DATE=7/29/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-236224
TITLE=SPANISH VERDICT (L ONLY)
BYLINE=GIL CARBAJAL
DATELINE=MADRID
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: SPAIN'S SUPREME COURT HAS SENTENCED A FORMER INTERIOR
MINISTER TO TEN YEARS IN PRISON FOR THEIR PART IN A SO-CALLED
"DIRTY WAR" AGAINST THE BASQUE SEPARATIST GROUP ETA. GIL
CARBAJAL IN MADRID REPORTS THE RULING HAS SHAKEN SPAIN'S MAIN
OPPOSITION SOCIALIST PARTY.
TEXT: AFTER A TWO-MONTH TRIAL, THE 11-MEMBER SPANISH SUPREME
COURT FOUND FORMER SOCIALIST INTERIOR MINISTER JOSE BARRIONUEVO
AND HIS FORMER SECURITY SECRETARY, RAFAEL VERA, GUILTY OF
AUTHORIZING THE KIDNAPPING OF A FRENCH CITIZEN WHO MISTAKENLY WAS
BELIEVED TO BE AN ETA MEMBER. THE COURT ALSO SAID THE TWO MEN
MISUSED PUBLIC MONEY IN THE OPERATION. AND IT SENTENCED THEM TO
TEN YEARS IN PRISON.
A FORMER GOVERNOR OF THE BASQUE PROVINCE OF GUIPUZCOA (JULIAN
SANCRISTOBAL) ALSO WAS SENTENCED TO TEN YEARS IN PRISON.
NINE OTHERS, INCLUDING POLICEMEN AND SECURITY OFFICIALS, ADMITTED
THEIR GUILT BUT SAID THEY WERE ACTING UNDER ORDERS. THEY RECEIVED
SENTENCES OF FROM TWO TO SEVEN YEARS. THE 12 DEFENDANTS WERE
ORDERED TO PAY THE KIDNAP VICTIM ABOUT 200-THOUSAND DOLLARS.
BOTH BARRIONUEVO AND VERA HAVE BEEN BARRED FROM HOLDING PUBLIC
OFFICE FOR 12 YEARS. BARRIONUEVO WILL BE REMOVED FROM HIS
PARLIAMENTARY SEAT. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN MODERN SPANISH
HISTORY THAT A FORMER MINISTER HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO PRISON.
THE SOCIALIST PARTY HAS BEEN PAYING THE LEGAL EXPENSES OF BOTH
BARRIONUEVO AND VERA AND INSISTED THEY ARE INNOCENT. AFTER THE
COURT RULING, A SOCIALIST PARTY SPOKESMAN POINTED TO THE
DISSENTING OPINIONS OF FOUR OF THE 11 SUPREME COURT JUDGES. THE
FOUR JUDGES SAID THERE WAS NOT SUFFICIENT PROOF THAT THE TWO
FORMER OFFICIALS AUTHORIZED THE KIDNAPPING.
THE KIDNAPPING OF THE FRENCH CITIZEN (SEGUNDO MAREY) WAS THE
FIRST IN A SERIES OF ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT MOSTLY BY A
GROUP CALLED THE ANTI-TERORRIST LIBERATION GROUP, OR GAL, WHICH
WAS BELIEVED TO BE ORGANIZED BY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. ELEVEN
OTHER GAL-RELATED CASES ARE AWAITING TRIAL IN SPANISH COURTS.
FORMER SOCIALIST PRIME MINISTER FELIPE GONZALEZ HAS CONSISTENTLY
REFUSED TO ACCEPT EITHER POLITICAL OR MORAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR
WHAT HAS BEEN CALLED HIS GOVERNMENT'S "DIRTY WAR" AGAINST THE
BASQUE GROUP ETA.
AFTER THE COURT RULING WEDNESDAY, MR. GONZALEZ CUT SHORT A
VACATION NEAR TANGIERS TO RETURN TO MADRID. A MEETING OF
SOCIALIST PARTY LEADERS IS SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY TO ANALYZE THE
POLITICAL IMPACT OF THE COURT DECISION.
WHEN THE SUPREME COURT DECISION WAS LEAKED TO THE NEWS MEDIA LAST
WEEK, MR. GONZALEZ COMMENTED THAT THE LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
SURROUNDING THE GAL ACTIVITIES ARE PART OF A CONSPIRACY TO RUIN
HIS POLITICAL CAREER. (SIGNED)
NEB/GC/JWH
29-Jul-98 12:22 PM EDT (1622 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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