Posted on 11/02/2005 1:35:19 PM PST by doc30
Paris — French President Jacques Chirac, intervening after six nights of rioting in suburban Paris, called Wednesday for calm and said authorities will use a firm hand to curtail what may become a “dangerous situation.”
The violence, sparked initially by the deaths of two teenagers, has exposed the despair, anger and deep-rooted criminality in the poor suburbs, where police hesitate to venture and which have proved fertile terrain for Islamic extremists.
“The law must be applied firmly and in a spirit of dialogue and respect,” Mr. Chirac said at a cabinet meeting. “The absence of dialogue and an escalation of a lack of respect will lead to a dangerous situation.”
Mr. Chirac's remarks were passed on to reporters by government spokesman Jean-François Copé.
The rioting, which spread Tuesday night to at least nine towns in the region around Paris, has exposed rifts in Mr. Chirac's government, with Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy – a potential 2007 presidential candidate – being criticized for his tough talk and police tactics.
It also has renewed debate about France's failure to fully integrate its millions of immigrants, many of whom are trapped in poverty and grinding unemployment, living in low-cost, sometimes decrepit, suburban housing estates where gangs dealing drugs and stolen goods sometimes are in control.
That Mr. Chirac intervened personally was a measure of the crisis. He acknowledged the “profound frustrations” of troubled neighbourhoods but said that violence is not the answer and that efforts must be stepped up to combat it.
“Zones without law cannot exist in the republic,” he said.
In Tuesday night's clashes, riot police fired rubber bullets at advancing gangs of youths in Aulnay-sous-Bois, where 15 cars were burned, officials said. Youths lobbed Molotov cocktails at an annex to the town hall and threw stones at the firehouse. It was not immediately clear whether there were any injuries.
Mr. Sarkozy told Europe-1 radio that police detained 34 people overnight.
Mr. Sarkozy – blamed by many for fanning the violence with his “zero-tolerance” approach to suburban crime – defended his approach and vowed to restore calm. He recently called rioters “scum” and vowed to “clean out” troubled suburbs.
Housing projects to the north and northeast of Paris are heavily populated by North African Muslim immigrants.
Because of the unrest, Mr. Sarkozy cancelled a visit to Pakistan and Afghanistan planned to begin Sunday, his office announced Wednesday.
The rioting began Thursday in the northeastern suburb of Clichy-sous-Bois after the electrocution of two teenagers hiding in a power substation because they believed police were chasing them.
Officials have said police were not pursuing the boys, aged 17 and 15.
Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin met Tuesday evening with the parents of the three families, promising a full investigation of the deaths and insisting on “the need to restore calm.”
On Wednesday, Mr. de Villepin postponed a trip to Canada in the wake of the rioting. A spokeswoman for Prime Minister Paul Martin said the visit will be rescheduled.
In the northeastern suburb of Bondy, 14 cars were burned and four people arrested for throwing stones at police, authorities said. ---------------------------------------------- Lee from Markham, Canada writes: That's why Canada needs good immigration planning.So far Canada has done a OK job, but much improvement needed.
Immigrants need to have jobs or school enrollment before being accepted into the country.
Refugees must at least enroll in school within 6 months of admittance with a part time job (there's many many jobs no matter how menial).As a refugee you should be happy just for the opportunity.
Posted Nov. 2, 2005 at 9:54 AM EST Link to Comment
---------------------------------------------- Matt Mercer from Toronto, Canada writes: How did this happen? How did the accidental death of two boys lead to six nights of rioting? And why did it take that long for the President to respond?
There has to be more to this story.
Posted Nov. 2, 2005 at 11:02 AM EST Link to Comment
---------------------------------------------- Nick A from Montreal, Canada writes:
In typical French fashion, they again have their heads in the sand until they get kicked in the ass and, with complete surprise, look up to see what's really going on around them. The French may have encouraged apathy with one of the most coddled labour forces in the world thanks to benefits won in constant strikes, but they barely lift a finger to help the hundreds of thousands of immigrants that come to France each year. It's no wonder that these people live in poverty, with little chance of making real lives for themselves, and thus abhor the state that denies them rights, dignity and the promise of a better life. No one cares until the neighbourhood is up in flames, and every time another century-old building burns down in a forgotten Paris suburb, another 20 of the "scum" are eliminated. The hypocrisy is as astounding as it is telling. Chirac seems to have plenty of time to stick his ample nose into other people's affairs (Turkey, Europe, Quebec in '95, you name it...) yet is totally unable to comprehend or cater to the needs of his own people - ie. only after six days of rioting does he understand his people's "profound frustrations". Chirac, and by extension the people that put him in his current position, need to open up their eyes to their current situation and realize that they can no longer keep their collective heads in the sand or at least arrogantly presume to know what other countries (Turkey) need to do while French neighbourhoods lie in ruin.
