Corsica peace process invoked at trial

Seven Corsican nationalists went on trial in Paris yesterday for attempting to extort four million francs (£480,192) in "protection money" from the owner of a luxury golf complex on the Mediterranean island.

The chief defendant, Mr Francois Santoni, the former leader of A Cuncolta Naziunalista (the political wing of the extremist FLNC-Canal Historique), told Judge Yves Montfort that his unprecedented trial was the result of a conspiracy by the former prime minister, Mr Alain Juppe. "You attribute incredible talent to Mr Juppe," the judge responded. "Why didn't the voters notice it?" Mr Juppe was the most unpopular prime minister of the Fifth Republic and his government badly lost the June 1997 election.

Mr Santoni's former mistress, lawyer Ms MarieHelene Mattei, is also charged with extortion and association with a "terrorist group". She told Judge Montfort she was surprised he was pursuing the case despite a month-old peace process initiated by the Prime Minister, Mr Lionel Jospin. Mr Jospin began discussions on the future of the island with elected members of the Corsican Assembly on December 13th. With the exception of the recently founded Armata Corsa, all armed Corsican groups have declared a truce. Mr Santoni, who has spent two years in preventive detention, is widely believed to be the instigator of Armata Corsa.

Although racketeering by nationalists - the famous impot revolutionai re - has long been widespread in Corsica, this is the first time men linked to the FLNC have been tried for extortion. The law of silence was broken by Mr Jacques Dewez, the owner of a millionaires' golf and holiday retreat at Sperone, on the southern tip of Corsica. On December 10th, 1996, Mr Dewez claims, Ms Mattei came to see him on behalf of Mr Santoni to announce the imminent arrival of "Monsieur Gulliver". The following day "Monsieur Gulliver" - in fact a restaurant owner from Bonifacio named Filipeddu - demanded a contribution of four million francs to the FLNC. When Mr Dewez refused, hooded men took the tourist complex guards hostage and blew up their headquarters. The FLNC admitted responsibility for the attack.

Ms Mattei claims she did not know Mr Filepeddu, but records prove they called one another on their mobile telephones. Meanwhile, Corsican politicans continue to debate the island's status with Mr Jospin's government. Radical Corsicans demand obligatory use of the Corsican language, a special tax regime, recognition of the "Corsican people" and changes in the French constitution.