February 24, 2000

Turkey Adjourns Treason Trial of Kurdish
Rebel

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

ANKARA, Turkey, Feb. 23 -- A Turkish court today opened and
quickly adjourned a second trial against Abdullah Ocalan, the
Kurdish rebel leader who is already on death row for treason and
separatism.

Judge Ihsan Akcin adjourned the trial until April 24 in the case against
Mr. Ocalan, his estranged wife, Kesire, and 99 other members of his
organization. All of the accused face death for separatism. Judge Akcin
said the court must learn the whereabouts of 82 of the defendants before
the trial can continue.

Mr. Ocalan was sentenced to death in June. His lawyers fear that the
new charges could increase pressure in Turkey to hang him. The first trial
was based on charges related to the armed insurgency of Mr. Ocalan's
Kurdistan Workers Party, which peaked in the early 1990's. The current
charges relate to events before the 1980 military coup in Turkey, a
period when guerrillas were working to recruit members and fill coffers.

Turkey was named as a candidate to join the European Union in
December, but European Union countries have said Turkey cannot be
accepted if Mr. Ocalan is hanged.

Parliament must approve any death sentence in Turkey. The government
has postponed debate on Mr. Ocalan's execution until the European
Court of Human Rights reviews his appeal. Turkey has not executed
anyone since 1984.

Since his capture by Turkish commandos early last year, Mr. Ocalan has
called on his fighters to lay down their weapons and pursue a peaceful
campaign for Kurdish rights. Earlier this month, the group announced an
end to its armed rebellion.