PKK leader Ocalan wants to testify in Ergenekon case

12/08/2008

ANKARA, Turkey -- The imprisoned leader of the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), Abdullah Ocalan, wants to testify before the prosecutor handling the case against the secularist group Ergenekon, local media reported on Monday (August 11th). The indictment against suspected Ergenekon members, who include retired army generals, academics, civil society representatives, journalists and mafia leaders, has suggested links between the PKK and the Ergenekon network. According to newspaper reports, Ocalan said he wants to provide prosecutor Zekeriya Oz with information on the organisation. In particular, Ocalan wants to testify that Ergenekon suggested assassinating former Prime Minister Tansu Ciller, who headed the government in 1993-1995. Ocalan claimed individuals related to Ergenekon proposed that the PKK could claim responsibility for the hit, an offer Ocalan says he rejected. The Ergenekon network allegedly planned to incite chaos and disorder to trigger a coup against the ruling Justice and Development Party's government. A total of 86 suspects allegedly have links to the group. (Zaman, Hurriyet, Vatan - 11/08/08)