DATE=6/1/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250081
TITLE=FRANCE TERROR (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JULIAN NUNDY
DATELINE=PARIS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: TWENTY-FOUR PEOPLE, DESCRIBED BY PROSECUTORS AS ALGERIAN
ISLAMIC EXTREMISTS, WENT ON TRIAL IN PARIS TUESDAY FOR THEIR
ALLEGED ROLE IN BOMB ATTACKS IN FRANCE FOUR YEARS AGO. THE
ATTACKS LEFT 12 PEOPLE DEAD AND DOZENS MORE WOUNDED. JULIAN
NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS.
TEXT: AS A COURT OFFICIAL READ OUT THE NAMES OF THE 24 ACCUSED,
ASKING THEM TO STAND, EACH STAYED SEATED. THE WOMAN JUDGE TRYING
THE CASE ASKED THEM: "WHY WILL YOU NOT STAND?" "BECAUSE Y-O-U
ARE SITTING" REPLIED ONE OF THE DEFENDANTS, BOUALEM BENSAID.
THE FIRST DAY OF THE ONE-MONTH-LONG TRIAL SET THE TONE FOR WHAT
ARE EXPECTED TO BE HIGHLY CONFRONTATIONAL PROCEEDINGS. ALL OF
THE 24 DEFENDANTS FACE UP TO 10 YEARS IN JAIL ON CHARGES OF
PREPARING A SERIES OF BOMB ATTACKS THAT TERRORIZED FRANCE FOR
SEVERAL MONTHS. THE RESULTS ARE STILL VISIBLE TODAY, AS TROOPS
TOTING AUTOMATIC RIFLES STILL PATROL MAINLAND RAILROAD STATIONS
IN PARIS AND OTHER FRENCH CITIES TO HEAD OFF ANY REPETITION.
THE ATTACKS ARE BLAMED ON THE BANNED "ALGERIAN ARMED ISLAMIC
GROUPS," OR "G-I-A," THAT ARE ALSO HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR SOME OF
THE WORST ATROCITIES INSIDE ALGERIA DURING RECENT YEARS OF CIVIL
STRIFE.
THE 1995 FRENCH BOMBINGS BEGAN WITH AN EXPLOSION IN A PARIS
SUBWAY TRAIN IN JULY THAT YEAR. EIGHT PEOPLE WERE KILLED. BUT
THE SIGNAL FOR THE CAMPAIGN HAD COME TWO WEEKS EARLIER WHEN THE
ALGERIAN IMAM OF A PARIS MOSQUE -- HIMSELF AN OPPONENT OF THE
GOVERNMENT IN ALGIERS -- WAS SHOT DEAD DURING PRAYERS. THE IMAM
HAD ARGUED THAT IT WAS WRONG TO BRING ALGERIA'S CIVIL WAR TO
PARIS.
ALL THE BOMBS IN 1995 WERE THE SAME TYPE -- CONSISTING OF EMPTY
GASOLINE CANISTERS PACKED WITH EXPLOSIVE POWDER AND NAILS AND
TRIGGERED BY PRIMITIVE TIMING DEVICES.
ONE BOMB WAS SET TO GO OFF BY AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR JEWISH
CHILDREN NEAR THE CITY OF LYON. IT EXPLODED EARLY -- JUST TWO OR
THREE MINUTES BEFORE THE CHILDREN WERE DUE TO LEAVE THEIR
CLASSROOMS. NO ONE WAS SERIOUSLY HURT IN THAT ATTACK.
DEFENDANT RACHID RAMDA -- WHO IS CONSIDERED BY SOME TO BE THE
G-I-A'S BANKER BECAUSE HE TRANSFERRED MONEY TO THE BOMBERS'
OPERATION IN FRANCE FROM AN ACCOUNT IN LONDON, WAS ABSENT FROM
THE OPENING TRIAL. HE HAS BEEN IN PRISON IN BRITAIN FOR THREE
YEARS AS SUCCESSIVE FRENCH ATTEMPTS TO EXTRADITE HIM HAVE FAILED.
SOME OF THE OTHERS ACCUSED CAN EXPECT TO GO BEFORE ANOTHER COURT
LATER TO FACE CHARGES THAT THEY ACTUALLY PLACED AND DETONATED THE
BOMBS THAT TURNED THE SUMMER OF 1995 IN FRANCE ... INTO A SEASON
OF TERROR. (SIGNED)
NEB/JN/PCF
01-Jun-99 2:35 PM EDT (1835 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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