NETHERLANDS: ZEIST: TOWN PREPARES FOR LOCKERBIE TRIAL скачать в хорошем качестве

NETHERLANDS: ZEIST: TOWN PREPARES FOR LOCKERBIE TRIAL

(2 May 2000) English/Nat The trial begins in Zeist tomorrow of two Libyan men accused of bombing a U-S-bound flight over Lockerbie, Scotland almost twelve years ago. All 259 passengers on board Pan Am flight 103, and 11 people on the ground were killed in the attack. In contrast to the intense security and massive media presence at the Camp Zeist military base where the trial is due to take place, the people of Zeist are going about their daily business. The small Dutch town of Zeist will play host to one of the most long awaited court cases in recent history on Wednesday. Camp Zeist, the former U-S air base just outside the town, has been turned into an 18 million (U-S) dollar high-security courtroom and detention center in preparation for the trial of the two men accused of the bombing of a Pan Am jet over Lockerbie in Scotland almost 12 years ago. For the next few months Camp Zeist will be the focus of intense media interest and unprecedented security. Local people are resigned to the fact that the trial will inevitably have some impact on the town of Zeist itself. Hordes of reporters have already arrived at the camp, and up to 40 relatives of the victims are expected to attend early court sessions. Some say the local economy could benefit from it, with the extra influx of people spending money in the town. Others express little interest in the events going on just a few kilometres away. SOUNDBITE: (English) " I think that people don't mind that much. I don't think they are very aware of what's going on, really. They have heard of Lockerbie of course but that's about it. I think the shops and cabs or taxis - the people who earn their money - that it is positive actually- as odd as that may sound but I think it is- I think they will make money because of this." SUPER CAPTION: Vox Pop, Zeist resident SOUNDBITE: (English) "Its too long ago. If it had happened 2 years ago it may have been of more interest- but when was it? 1980 something? 11 years ago- that's too long ago." SUPER CAPTION: Vox Pop, Zeist resident Most know about the upcoming trial, but say it's not an issue that affects them. SOUNDBITE: (English) "Its not really a big issue here. Maybe for you it is, and for people who are really involved with this incident. It's a bigger issue for them than for us because its just somewhere around here and its there in the forest - in Camp Zeist and nobody really... (thinks about it)." SUPER CAPTION: Vox Pop, Zeist resident After interviewing 15-thousand witnesses and collecting 180-thousand pieces of evidence in the biggest murder investigation in history, prosecutors are convinced they have the culprits, who they claim are intelligence agents. Still, questions remain unanswered, including whether the Libyans acted alone and how the suitcase bomb passed unaccompanied through two aircraft changes without raising suspicions. The court will hold sessions almost daily through July 28 before adjourning until August 22- Zeist will be in the media spotlight until then. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...