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Article: Kurds at the crossroads: the Turkish earthquake and its tragic consequences, have forced the fate of the country's Kurds into the background in recent weeks. However, as Jon Gorvett reports from Istanbul, the fight continues. (Current Affairs).
- Article from:
- The Middle East
- Article date:
- March 1, 2002
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 IC Publications Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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February marked the third anniversary of the capture by Turkish commandos of Abdullah Ocalan -- the leader of the Kurdish separatist PKK guerrilla army, who led an armed struggle against Turkish rule for over 15 years. During the course of the fighting, around 30,000 people lost their lives.
In February 1999, after being thrown out of Syria, Ocalan embarked upon a frantic airborne effort to find a safe haven. Turned away by almost everyone, he ended up at the Greek Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya. There, he appears to have been betrayed; whisked away by Turkish commandos, brought to trial a few months later and sentenced to death. However, the sentence has still not ...