(31 May 1999) Turkish/Nat
Turkish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan pleaded for his life and declared himself ready to cooperate with the Turkish state for peace and brotherhood at the opening of his trial on Monday.
The trial was held in a converted movie theater on the heavily guarded prison island Imrali, where Ocalan is the only inmate.
For 15 years, Ocalan's guerrillas battled soldiers in the barren mountains of southeastern Turkey, fighting for the Kurdish people and their right to self-determination.
But the battle now facing the iron-fisted leader of the Kurdish guerrilla army is in the courtroom, where Ocalan sat behind bulletproof and bombproof glass to defend himself against treason charges.
Most observers expect him to receive a death sentence.
The families of some of the Turkish soldiers killed in fighting against the P-K-K rallied on Monday morning as lawyers, journalists and observers prepared to leave for Imrali island for the trial.
Many held photographs of their sons and relatives as they chanted "Imrali will be Ocalan's grave."
They called for Abdullah Ocalan to be given the death sentence.
Journalists and other observers left the port of Mudanya amid tight security.
Helicopters hovered above and dozens of riot police stood guard outside the docks.
The lawyers and journalists were searched before being allowed to board boats for the island.
Those approved to attend the trial were fingerprinted on Sunday and their retinas scanned for identification.
Journalists were to be given notebooks and pens once they arrived on the island.
Ocalan, the leader of the Kurdistan Workers Party, or P-K-K, was abducted by Turkish commandos February 15th in Kenya, after he tried for months to find a country willing to grant him asylum.
His capture sparked violent protests by Kurds in Turkey, Europe and elsewhere.
Authorities have imposed strict security measures around the courtroom to frustrate possible attacks.
Some of the men who have fought the P-K-K made their demands clear - they want him to die.
SOUNDBITE: (Turkish)
"The 125th clause of the law is the death penalty and that's what we want. We want him to pay for the 30-thousand people he has killed. He should take whatever sentence is given to him."
SUPER CAPTION: Mahir Akcelik, who was injured fighting the PKK
There is overwhelming support in Turkey for sentencing Ocalan to death on charges that he "seriously endangered the...indivisible unity of the Turkish republic."
SOUNDBITE: (Turkish)
"This trial should be completed at lightening speed and he should get the death penalty. That's the only conclusion that we will accept."
SUPER CAPTION: Sevket Ozbay, Lawyer representing families who have lost soldier sons fighting the PKK
Ocalan's sister and brother were among those who left for the island where the trial is being held in a converted cinema.
Facing criticism from abroad that Ocalan may not get a fair trial because the panel includes a military judge, Turkey's new coalition government has said it is willing to dismiss the officer from the panel.
Officials have also said the judge might withdraw from the case.
The judge's replacement, a civilian, is already on the prison island.
A sombre-looking Ocalan, who appeared to have lost weight during his three months of detention, told the court that he had not been tortured or mistreated.
He asked for forgiveness from the families of over 5-thousand soldiers who died in the 15-year war with his rebels.
In those battles, 37-thousand people, mostly Kurds, died.
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
