Topic: voa Subject: TURKEY / KURDS (L) [2] By AL PESSIN /ANKARA From: "Demetrios E. Paneras" DATE=3/29/95 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-176248 TITLE=TURKEY / KURDS (L) BYLINE=AL PESSIN DATELINE=ANKARA CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE 10TH DAY OF TURKEY'S OFFENSIVE AGAINST KURDISH GUERRILLAS IN NORTHERN IRAQ WAS MARKED BY MORE MOVEMENT OF REFUGEES OUT OF THE BATTLE ZONE. V-O-A'S AL PESSIN IN ANKARA ALSO REPORTS THERE ARE INDICATIONS FROM TURKISH OFFICIALS THAT THE OPERATION MIGHT NOT LAST AS LONG AS SOME OF TURKEY'S WESTERN ALLIES HAVE FEARED. TEXT: RELIEF WORKERS FROM THE UNITED NATIONS MOVED ABOUT 200 MORE TURKISH KURDS AWAY FROM THE FIGHTING. AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, 15-HUNDRED IRAQI KURDS ALSO MOVED OUT OF THE AREA. THE REFUGEES SAY THEIR LIVES HAVE BEEN DISRUPTED BY THE TURKISH INCURSION, AND THEY FEAR THEY COULD BECOME TARGETS OF THE TURKISH TROOPS IF THEY ARE SUSPECTED OF SYMPATHIZING WITH THE GUERRILLAS. SEVERAL HUNDRED MORE REFUGEES ARE EXPECTED TO MOVE SOUTH ON THURSDAY. /// OPT /// TURKISH TROOPS OPERATING IN ETHNIC-KURDISH AREAS IN SOUTHEASTERN TURKEY ARE FREQUENTLY ACCUSED OF HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES AGAINST CIVILIANS. IN A REPORT LAST MONTH, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL ACCUSED THE TURKISH MILITARY OF "GROSS HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS," AND DOCUMENTED MANY EXAMPLES OF KIDNAPPINGS, KILLINGS, AND THE BURNING OF VILLAGES. HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS ALSO ACCUSE THE GUERRILLAS OF SIMILAR ABUSES, AND THAT IS WHY THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT SAYS IT HAD TO GO INTO NORTHERN IRAQ TO DESTROY THE GUERRILLAS' BASES. /// END OPT /// THERE ARE FRESH INDICATIONS THAT TURKEY IS CONCERNED ABOUT FOREIGN CRITICISM OF THE INCURSION. PRIME MINISTER TANSU CILLER AGAIN IMPLIED A SHORT TIME PERIOD, SAYING THAT AS SOON AS THE OPERATION IS COMPLETED THE TROOPS WILL BE WITHDRAWN. TURKEY'S WESTERN ALLIES WERE INITIALLY UNDERSTANDING OF THE INCURSION. BUT HINTS THAT IT MIGHT LAST UP TO A YEAR DREW A SUSPENSION OF MILITARY AID FROM GERMANY AND REPEATED WARNINGS FROM THE UNITED STATES TO KEEP THE OPERATION AS BRIEF AS POSSIBLE. ON WEDNESDAY, TURKISH NEWSPAPERS HAD ANOTHER INDICATION THAT ADVICE IS BEING FOLLOWED. THEY QUOTE THE OPERATION'S COMMANDER, GENERAL HASAN KUNDAKCI, AS SAYING ITS MAIN GOALS HAVE ALREADY BEEN ACHIEVED. /// OPT /// SPEAKING AT A FORMER GUERRILLA STRONGHOLD IN NORTHERN IRAQ (HAKURK), THE GENERAL SAID HIS FORCES ARE NOW WORKING ON DESTROYING THE GUERRILLA'S FACILITIES TO MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO RE-ESTABLISH THEIR BASES ONCE THE TURKISH ARMY WITHDRAWS. BUT IN A COMMENT WHICH COULD RAISE CONCERNS IN THE WEST, GENERAL KUNDACI SAID TURKISH TROOPS WOULD CONTINUE TO INSPECT THE AREA TO MAKE SURE THE GUERRILLAS DO NOT RETURN. /// END OPT /// BUT AT LEAST ONE GUERRILLA COMMANDER SPOKE DEFIANTLY IN THE FACE OF THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT'S VICTORY CLAIMS. THE REUTER NEWS AGENCY QUOTES AN ANONYMOUS GUERRILLA LEADER IN NORTHERN IRAQ AS SAYING TURKEY CANNOT SOLVE ITS KURDISH PROBLEM THROUGH A MILITARY OFFENSIVE. HE ALSO SAYS THE TURKISH ARMY TROOPS WILL FAIL IF THEY TRY TO ATTACK THE GUERRILLAS IN THEIR MOUNTAIN HIDEOUTS. THE COMMANDER SAYS THE GUERRILLAS HAVE BEEN EXPECTING A TURKISH OFFENSIVE FOR MONTHS AND HAVE STOCKPILED LARGE AMOUNTS OF SUPPLIES IN REMOTE AREAS. MEANWHILE, IN AN APPARENT ATTEMPT TO REDUCE UNFAVORABLE PUBLICITY ABOUT THE OPERATION, THE TURKISH ARMY HAS BARRED ALL JOURNALISTS FROM THE BATTLE ZONE, EXCEPT UNDER MILITARY ESCORT. (SIGNED) NEB/AWP/MH/JWH 29-Mar-95 12:11 PM EST (1711 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America ------------------------------------------------------------------------------