Violence erupts after Paris protest against job law

[Carnyx]

PARIS (Reuters) - French youths torched cars, looted shops and stoned police at the end of a rally against a youth job law in the center of Paris on Thursday, Reuters witnesses said.
Fire-fighters doused the front door of a six-storey apartment building set on fire in rue Fabert close to the Invalides area in central Paris, near the Foreign Ministry, a Reuters correspondent said.

Police fired tear gas in an effort to contain the violence that erupted after thousands of students and workers marched through Paris, calling on Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin to withdraw his CPE First Job Contract, which the young people say will create a generation of "throw-away workers."

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[Carnyx]

French strikers turn to violence
4.59PM, Tue Mar 28 2006


Tensions are rising in Paris as hardline protesters supporting a one-day national strike against new job laws clash with the police.
The proposed law, which will allow any worker under 26 to be sacked without reason within a two-year trial period, has already sparked riots across Paris and other major cities.
Incidents in Paris last week included looting, clashes with riot police and mass muggings.
Now, on the day of an official union strike, scenes have turned ugly once more as police and protesters clash. So far there have been scuffles in Paris's Place de la Republique, where hooded protesters have taunted police.
It is thought at least a million people are demonstrating throughout France. According to police estimates, 31,000 are marching in the southwestern city of Bordeaux, 28,000 in Marseille and 17,000 in Lyon.
The protests are a major challenge for Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, a potential candidate in next year's presidential election.
He hopes the measure will reduce youth unemployment from the current 23 per cent, but union and student leaders say it will create a generation of "throwaway workers".
"It's really annoying, all these delays," said one young worker at Paris's St Lazare station. "I'm going to be half an hour late for work."

http://www.itv.com/news/world_863947.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4854636.stm

[Agrippa]

What really annoys me is that in the media all are saying now, "oh well the French..."
However, at least there are strong opinions there and a group spirit is partly, though being rather left-liberal-patriotic inspired, is still present and alive.
I dont like the typical confrontation now neither: Right vs. Left, police vs. students. I think the concerns are justified and even more important, its a step in the wrong direction so to say. The right side is just playing the "law & order" style and from what I see most rights dont have concerns about such socio-economic changes, though they should have in my opinion. The Neoliberal reforms going on and this hedomatic-Liberal-individualistic spirit spreads itself all over Europe, but many people have serious concerns about the economic path - but the right political spectrum, with some exceptions, largely ignores that. On that matter I believe in being both national-group oriented and social, for controlled economy. Just because leftists lead the demonstrations doesnt have to mean that those measures are good for the country and the people and right activist which think for themselves should recognise that.

The most violent people in the media I saw were foreigners, which even attacked French political activists, and some small groups of the extreme left, anarchists and communists. Most others seem to have been rather peaceful and only reacted if being provocated.

[Carnyx]

Originally Posted by Agrippa

What really annoys me is that in the media all are saying now, "oh well the French..."

Ah, I know this kind of media... The comments, I know them by heart! French are lazy, they keep protesting, they do strikes all year long...

Just read this American article :

I've been watching the latest events from France with increasing amusement and disbelief. Amusement because I have no particular love for France and derive at least some enjoyment from watching their economic policies catching up to them. Disbelief stems from seeing these events occurring in a supposedly 1st world, developed and civilized country.

[...]

French lazy and useless are up in arms. Apparently they are much more brazen in that country than we can imagine here in the States. They want to be able to stay at their jobs without any repercussions for their performance. And what is their preferred method for protesting this percieved injustice? Rioting and crippling strikes across the nation.

http://ender.redstate.com/story/2006/3/28/105734/619

However, at least there are strong opinions there and a group spirit is partly, though being rather left-liberal-patriotic inspired, is still present and alive.

In our current situation (right now, concerning the CPE and social reforms) better them than timid rightists who don't understand anything and side this System and its bunch of anti-social reforms at any time.

I dont like the typical confrontation now neither: Right vs. Left, police vs. students. I think the concerns are justified and even more important, its a step in the wrong direction so to say. The right side is just playing the "law & order" style and from what I see most rights dont have concerns about such socio-economic changes, though they should have in my opinion.

Exactly my thoughts! Lately, I have found myself to be in complete disagreement with chilly tradional Nationalists, so no need to say classic rightists have no clue in this matter according to me. They are literally offside.
Rightists side the System and some Nationalists as well (but they are not even aware). They can give their support to the Police all they want (just because they fight with lefties... That's what I call "bright" reasons for a support...), claiming they want order and law, the Police won't side with them for that. They can support the reforms as much as they want, it will not prevent the System to destroy them and replace them (we are officially "throw away" workers now).

