Page 287 - Encyclopedia Of Terrorism

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Ocalan, whose surname means “avenger” in
OCALAN, ABDULLAH (1948– ) Turkish, is usually referred to as “Apo,” Kurdish for
“Uncle.” His leadership between 1984 and 1999
resulted in a terribly bloody outcome for the PKK and
Leader of the left-wing guerrilla unit known as
the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), Abdullah Ocalan Turkey. Ocalan is alleged to have ordered the murder
was born in 1948 in southeastern Turkey, near the of uncountable civilians, the kidnapping of Western
Syrian border. He is generally considered to be the tourists, and the murder of many comrades who chal-
strongest advocate and fighter for Kurdish sovereignty lenged his beliefs. In the overall war, Turkish officials
and has been labeled a hero by some Kurds, a terror- claim that nearly 40,000 people have died as a result
ist by most international intelligence sources, and a of PKK offensives and government retaliation.
“baby killer” by the Turkish government. In 1999, Ocalan was apprehended in Kenya and
Raised by his peasant family in Omerli, Ocalan had brought back to Turkey, where he was tried and sen-
vague political aspirations as a youngster and tried to tenced to death for treason and sedition. The day he
enter the Turkish military but was refused—a decision was sentenced riots broke out, demonstrations were
he claimed was related to his Kurdish ancestry. Later, held in Turkey and throughout the rest of Europe, and
Ocalan was accepted into Ankara University and, in Turkish embassies throughout Europe were invaded.
the political science department, first began to These actions were orchestrated by some of the
embrace Marxism and voice left-wing sentiments. He 850,000 Kurds living on the European continent.
organized student movements and was jailed for Ocalan has appealed to overturn the death penalty,
distributing leftist brochures. He then dropped out of with the decision still to be made by the European
Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France. From
Ankara University, returned to southeastern Turkey,
his prison cell, however, Ocalan has announced a
and began to advocate for a Kurdish state.
cease-fire and has ordered all PKK forces to leave
In 1977, Ocalan and two comrades wrote a mani-
Turkey. In February 2000, the PKK officially
festo, “The National Road to the Kurdish Revolution.”
foreswore its 15-year revolution and agreed to the
This document would become the blueprint for and
political program proposed by its imprisoned leader.
beginning of the PKK. In 1980, a military coup in
In 2002, PKK had nearly 10,000 active members and
Turkey forced Ocalan and some of his cohorts to flee
supporters throughout Europe. Many believe that
to safe haven in Syria. While in Syria, they began
Ocalan’s imprisonment and possible execution may
forming and training the ranks that would later be
end the PKK; however, Kurdish nationalism is almost
known as the PKK. On August 15, 1984, the PKK
certain to remain an issue for Turkey and surrounding
began its armed campaign for a Kurdish state with an
countries.
attack on a progovernment village in southeastern
Turkey. See also KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY
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