Posted Nov. 2, 2005 at 12:13 PM EST Link to Comment
---------------------------------------------- Ray Garvey from Marseille, France writes: Isn't this interesting - the French have bashed the Americans and many others for their treatment of aliens, and this horrible blight exists in Paris.Anyone who's visited northern and eastern suburbs would know why these people are rioting.We've also had two apartment fires in recent months that killed immigrants.It is a third world country mess that exists pretty much in the heart of the Paris.The French always speak one way and act another.Let's hope they turn their criticism toward themselves so that this mess can be resolved without further violence.No small task -- the mess is enormous. Posted Nov. 2, 2005 at 12:15 PM EST Link to Comment adam mussaji from Mississaauga/, Canada writes: This is the evidence of imbalance and injustice. It is time the authorities look into
the cause and cries of people and extend priorities to Human Values.
Posted Nov. 2, 2005 at 3:01 PM EST Link to Comment
What is more interesting are the moderated comments that readers of the Globe and Mail posted. They actually seem to be blaming France's poor record of social responsibilty for immigrants as the cause of the riots. Canadians seem to have a sense of socialst superiority over the French and blame the French for racism, rather than the actions of the rioters as a problem. Canadians, typically, have no sense of personal responsibility. I wonder if the Globe will publish my polite, non-PC, comments.
I think what's really interesting here is that what should be a local law enforcement issue has become a national concern and has to be addressed by the President. For Chirac to have to deal with common thugs politically really says something about how weak he is. It also says something about France's ability to police itself. The entire nation is in an uproar about criminals. France is coming unglued.
"exposed the despair, anger and deep-rooted criminality in the poor suburbs, where police hesitate to venture"
Fallujah?
French government is highly centralized. They do not have a federal system like the US.
Has France surrendered yet?
The French President speaks: There are no rioters in Paris. We have crushed them all in a sea of fire. The sheeple, er...I mean people should remain calm. Woman may pick up their protective burka headgear at the nearest church, I mean temporary mosque. Men must report to the Eiffel minaret for conversion.
Do not be alarmed, for we are a Religion of Peace and we'll behead you to prove it!.
No, they expect the Americans to save them.
The French President speaks: There are no rioters in Paris. We have crushed them all in a sea of fire. The sheeple, er...I mean people should remain calm. Woman may pick up their protective burka headgear at the nearest church, I mean temporary mosque. Men must report to the eiffel minaret for conversion.
Do not be alarmed, for we are a Religion of Peace and we'll behead you to prove it!.
When I was in France last summer, I had my wallet stolen on the subway. When I went to give a police report, I was warned by my French colleagues that the police are VERY brutish and do not like dealing with anyone, especially foreigners. I found them to be very respectful and professional, but then I learned that was when they were trying to attect the 2012 Olympics and the police had to be on good behaviour.
what may become a “dangerous situation.”
Past that, I'd say.
Maybe but I think there's also some hammering on the insufferable French belief that social problems don't happen in France. And I mean just ordinary French people believe this. If you talk to one of them they are astounded you could believe such a thing is possible in France. Social problems are an Anglo, or American thing.
After the London bombings, the recurring theme in interviews with young serious muslims was that working for or cooperating with the infidel was an insult to Islam. The imams encourage young men to refuse opportunity and to take the free handout from the government...and wait (obviously wait for jihad).
I don't believe there is despair. And the anger and deep-rooted criminality is part and parcel of Islam. These young men know they are in the "land of war" (al-harb)...they will not be placated until they can drive out the infidel (as they are doing according to plan).
Rather ironic, it's widely acknowledged that without France's Presidential immunity from prosecution, Chiraq would be in jail. His partner in corruption has been found guilty in a French court.
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