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Ocalan's trial began May 31

June 24, 1999
Web posted at: 10:27 a.m. EDT (1427 GMT)

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IMRALI ISLAND, Turkey (CNN) -- Defense lawyers for Abdullah Ocalan wrapped up their final arguments Thursday, warning a Turkish court that new rebels will take up the struggle if the Kurdish guerrilla leader is hanged.

After the lawyers spoke, Judge Turgut Okyay ordered a recess until Tuesday, when the three-judge panel is to announce whether Ocalan is guilty of treason, the Anatolia news agency reported. Although the charges against him carry a mandatory death penalty, the Turkish government has discretion over whether to actually carry out the execution.

The lawyers' arguments echoed Ocalan's chilling statements Wednesday, in which he spoke of massive bloodshed if he is sent to the gallows, but offered to fight for peace if his life is spared.

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"What if he is hanged?" Ocalan asked rhetorically.

"Thousands of people will start the terror machine for me," he answered. "I don't want this."

Throughout the trial, Ocalan has promised to help negotiate a peace agreement between the rebels and the Turkish government if he is allowed to live.

His Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) has waged an armed battle for self-rule in mostly Kurdish southeastern Turkey since about 1984. Turks almost universally blame Ocalan for more than 37,000 deaths during the fighting. Most of those killed were Kurdish civilians or guerrillas.

In the field, PKK leaders said they will support Ocalan's call for peace -- but repeat his warnings of intensified violence if an execution is carried out.

Turkey has ignored all previous calls for peace by the PKK, which it regards as a terrorist organization.

Turkish officials say the offers for dialogue are just an attempt by Ocalan to avoid the gallows.

Mothers of Turkish soldiers killed by Kurdish rebels from Ocalan's Kurdistan Workers Party watch the proceedings

Ocalan's defense does not carry much weight with the bereaved relatives of soldiers killed in the conflict. They traveled to the prison island where the trial is being held to demand the death penalty for the man they accuse of masterminding the campaign.

Ocalan says executing him will not solve the Kurdish problem in Turkey.

"Get rid of me," he said, "there will be more just like me, not one PKK, but ten."

Instead, he urged the Turkish government to ease cultural restrictions on the country's 12 million Kurdish people.

The government has banned broadcasts and teaching in the Kurdish language. speaking Kurdish was only legalized in 1991.

"Even the smallest obstacle is enough to spark these uprisings," Ocalan said. "The most important of these is the language ban. It provokes this uprising."

If Ocalan is convicted and sentenced to death, Turkey's parliament will have to approve his execution.

Turkey has not executed anyone since 1984.

Correspondent Andrew Finkel and The Associated Press contributed to this report.