FRANCE: FARMER BOVE AWAITS VERDICT скачать в хорошем качестве

FRANCE: FARMER BOVE AWAITS VERDICT

(1 Jul 2000) Eng/French/Nat XFA A French Farmer, charged with trashing a McDonald's outlet in southern France last year, is now awaiting the verdict of the French court. For the past two days, sheep farmer Jose Bove, has been on trial with nine others who attacked the outlet in the town of Millau last August. A huge crowd of supporters cheered wildly as Jose Bove left court on the second and final day of his trial. The French sheep farmer has become an unlikely national hero. He's charged with trashing a Mc Donald's outlet in the southern French town of Millau in August last year. The action was part of a wave of protests targetting the fast-food chain as a symbol of American trade "hegemony" and economic globalisation. On Saturday, Bove said he regretted nothing. SOUNDBITE:(French) "On the 12th August 1999, we took an action to create international rights. We didn't do it to destroy Mc Donald's. We did it to create international law beyond the World Trade Organisation." SUPER CAPTION: Jose Bove, Accused French Farmer A public prosecutor on Saturday recommended that Bove receive a 10-month sentence - with nine months suspended. Prosecutor Alain Durand said the sentence should be a "deterrent", as he said Bove had threatened to bomb the McDonald's restaurant. The Prosecutor requested that the nine other defendants receive suspended sentences of no longer than three months, saying they merely carried out Bove's plans. On Saturday, Bove -- the local leader of the radical Farmers' Confederation union -- vowed to appeal any tribunal decision short of a complete acquittal. The court is expected to deliver a decision later this summer -- after a two month delay. Bove warned the long delay wouldn't reduce the strength of his and his supporters' opposition, vowing to keep on fighting. SOUNDBITE: (French) The President of the tribunal will give his verdict on the 13th September. That's what we are expecting because it is going to be a judiciary holiday . They will wait for it. They (the tribunal) think we will say no-one will be actively opposed any more. I think that everybody understood (that they are delaying for 2 months). All our actions will continue and that's what the (Bove's) lawyers have pleaded. The only possibility for this tribunal is to acquit. And if we are not acquitted, we will appeal. There is no way we will agree to be condemned for calling for the creation of international laws." SUPER CAPTION: Jose Bove, Accused French Farmer Jose Bove says his main targets are the World Trade Organization, multinationals and governments that push scientifically engineered food - not the United States and the people of the United States. He says the organisations crush the small-time producers who insist on quality and taste. SOUNDBITE:(English) "Our fight is not a fight against the United States or the people of the United States. The fight is against the WTO and how the WTO works." SUPER CAPTION: Jose Bove, Accused French Farmer The Millau court began hearing arguments on Friday as about 15,000 demonstrators gathered to support the defendants. About 25-thousand supporters gathered outside the court on the second and final day on Saturday. 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...