DATE=12/24/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-224483
TITLE=FRANCE CARLOS (L-UPDATE)
BYLINE=JULIAN NUNDY
DATELINE=PARIS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
// RE-ISSUING TO CORRECT CR NUMBER //
INTRO: A FRENCH COURT SENTENCED THE VENEZUELAN TERRORIST CARLOS
TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR MURDER WEDNESDAY IN HIS FIRST TRIAL
SINCE HE WAS CAPTURED BY FRENCH AGENTS IN SUDAN THREE YEARS AGO.
JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS.
TEXT: AFTER AN EIGHT-DAY HEARING, THE PARIS ASSIZES COURT GAVE
ILICH RAMIREZ SANCHEZ, BETTER KNOWN AS CARLOS, THE MAXIMUM LIFE
SENTENCE FOR THE MURDER OF TWO FRENCH COUNTER-ESPIONAGE OFFICERS
AND A LEBANESE INFORMANT IN PARIS 22 YEARS AGO.
WHEN HE HEARD THE SENTENCE, THE 48-YEAR-OLD CARLOS RAISED HIS
LEFT FIST AND SHOUTED "LONG LIVE THE REVOLUTION". THE SENTENCE,
CONFIRMING THE SAME PUNISHMENT PASSED DOWN IN HIS ABSENCE FIVE
YEARS AGO, CAME AS NO SURPRISE.
EARLIER, CARLOS USED THE TRADITIONAL DEFENDANT'S RIGHT TO A LAST
WORD TO THE FULL. NORMALLY A SHORT STATEMENT THAT LASTS A FEW
SECONDS, CARLOS TURNED IT INTO A FOUR-HOUR SPEECH.
HE DENOUNCED AMERICAN IMPERIALISM, ZIONISM AND WHAT HE CALLED THE
"MACDONALIZATION" OF THE WORLD, A REFERENCE TO THE AMERICAN
MACDONALD'S HAMBURGER CHAIN.
NOW, THE VENEZUELAN TERRORIST WHOSE MOST FAMOUS OPERATION WAS TO
TAKE ARAB AND DEVELOPING WORLD OIL MINISTERS HOSTAGE IN VIENNA IN
1975 AND FLY THEM TO NORTH AFRICA, WILL FACE OTHER TRIALS FOR
FIVE OTHER ATTACKS ON FRENCH SOIL IN WHICH 13 PEOPLE DIED.
THE PARIS TRIAL LASTED TWO DAYS LONGER THAN ORIGINALLY PLANNED
BECAUSE OF CONSTANT INTERRUPTIONS BY THE DEFENSE ON PROCEDURAL
POINTS AND BECAUSE CARLOS MADE LONG AND RAMBLING STATEMENTS.
EARLIER, THE PROSECUTOR HAD CALLED FOR A LIFE IMPRISONMENT. HE
SAID THIS WAS NOT REVENGE BUT SIMPLE APPLICATION OF FRENCH LAW.
AT THIS, CARLOS, WHO OFTEN SURPRISED THE COURT BY HIS RELAXED AND
IRREVERENT ATTITUDE, STOOD UP TO APPLAUD THE PROSECUTOR.
DURING THE PARIS TRIAL, CARLOS, DESCRIBING HIMSELF AS A
"PROFESSIONAL REVOLUTIONARY," DID NOT CONTEST THE CHARGES
AGAINST HIM. HE SAID HE IS PROUD OF HIS ACTIVITIES ON BEHALF OF
THE PALESTINIAN CAUSE IN THE 1970S AND 1980S.
CARLOS WAS SPIRITED OUT OF HIS LAST HIDING PLACE IN SUDAN THREE
YEARS AGO BY FRENCH AGENTS AND FLOWN TO PARIS WHERE HE HAS BEEN
IN JAIL EVER SINCE.
HIS DEFENSE LAWYERS ARGUED FOR AN ACQUITTAL ON THE GROUNDS THAT
THERE WERE TECHNICAL ERRORS IN THE POLICE INVESTIGATION INTO THE
1975 KILLINGS. AS ONE OF HIS LAWYERS REMARKED, EVEN AN ACQUITTAL
WOULD NOT HAVE MEANT FREEDOM BECAUSE OF THE OTHER CHARGES THAT
CARLOS STILL FACES. (SIGNED)
NEB/PT/KL
24-Dec-97 12:11 AM EST (0511 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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