Sir, - With reference to Anne McCluskey's letter (March 9th) on the trial of Abdullah Ocalan, I would like to make the following points.
The Constitutional Court of Turkey by a unanimous decision on March 8th, 1999, has decided in favour of the People's Democracy Party (HADEP). As such, HADEP and HADEP candidates who are not directly linked to terrorist activities will now be able to join the electoral race in April 18th general elections.
In Turkey's long and painful struggle with terrorism, the role played by human rights organisation and lawyers has not been uniformly positive.
Indeed, that some lawyers have not hesitated to act as couriers/fronts for terrorist organisations and that they have been instrumental in even guiding such organisations is not a secret any more. This has been especially true in the case of Abdullah Ocalan and the PKK. It should thus surprise no one that measures will be taken to prevent the same from happening during the Ocalan trial.
Such lawyers affiliated with terrorist organisations will naturally want to put on a show before the trial to try to sway the public opinion. This is not acceptable before the case of Ocalan is brought before the courts.
I would like to remind Ms McCluskey and all interested that Turkey has repeatedly underlined the fact that the Ocalan trial will be fair, free, open and transparent. The Turkish President and Prime Minister have given their personal assurances on various occasions.
A group of self-appointed lawyers, the first time they went to see Abdullah Ocalan, did face the reactions of a small group of people whose husbands, sons, brothers and loved ones were murdered by PKK. It is to be remembered that somewhere between 30,000 and 37,000 people were victims of PKK terror. Even so, the Prime Minister has personally instructed the relevant authorities to take all necessary measures for Ocalan's lawyers to be able to see him with no further obstruction and has given his personal assurance to the lawyers that they would not be hindered in any way in or out of line of duty.
When Ocalan himself finally decides on whom he wants to defend him in court, they naturally will allowed to see him in private, according to the related provisions of the Turkish criminal procedural law.
Hearings in the courts in Turkey are open to the public as a general rule unless the courts decide otherwise for reasons of public security. However, there is no practice in the Turkish judicial system regarding foreign participation in a Turkish court in the capacity of "observer". Also, Turkish citizenship and registry in the Turkish Bar are prerequisites for a lawyer to practice counselship and defence in Turkey. - Yours, etc.,
Engin Asula, First Secretary, Head of Chancellory, Embassy of the Republic of Turkey, Dublin.