GERMANY: KURDS FROM ACROSS EUROPE RALLY FOR RELEASE OF KURDISH GUERRILLA ABDULLAH OCALAN

Record ID: 214907

  • Title: GERMANY: KURDS FROM ACROSS EUROPE RALLY FOR RELEASE OF KURDISH GUERRILLA ABDULLAH OCALAN
  • Date: 19th December 1998
  • Summary: BONN, GERMANY (DECEMBER 19, 1998) (REUTERS) 1. SLV KURDS MARCHING AND CHANTING ON THEIR WAY TO RALLY CARRYING PLACARDS WITH PICTURE OF KURDISH GUERRILLA ABDULLAH OCALAN 0.08 2. KURDS HOLDING BANNER OF ABDULLAH OCALAN /HAS KURDS CHANTING "TERRORIST TURKEY" / MV KURDS MARCHING (6 SHOTS) 0.42 4. LAS MAN ON STAGE ADDRESSING KURDS 1.20 5. S
  • Embargoed: 3rd January 1999 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BONN, GERMANY
  • Country: Germany
  • Reuters ID: LVABLAM72HXB9668BNWSNHMYK004
  • Story Text: Around 30,000 Kurds from across Europe gathered in the
    German city of Bonn on Saturday (December 19) to rally for the
    release of Kurdish guerrilla Abdullah Ocalan who is detained
    in Italy


    Protesters marched through Bonn holding pictures of the
    Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) leader to press their demand
    for Ocalan to be granted political asylum in Italy.

    Ocalan, whose PKK has been fighting an armed campaign for
    Kurdish self-rule in southeast Turkey for 14 years, was
    detained in Rome in November because of a German arrest
    warrant.

    The protesters also called for an international peace
    conference to debate the Kurdish question.

    Ankara accuses Ocalan of being responsible for the deaths
    of some 30,000 victims in the conflict and wants him
    extradited to stand trial there in Turkey.

    Italy has refused, saying it cannot extradite a person to
    a country where the death penalty is in force.

    Germany, also seeking Ocalan on charges of ordering the
    murder of a PKK dissident and over a series of
    firebombings,has said it will not request his extradition for
    now.

    Italy, which would prefer to send him before a European
    tribunal, has said it will decide in the next few days whether
    to try Ocalan or expel him.


  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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