Posted on 11/07/2005 5:48:46 PM PST by blam
Leaders fiddle as France burns
By Colin Randall in Paris
(Filed: 08/11/2005)
France was struggling to overcome one of its gravest post-war crises last night as every major city faced the threat of fierce rioting that began 12 nights ago and now seems to have spun out of control.
More than 1,400 vehicles were destroyed during a night of increasing violence
Despite an assurance from Philippe Douste Blazy, the foreign minister, that France was "not a dangerous country", the spread of violence prompted the Foreign Office in London to warn travellers that trouble could break out "almost anywhere".
Dominique de Villepin, the beleaguered prime minister, announced that officials in riot-hit areas would be authorised to impose late-night curfews "wherever it is necessary" in a bid to halt the disturbances.
He rejected calls by a police union for troops to be sent in but said that 1,500 reservists were being called up and repeated an appeal to parents to keep adolescent rioters off the streets.
Although the disorder began on the intimidating sink estates of Paris's northern suburbs, trouble had been reported yesterday in the early hours from most regions of the country. Even areas such as Brittany, the Loire and Bordeaux, favoured by British holidaymakers and second- home hunters, have now been drawn into the worst wave of unrest in France since the spring revolt of 1968 set in motion the downfall of Gen Charles de Gaulle.
Yesterday the violence also claimed its first life. A 61-year-old man died in hospital three days after being beaten unconscious when he left his home in a northern Paris suburb intending to stop rubbish bins being set on fire.
Even before renewed disturbances broke out last night, figures showed that rioters had wrecked 4,700 vehicles, injured more than 100 police and rescue workers, and opened fire in at least six separate incidents.
Of the 1,200 people arrested, more than 30 - half of them juveniles - have already been jailed or given youth custody.
Rioters have targeted schools, churches and public buildings
The police union Action Police CFTC called for curfews to be imposed in all riot-hit areas to combat the "civil war that spreads a little more every day". The mayor of one town, Raincy, north of Paris, announced a late-night street ban on children to "avoid a tragedy". The union also urged the government to send in troops to defeat the trouble-makers, mainly mobs of young people from poor estates dominated by Muslim families whose origins are in France's former colonies in north and sub-Saharan Africa.
Twenty-four hours earlier, a belated and much-criticised intervention by President Jacques Chirac, his first since the violence began, was followed by the worst night of rioting so far.
More than 1,400 vehicles were destroyed, two policemen were injured by birdshot and petrol bomb attacks were launched on schools, churches and public buildings.
Mr Chirac, who had spoken of a French republic resolved to show itself "stronger than those who want to sow violence or fear", made more conciliatory comments in a private meeting yesterday.
President Vaira Vike-Freiberga of Latvia said the French president had admitted to him that "ghettoisation of youths of African or North African origin" was to be deplored, as was French society's "incapacity to fully accept them".
Pascal Clement, the justice minister, announced that three boys, aged 16, had been detained in the southern city of Aix-en-Provence for allegedly using their weblogs, hosted by a pop music radio station, to urge others to riot.
Police claim that ringleaders of the disturbances, which began in the northern Paris surburb of Clichy-sous-Bois on Oct 27 after two boys were accidentally electrocuted while apparently running from police, have become increasingly organised.
The Foreign Office yesterday warned Britons already in France or considering travelling there that the unrest could now break out "almost anywhere".
The new travel advisory painted a much more alarming picture of the threat to British citizens than a similar bulletin issued on Sunday.
Britons should also "avoid any demonstrations which may be taking place in and around" areas affected by the riots, said the Foreign Office website.
Repleat with single shot weapons firing cartridges with 12 gr. rubber bullets.
"Alright, bets on how long these riots are going to last? I am guessing another half week at least."
So how's tonight going compared to the previous week and a half? Is it still speading or does it seem to have leveled off? I can't find much that tells that.
It really depends on the reason for the rioting. If it's to take over France, it could be longer, maybe a week (if you think the French could resist that long). This isn't about anger over two kids who died.
Is that the map of France in 1940? The modern Huns/Muslims are faster and more effective in disrupting France, but the disarray in French leadership does remind me of the French government in the early day of WW II. It took only 60 days for the Germans to beat the French. How many days will it take the Muslims? One thing is certain, it's adieu to all tourists in Gay Paree. The Frogs should re-invent the Resistance, or have they forgotten how?
Me too, and I almost hope the MooseLimbs win this one so the rest of the West finally wakes up to the problem at hand.
rat patrol?
MooseLimbs? Where do you get that one?
Well, they did that with bussing and you see what happened to the schools.
Yes..and the French will then say..."Where are the Americans when we need them?"..
I enjoyed seeing them take their lumps for awhile too, but their naivete is a sad thing. These liberals honestly believe this "We are the world" nonsense.
There is something disturbing about seeing someone of goodwill with a goofy worldview being pounded into powder. About like seeing Gomer Pyle have his feelings hurt in the old television series.
I feel bad for them, even though there's no denying that they have it coming.
Monsoir...maybee we can convincea the Americano's to fight for us...oui??
I'm wondering if other US cities had the same type of order as our "Sanders decree" in Pittsburgh, where a judge settled an affirmative action complaint by ordering the city to buy expensive homes in suburban areas to give to former dwellers in public housing.
Until the French authorities put defending their country over appeasing invaders and actually fight back. In other words, don't hold your breath.
I heard Euro Disney is being rioted too.
Riots are pretty widespread. Wonder how the leftists think about this mess???????????/ I know, we must send more love to them, we've done something wrong??????????//
Muslims
Mus(moose) lims(Limbs)
I posted a piece titled "Who is Fiddling While Paris Burns? Another Look at France and the Parisian Riots" on the 4th. i should sue. :-p
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1515591/posts
duuuuuuuuu OK
are these mostly black Africans or strictly muslims ?just asking .
I think that the French have waited too long to respond in force now.
Because whatever they do from this point on will be wrong, in the eyes of the media. If they do nothing, the mediaill criticsize them for being weak. A strong response will get them the, "they were too butal" hammering from the media.
The moose limbs have used the same tactics against them that they used against the Israelis in gaza and the communists in the U.S. used against the police.
To wit: Have "young" people manufacture an excuse to riot and then do whatever it takes to get a strong response from the police. Then the media begins hammering the police for their "brutal" actions against peaceful demonestrators who were only venting their frustrations in a peaceful manner.
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