Paris riots become increasingly politicised
sarkozy | 11.11.2005 17:38 | Repression | Social Struggles
The youth involved in the suburban riots since a forthnight become increasingly politicised. Strategies appear to be changing with callouts to take to the streets in the centre of Paris. French police responds by forbidding every public assembly in public places for Saturday and Sunday.
The curfew imposed on certain suburbs around Paris and in other French towns has reduced the violence on the streets. But it has shown the youth that despite 2 weeks of burning cars and fighting the police in their own communities, the answer from the French state will be even more repression.
The curfew laws were designed for the Algerian war, and many immigrant youth feel they are still being treated like their grandfathers. Protests in Paris by Algerian migrants in the 1960s were attacked by police and resulted in dozens of death. Many protesters were thrown into the Seine river. This time, hundreds have been arrested and so far more than 120 face immidiate deportation, overruling their residence permits.
In interviews and on websites, more and more kids demand the resignation of minister Sarkozy. Graffitis on the walls of the suburbs have political messages, often anti-Sarkozy, anti-police and anti-state.
While the protests have spread to suburban towns outside France, like Belgium, Germany and Spain, the Paris insurgents are organising to bring the protests to the heart of Paris. The police claims that callouts are being made via email and text messages to assemble in public places of the city centre, like Champs Elysees, Les Halles and Bastille.
The police forbids every assembly in the centre of Paris for this weekend. People who do assemble (even if peacefully) face up to 7 months in prison and a 3,700 Euros (£2,500) fine.
The curfew laws were designed for the Algerian war, and many immigrant youth feel they are still being treated like their grandfathers. Protests in Paris by Algerian migrants in the 1960s were attacked by police and resulted in dozens of death. Many protesters were thrown into the Seine river. This time, hundreds have been arrested and so far more than 120 face immidiate deportation, overruling their residence permits.
In interviews and on websites, more and more kids demand the resignation of minister Sarkozy. Graffitis on the walls of the suburbs have political messages, often anti-Sarkozy, anti-police and anti-state.
While the protests have spread to suburban towns outside France, like Belgium, Germany and Spain, the Paris insurgents are organising to bring the protests to the heart of Paris. The police claims that callouts are being made via email and text messages to assemble in public places of the city centre, like Champs Elysees, Les Halles and Bastille.
The police forbids every assembly in the centre of Paris for this weekend. People who do assemble (even if peacefully) face up to 7 months in prison and a 3,700 Euros (£2,500) fine.
sarkozy
Comments
Hide the following comment
Are these terrorists?
13.11.2005 15:46
The French police tried to float the idea that these youths are organised or inspired by Al-Quaeda, but there is not a single scrap of even circumstantial evidence to link these protests with Osama Bin Ladin. By bringing in repressive measures, such as curfews and summary trials, and by unleashing the notoriously violent French police forces to beat back the youth, all the while claiming that the violence is inspired by Jean Etranger (do they call them Johnny Foreigners in France?), the authorities showed themselves helpless to deal with political problems by peaceful means. By resorting to the terrorism card, they revealed the complete bankruptcy of their policies and the true intent of the "anti-terrorism" measures adopted by the European elites.
Thatcher's Child