DATE=9/1/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-237989
TITLE=FRANCE / ISLAMISTS TRIAL (L ONLY)
BYLINE=JULIAN NUNDY
DATELINE=PARIS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE TRIAL OF 138 ALLEGED ISLAMIC EXTREMISTS, ACCUSED OF
SUPPLYING REBELS IN ALGERIA, HAS OPENED IN THE SUBURBS OF PARIS.
JULIAN NUNDY IN PARIS REPORTS THE TRIAL IS BEING HELD IN A
GYMNASIUM ATTACHED TO A PRISON SINCE NO ORDINARY COURTHOUSE IS
BIG ENOUGH TO HOLD THE ACCUSED AND THEIR LAWYERS.
TEXT: AS THE TRIAL OF THE 138 SUSPECTED ISLAMIC EXTREMISTS
OPENED, THE MAIN DEFENDANT TOLD THE JUDGE THAT HE IS NOT, AS
INDICATED IN OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS, AN ALGERIAN NATIONAL.
THE DEFENDANT, MOHAMMED CHALABI, TOLD THE COURT HE HAS NOTHING TO
DO WITH THE ALGERIAN STATE, RUN IN HIS WORDS BY "A MILITARY
JUNTA." HE IS, HE SAID, OF "MUSLIM" AND NOT ALGERIAN
NATIONALITY.
THAT WAS AT THE BEGINNING OF A FIRST DAY OF A TRIAL THAT WAS
TAKEN UP ALMOST ENTIRELY BY THE READING OF THE NAMES OF THE
ACCUSED AND OF THE CHARGES AGAINST THEM. THE TRIAL IS SCHEDULED
TO LAST FOR TWO MONTHS.
THE DEFENDANTS ARE BEING TRIED IN A GYMNASIUM ATTACHED TO THE
FLEURY-MEROGIS PRISON SOUTH OF PARIS. THIS WAS SPECIALLY
EQUIPPED TO HOLD THE TRIAL BECAUSE THERE IS NO COURTHOUSE IN
PARIS, OR IN FRANCE, THAT CAN HOLD ALL THOSE ON TRIAL AS WELL AS
THEIR 120 LAWYERS.
THE DEFENDANTS WERE ALL DETAINED IN FRANCE BETWEEN 1994 AND 1995
AND CHARGED WITH HELPING A TERRORIST NETWORK. THEY RISK UP TO
TEN YEARS IN JAIL.
ALTHOUGH FRANCE WAS SHAKEN BY A WAVE OF TERRORIST BOMBINGS BLAMED
ON THE BANNED ALGERIAN ARMED ISLAMIC GROUP IN 1995 AND 1996, NONE
OF THOSE WHO WENT ON TRIAL MONDAY ARE ACCUSED OF INVOLVEMENT IN
ATTACKS ON FRENCH SOIL.
INSTEAD, THEY ARE ACCUSED OF HELPING ISLAMIC REBELS IN ALGERIA
RECRUIT MEMBERS AMONG NORTH AFRICAN COMMUNITIES IN EUROPE AND OF
FINDING AND SUPPLYING ARMS. THEY ALSO ARE ACCUSED OF SENDING
OTHER SUPPLIES SUCH AS MEDICINES AND OF HIDING REBELS IN TRANSIT
IN EUROPE.
LAWYERS REPRESENTING THE DEFENDANTS SAY THE CASE AGAINST THEM IS
POLITICAL AND HAS LITTLE SERIOUS BASIS IN LAW. FORTY OF THE
LAWYERS ARE THREATENING TO BOYCOTT THE CASE UNLESS IT IS
SUSPENDED AND THE CHARGES RE-EXAMINED.
THE LAWYERS SAY THE CASE CAME TO COURT ONLY BECAUSE FRANCE WANTED
TO PROVE TO ALGERIA'S RULERS THAT IT IS ACTIVE IN THE FIGHT
AGAINST ISLAMIC REBELS FIGHTING THE ALGERIAN GOVERNMENT.
AS PROOF OF THEIR CLAIM THAT THE CHARGES AGAINST MOST OF THE
DEFENDANTS DO NOT HAVE A SERIOUS BASIS, THE LAWYERS POINT OUT
THAT ONLY 27 OF THOSE ACCUSED ARE ACTUALLY HELD IN PRISON. THE
OTHER 110 ARE FREE TO COME AND GO AS THEY CHOOSE. (SIGNED)
NEB/JWN/JWH
01-Sep-98 11:45 AM EDT (1545 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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