkan Association, Esref Yazicioglu, yesterday. He further remarked that Greece was
also not carrying out its obligations towards the Turkish minority living in Western Thrace; Demirel
declared: "These cannot be ignored". /Cumhuriyet/

BELGIAN VISA FOR MED-TV

MED-TV, whose broadcasts have been halted by the British TV watchdog, the 'ITC', due to its support for
the PKK terrorist organization, resumed broadcasting via the Eutel-Sat satellite from Belgium nearly one
week ago. MED-TV is now broadcasting 12 hours a day under the name of 'CTV'. /Hurriyet/

LE FIGARO COVERS STRICT SECURITY MEASURES ON IMRALI ISLAND

The 'Le Figaro' newspaper published in France devoted wide coverage to the strict security measures in
force on Imrali Island where the head of the PKK terrorist organization, Abdullah Ocalan, is being tried.
The impressions of French correspondent Eric Biegala, who followed the trial, were given in an article
entitled 'Imrali: a prison island under strict security'. The article said that state-of-the-art technology was
being used to implement these measures, the Anatolia News Agency reports.

HEAVY BLOW AGAINST PKK

At the end of security forces' operations in Eruh district of Siirt seven terrorists were killed. Elsewhere, a
group of terrorists attacked a village in the Ulukale township of Tunceli killing two civilians. As a result of
mopping-up operations by the security forces in and around the regions, four more terrorists have been
killed. Meanwhile, two terrorists surrendered to security units in Bingol. According to officials at the end of
a crack-down in the Hafik region of Sivas, five members of the outlawed TKP- ML TIKKO were seized
with their weapons. /Turkiye/