European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 21, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday april 21, 1994 world the stars and stripes Page 11 79, Given life Tor War crimes Nat Collaborator Paul Rouvier Watts in his Box at the Versailles courthouse As his trial for wartime crimes against humanity got under Way last month. Versailles France a Paul Rouvier the first French citizen tried for crimes against humanity was sentenced wednesday to life in prison for ordering the execution of seven jews during world War ii. The former militia chief of France s collaborationist Vichy government was convicted Early wednesday of complicity in crimes against humanity. His conviction after an. Emotional five week trial was a historic Milestone for a nation that has struggled to come to terms with its wartime past. The 79-year-old Rouvier his face White and tense swallowed hard several times As the verdict was read after 5vi hours of deliberation by the jury he turned around waved to the courtroom audience and Vyas escorted out i a his lawyer. His lawyer said Rouvier would Appeal the  was also fined $430 and civil parties asked the court for one franc 17 cents in symbolic payment for damages. /. -. Rouvier admitted ordering the execution of seven jewish prisoners at Rillieux outside Lyon on june 29, 1944, but said he had sacrificed them to save the lives of 23 others. He said the nazis had demanded 30 Vic Tims to avenge the assassination of Vichy information minister Philippe Heriot. In a Brief statement issued before jurors began deliberations Toufer said i have never forgotten the Vic Tims of Rillieux. I think about Thern every Day every  a relatives of the victims welcomed the verdict. I have a great feeling of satisfaction tonight said Gerard Benzimra whose brother Claude was one of the victims. There is no Cju estion of vengeance for me what s important is a crime against humanity has not gone  trial was filled Avith emotional testimony by Vic Tims families As Rouvier sat stoically in a bulletproof Glass Booth. -. A of 6 lawyer Jacques Tremlet de Villers made a final a peal for acquittal tuesday saying Rouvier was accused of War crimes which cannot be prosecuted because the 30-year statute of limitations has run out. It was an act of War in reprisal for an act of War he said.  Tremlet de Villers decried the presumption of guilt and the rumours that have weighed on this trial since it  he said such an atmosphere made i virtually impossible to judge Rouvier fairly. To find Rouvier guilty of complicity in crimes against humanity the jury had to be convinced that he acted on behalf of Germany that the killings were carried out for political religious or racist reasons arid that the victims were chosen for those reasons. That definition of crimes against humanity was also used by prosecutors during the Nurnberg trials of sex nazi officials. Rouvier will remain in custody pending his Appeal. He has prostate cancer but doctors say it has  trained. A Rouvier was arrested in Nice in 1989 after spending decades As a fugitive harboured in convents Church Sand monasteries across France. Twice convicted in absent a of treason for his War time record he was pardoned in 1971 by president Georges Pompidou. But resistance groups and jewish survivors outraged by the Pardon came Forward with evidence to bring new charges. Some observers have expressed disappointment that the trial did not delve More deeply into the Vichy re Gime s role in the systematic persecution arid de Porta tons of jews.  \. -. ,. Iii All 75,000 French jews 12,000 of them children were deported to nazi death Camps during the 1941-45german occupation. Only 2,500 survived. The French jewish Community had hoped the trial would allow France to examine one of the most painful and Complex periods in its  lawyer Alain Jacubowitz pleading last week on behalf of the jewish Community of Lyon the painful Page in our history cannot be turned before it is writ ten.",--\. -".f-. _. Rouvier worked closely with Gestapo chief Klaus Barbie the German Butcher of Lyon who died in French prison after being convicted of crimes against humanity in 1987.three other frenchmen have been charged with crimes against humanity but two died before being brought to trial. Proceedings against the third 82-year-old Mauric Papon have dragged out in court and remain in limbo. Now it s time to try Papon chanted jewish Stu dents outside the court building after the verdict especially for . Service members and their families in Europe Gac or express Black Forest includes a train from Mannheim to Freiburg Ablack Forest bus tour a 2 nights in Freiburg with Buffet breakfast a train from Freiburg to Andermatt Glacier express to Chur train to Freiburg train from Freiburg to Bern and a tour escort Singfer Eom supplement do 60 May 2841 1994participants 25 Oslo Norway All aboard to the former Viking capital includes roundtrip train travel from Frankfurt to Kiel including the ice Between Frankfurt and Hamburg roundtrip color line Ocean voyage. Between Kiel and Oslo in Cabin with private restroom Shower a 2 Buffet breakfasts and 2 3-coun dinners aboard ship a Oslo Light being bus tour a Kiel Transfer and tour guide May 28-30,1994 Ifres stable Ireland everything from from Frankfurt $1121 from Dusseldorf Oslo and Bolk sad explore Norway includes roundtrip train travel Between Frankfurt and Kiel including the ice Between Frankfurt and Hamburg a roundtrip color line Ocean voyage Between Kiel and Oslo in Cabin with restroom Blower a 2 Buffet breakfasts and 2 3-course dinners aboard ship a transfers and tour guide a1 night at 4-Star hotel in Olkes with half Board a visit to so Prev Church Neddal and Minem Weum a Oslo sightseeing bus tour and Entrance fees a folklore show single room Cabin supplement do 225 May 28-31,1994 ton Brout to you through a toted in cooperation with cola iks i rail and Delta International tour operator services vary by Dice location according to government regulation. Full travel services available at army installations in by for reservations visit your local sat travel office. For information Only Call 069 405 88455 or 405 88447. Includes roundtrip flight from maastricht to Dublin with coach transfers from Frank Furt or Dusseldorf to maastricht a 8-Day motor coach excursion plus 3 Star hotel accommodations a full Irish breakfasts and dinners in hotels a literary pub crawl in Dublin and medieval banquet in Killarney a Irish farmhouse visit with Tea and scone a tour escort may28-jum4t1994 minimum 30 participants single room supplement us $150 1642star