Retrial

The retrial of Abdullah Ocalan is a hot topic in today’s press. In response to a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights, he is to have another trial. Unfortunately all the major sources of news are confused over what to call him and have made errors in the story. The Times and The Guardian called him a Guerrilla, the Telegraph, IHT and CNN called him a Rebel, the FT called him a Kurdish Leader. The BBC combined these to make him a Rebel Leader. Their choice of words is unfortunate, James Dean was a rebel, Talabani is a Kurdish Leader. As someone who has been unfortunate enough to see and hear a couple of the huge number of atrocities committed by his followers, I am quite willing to settle the confusion here. Ocalan is a Terrorist.