Posted on 11/02/2005 5:31:01 PM PST by blam
Six nights of riots in Paris ghetto split Chirac cabinet
By Henry Samuel in Clichy-sous-Bois
(Filed: 03/11/2005)
The French government was reeling yesterday after six nights of rioting which have exposed a split in the cabinet over how to deal with poverty and immigration in the dilapidated Paris suburbs.
As authorities cleaned up the debris of another bout of violence, including the wrecks of 250 cars burned out on Tuesday night, both the prime minister, Dominique de Villepin, and the interior minister, Nicolas Sarkozy, put off foreign trips to deal with the rioting.
Youths on the Paris estates have promised ‘40 nights of violence’
"We sure showed it to them last night," said one youth in Clichy-sous-Bois, a grim suburb of high-rises some 15 miles outside Paris.
The worsening crisis jolted President Jacques Chirac out of a six-day silence into calling for calm and a firm hand in dealing with a "dangerous situation".
"The law must be applied firmly and in a spirit of dialogue and respect," the president said at a cabinet meeting.
Using words which could be seen as critical of the tough policing tactics promoted by Mr Sarkozy: "The absence of dialogue and an escalation of a lack of respect will lead to a dangerous situation."
The riots first broke out on the Chêne-Pointu council estate. Last Thursday, two adolescents from the estate died when they scaled the 8ft wall of an electricity substation to dodge police and were electrocuted.
A third escaped with severe burns. The two dead youths, Ziad and Banou, have become symbols of the social problems that ring the capital.
"They were good kids coming back from a football game. Their criminal record was almost completely clean," said Kolan, a black 22-year-old who was part of a foursome, all of North African origin, scuffing their feet in the estate entrance.
The police say they were not chasing the youths who died, but another nearby group.
"We have witnesses who saw them being chased by two policemen. They had done nothing, but if the police chase you around here, you run, guilty or not, because you can be sure they won't be kind with you," said Kolan.
Chêne-Pointu typifies the problems of many of the urban ghettoes that surround Paris and other large French cities: a high immigrant population, soaring unemployment and drug dealing.
Many of the youths blame Mr Sarkozy for the continued violence, with what they consider to be highly provocative language. He has pledged to "industrially clean" council estates and to rid them of "scum".
On Sunday night, he promised "zero tolerance" of suburban crime. Two rioters have already received three-month jail sentences and a dozen more face charges.
"We're not dumb. Sarkozy has declared war on suburban youth," said Karim, 23. "Unless he apologises for the way he has treated us, then he can expect 40 nights of violence," he said.
But others around the estate back Mr Sarkozy. "What he says may be crude, but he's right. Drug runners and petty criminals have had it good too long around here.
"There's only so much social prevention you can do, then you have to repress," said Marie-Jeanne Sacré, a social worker.
In the neighbouring Bosquet estate, Traore Gounedi, a 27-year-old worker in a local social centre, is incensed. "Ten years ago, Clichy was a real no-go area. But in recent years we had built up sports clubs and other associations and it had become calm.
"The way Sarkozy has dealt with this, using riot police and terms the National Front would be proud of, has put the clock back 10 years. Once Ramadan ends on Friday, things will get worse."
As night fell at Chêne-Pointu, sirens heralded the approach of two fire engines that positioned themselves in front of the estate awaiting the flames.
I don't personally think courage is a racial thing. The French have had more than their share of humiliating failures...going all the way back to Poitiers and Agincourt. But under the right leadership and for the right cause...well, I guess we're about to see.
The French Homeland Security is currently at Yellow.
While they were rioting around the Convention center in Los Angeles, a few years ago, cause the lakers won, shoving burning trees inside of cars, etc, the reporter announced they were celebrating the victory.
Here let's celebrate, shove a burning tree inside this car...
Heck of celebration. Once third world, always third world.
Kind of a shame on multiculturalism.
Rumor our troops will deploy to quell unrest:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1514489/posts?page=1
See #42. LOL
The French have deveoloped a new battle tank. It has one forward speed and five gears in reverse.There is also a special button that when pushed the tank barrel falls off and a white flag goes up.HA!
Maybe this will turn into Another Viet Nam for France, substituting Paris for Dien Bien Phu.
France is really a third-world country, which has been in decline for more than a century and a half. It has been corrupt and in decline for so long that , unlike typical third-world countries, there is little decency or civic virtue in its people.It is being passed by third-world countries moving in the other direction of growth and improvement, including newly free countries in Eastern Europe such as Poland, and large emerging nations such as India.
How many Fenchmen does it take to defend Paris? The world may never know, it's never been done before.
"6 nights and the French have yet to surrender? I guess a cow will now jump over the moon"
Hell has, indeed, frozen over. Hell, has indeed, frozen over. Hell indeed has frozen over.
Well, one is almost correct?
I don't disagree that they have drifted away from the swifter currents of life. But maybe this is their chance to regain their confidence.
There are forces at work in France (like Sarkozy) who are strong and courageous.
Perhaps we can say bon voyage to Chirac and Villepin.
I agree.
Trying to steel the resolve of my spawn.
That is clearly what is needed here.;)
You got my day started off with a grin.
Thanks!
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