Countdown for Ocalan decision

The countdown continues for the decision leaders will give about Abdullah Ocalan. MHP and deputies of opposition parties believe the file should be sent to the Parliament.


       The Nationalist Action Party (MHP) and the deputies of the opposition parties demand that the file about Ocalan's death sentence be immediately sent to the Turkish National Grand Assembly(TBMM) from the Prime Ministry. Articulating their views before the leaders summit on January 12th, administrators of MHP, FP and DYP criticised the fact that the government holds the initiative about Ocalan's death sentence. DSP and ANAP on the other hand want the file to stay in the Prime Ministry until the decision of the European Court of Human Rights is announced.

More than 20 death sentences

       Here are the views of the political party leaders about carrying out the death sentence for Ocalan:
       * FP General Chairman Recai Kutan: The issue whether to execute Abdullah Ocalan is not a decision that the leaders in government can make on their own. The issue should be transfered to the Parliament as soon as possible. When deciding upon Ocalan, the Parliament is also obliged to study the other 20 death sentence cases waiting in the Parliament. I believe that the effects of deciding to carry out the death sentences for 20 people in such a short term need to be considered. However this is my personal view and not my party's.

Ciller: We are waiting

       * DYP General Chairwoman Tansu Ciller: The way to the European Union lies in the idea of second democracy presented by DYP. As a rule of our judicial system, the Ocalan file needs to be transfered to the Parliament as soon as possible. This is what a big state who has respect for the judicion and respect for herself would do. Whatever the judicion demands should be done. The Turkish National Grand Assembly should make a decision representing the nation's free will.

Crucial event for 2000

       * MHP Group Charman representative Ismail Kose: This issue is a national issue and pride. Executing Abdullah Ocalan will be the most important issue of 2000. Turkey who is now a candidate to be a member to EU will in a short time be accepted as a full member. However no matter what it costs, Turkey will not bargain about the Ocalan issue. If the issue is about human rights, what about the human rights of the 30,000 killed by Ocalan? No one should compare EU membership with the Ocalan issue. A case has been held for Apo and his penalty has been given. Ocalan, who had been caught in 1999, has been sentenced to death penalty by the independant judicion system in Turkey. Now the decison will be brought to TBMM for approval and MHP's 127 votes will be in favor of Ocalan's execution like the votes of the other deputies."