Regards, Ivan
Posted on 04/08/2006 8:11:17 AM PDT by MadIvan
TEN STUDENT protesters were injured yesterday after a Paris motorist, angry that they had blocked a road, drove his car into them.
The driver only escaped following police intervention after his car was overturned and he was dragged out by the demonstrators.
The incident near the Sorbonne University laid bare some of the frustration surrounding the government's new plan for getting more young people working and the opposition of students and unions to the scheme.
On Paris's Left Bank, protesters disrupted traffic by picnicking on a busy boulevard. They were heading away when a frustrated motorist tried to burst through the crowd.
Several dozen youths turned the car over, tried to kick out its windows and began dragging the driver out before police and onlookers intervened.
Police in riot gear dispersed the crowd. The driver, a man of about 20, was taken into custody, police said. Protesters cried "Killer!" as he was led away, visibly shocked.
The leader of a high school student association, FIDL, said he was surprised that police let cars back on to the boulevard, though the protest wasn't finished.
"Unleashing cars on high schoolers who are picnicking peacefully in the sun is really stupid and irresponsible," said Tristan Rouquier, who witnessed the incident. Firefighters and police said ten people were slightly injured.
Ruling party politicians trying to find a way out of the crisis finished talks with union and student leaders yesterday.
The law, which would make it easier for companies to hire and fire people under the age of 26, has provoked weeks of strikes and massive protests, mainly driven by fears that the law will erode job security for the young. While most demonstrations have been peaceful, some have seen violence from a radical fringe.
This week, students have switched to more unpredictable methods of protest, with impromptu blockades of train stations and roads.
A day earlier, students blocked international trains in Paris and a convoy carrying parts for the new Airbus A380 superjumbo to a factory in south-west France.
Trying to end the stand-off, the president, Jacques Chirac, has offered to soften the law. But unions and students want it repealed by 15 April and have threatened to hold further demonstrations.
France's conservative government is expected to decide on a course of action in the coming days. Parliamentarians close to Nicolas Sarkozy, the interior minister, said one way out might be drawing up measures with labour leaders to replace the contested law.
"We are moving toward the opening of negotiations," said Dominique Paille, an Assembly member. Another politician, Yves Jego, said the idea had the backing of many in parliament. But it was unclear whether it would satisfy unions, or even if it had Mr Chirac's support.
Regards, Ivan
Ping!
The French are revolting.
"Unleashing cars on high schoolers who are picnicking peacefully in the sun is really stupid and irresponsible," said Tristan Rouquier
Hey Tristan, maybe picnicking in the street where people drive cars is really stupid and irresponsible.
"TEN STUDENT protesters were injured yesterday"
Damn small European cars.
Good one!
"You ain't kiddin', they stink on ice!"
Having lived in France during their interminable strikes, I know JUST how the driver felt.
They are SO revolting. Hehe.
You beat me to my post.
Makes one wonder just how bright these kids really are.
I think we can assume that these "students" weren't studying physics.
I bet you Thank God every day for the Channel!
Pray for W and Our Freedom Fighters
He needed to have a running start and drive faster.
China and Russia can have the students arrested (less true in Russia ... for the moment). Socialism only works with a large military and police force. Otherwise - chaos!
What about Sweden, Norway, Holland? Well, they have not paid a fortune to defend themselves (leaving the US and GB to assume that responsibility). So, while they have been free-riding on the US/GB, they have indulged themselves with "free" medical care and "no-cut" labor contracts. But, that can't go on forever and they are all either going to revert to a free market system or go the communist/military/secret police route.
My bet is the communist/military/secret police route.
French people are really much more hotheaded than Americans.
In the USA, it would not occur to me to drive into people blocking the street.
But in France, I will admit that when students just hang out and ignore you when you are clearly trying to pass, I get angrier and angrier. Honking only makes the young more stubborn. I have driven through knots of insolent students myself. They usually move. Usually they hit your car and twist the mirrors.
Car accidents in France usually result in men pouring out of cars and fistfighting, if they're young, or screaming at each other if they are older.
In America, usually they stand sullenly at the roadside and exchange information and await the police.
In France, the police often have to be summoned...because the men are fighting, or nearly fighting, or kicking the other's vehicle.
French are temperamental, and many men have a bit of alcohol flowing in their veins at all times, which makes them more choleric, especially if they think they are in the right.
It is not surprising that some hotheaded 20 year old plowed into the crowd. I've done it myself, when I was younger and students wouldn't get out of the way and I was angry and annoyed. I'd NEVER think to do that in America, but then, in America, a knot of students won't stand in front of you on the street and smoke and ignore you when you are trying to pass. America is a much more German country.
Also, I think that men not getting out of the car and fistfighting in America might have to do with the strong possibility that somebody has a gun. Universal firearms possession probably has a lot to do with Americans being so polite to each other.
"Unleashing cars on high schoolers who are picnicking peacefully in the sun is really stupid and irresponsible,"
Maybe they shouldn't picnic in the street.
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