Kurds mark Ocalan arrest

Ocalan: Appealing against his death sentence

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Supporters of jailed Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan plan to mark the second anniversary of his arrest with a worldwide day of action.

Ocalan, captured by Turkey on February 15, 1999, was sentenced to death for treason for leading the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in its armed struggle for Kurdish self-rule.

Organisers from the PKK said a march was planned in Dusseldorf, Germany with Kurds from various provinces expected to take part wearing black clothes and with chains round their hands, the Internet edition of The Kurdish Observer said.

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In Berlin, Kurd women belonging to the Free Women's Party will hold a 24-hour vigil and then create a human chain.

A sit-in and hunger strike is due to be held in front of the Italian Parliament in Rome, with marches and meetings in other Italian cities, the Kurdish Observer said.

PKK leaders said the protests were to be an expression of its frustration at what it called a Turkish policy of "denial and destruction" in the face of Kurdish peace initiatives.

Turkish special forces arrested Ocalan in Kenya in February, 1999 and flew him handcuffed to Turkey, sparking protests by Kurds across Europe. Some demonstrators set themselves alight.

The PKK says it has obeyed orders issued by Ocalan from his Turkish prison cell to abandon their armed campaign and use political means to press for Kurdish cultural rights in Turkey.

More than 30,000 people, mostly Kurds, have died in 16 years of fighting between the rebels and security forces.

EU-membership candidate Turkey has delayed executing Ocalan to allow a European court to rule on his appeal against his sentence.

Turk police break up Kurdish protest
February 6, 2001
Kurds call for day of protest
February 5, 2001
Ocalan warns of renewed fighting
January 26, 2001
Turkish spy chief opposes hanging Ocalan
November 28, 2000
Rebel leader fights Turkish execution order
November 22, 2000

Kurdish Observer
Turkish Government Information Service

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