The Neoliberal reforms going on and this hedomatic-Liberal-individualistic spirit spreads itself all over Europe, but many people have serious concerns about the economic path - but the right political spectrum, with some exceptions, largely ignores that.

Rightists don't give a damn because they are not directly concerned at all by reforms... so far. So typical for Bourgeois. It makes me angry when I hear people in their 50-60's who want the order and law to come back ("stop the riots, the streets will not rule this country, CPE is not that bad to start a carrer"). They are reactionnaries, they put all their little energy in reaction and do not want change to occur. Damn it, they are the ones who bear a heavy responsability for our very bad situation, the ones who made troubles in 1968 for nearly nothing compared to our current difficulties. And now that they have power, the good jobs, the money, this spoilted generation of gaspillors who do not know anything about unemployement, who has destroyed everything, who do not want to give their places, would like to see their own children to accept any reforms without mouthing a word and behaving like sheeps.

I say we have been betrayed by our own parents and it hurts.

On that matter I believe in being both national-group oriented and social, for controlled economy. Just because leftists lead the demonstrations doesnt have to mean that those measures are good for the country and the people and right activist which think for themselves should recognise that.

Once again, I could have not said it better! This is an equation for nuts. But quite caricatural quotes as "better dead than red" (aka primary anti-leftists) are so representative of a certain mentality on our side that I am not surprised by some reactions. :thumdown Some people should learn to use their brain...

The most violent people in the media I saw were foreigners, which even attacked French political activists, and some small groups of the extreme left, anarchists and communists. Most others seem to have been rather peaceful and only reacted if being provocated.

That's correct. Yet, from what I know, people whom the Police arrest are of European extraction... The Police do not threat the alien trouble makers.

Not that I like Anarchists, but at least they have an ideal, a goal : the Revolution. And they use the means of the Revolution. While foreigners coming from the suburbs are only lead by low greedy motives : attacking young European people to rob demonstrators of their money and phone cells, using violence for they love violence (and not as a mean to accomplish a goal). Violence is only but an end to them. Finally, what is aliens main purpose? Well, they have none... (Ah maybe : "Niker la France" = "F_ck France" ) They have no concern with the social reforms, they do not work and do not plan to find a job.

We should not equate these demonstrations with riots.

[Agrippa]

Whats happening is that the lefist students still "feel for the poor foreigners" too often, even if being beatten up and robbed by them! They are just indoctrinated and finally they can't change to a more rightists approach to community and social justice, because it would be agains their whole education AND there is no such alternative, political movement of importance there at all.
The FN just plays his part for the system too...

Violence is only but an end to them.

Really, those Neoliberal-Neoconservative politicians might have prayed for them! If they wouldnt have been there, they should have paid them for comming and destroying the image of the demonstrators!
In fact thats what the police-intelligence service is doing in Germany, to infiltrate small groups, manipulating them for doing illegal things, even violent actions and finally controlling all events with agents and police informers.
That was done with the leftists during the 1960s-1980s, now mostly to the right spectrum, but again in the left groups too me thinks.
Its so nice to have an independent executive authority, fair democracy and free media in our great civil society which is so tolerant and so free...

And this foreigners destroying even their own sympathy in the French nation, what might be the only good outcome of this comedy. But unfortunately most media reports seem to concentrate on the students, left groups, other social activists etc. and as always the problem with asocial and non-integrable immigrants is played down.

France is now, like it is already for decades, the constant "bad guy" for the Neoliberal reformers, because they are one of the few, if not the only nations with a social conscience, real resistance and real alternatives to the economic Liberalism and social razing. For that they were punished more than once and the people around the world can see, "not even France can change the course and if we do something different, against those Neoliberal exploiters, we will just get beaten up too..."
Especially in Germany there is a general resignation and not too much ideas for a different policy survived in the wider populations.

[Carnyx]

France's Constitutional Council approved Thursday the controversial First Employment Contract (CPE) job law, despite three weeks of protests.
The final decision to officially sign it into law or to withdraw it is to be made by French President Jacques Chirac on Friday.
Chirac was expected to make a public declaration over the CPE law, which would, according to the French government, make it easier for employers to hire younger workers.

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[Gil]

I think that the issue at hand (CPE First Job Contract) is wrong and a step back in terms of working conditions. If anything, corrupt employers have yet another reason to employ illegal workers and keep legal workers in a unbalanced situation. Working conditions are of extreme importance, specifically how "steady" one's job is, and provided there is work stability there is populational and economical growth: CPE seems to support the contrary notion, that there is no need for work stability but rather to allow employers to freely kick out their employees.
Even though I think the protests (not the riots) are a feasible way to promote one's views, I also think that, like it has been seen before, many different groups try to use these unstable situations to promote violence for violence sake, namely minority groups and criminal elements. I've seen the images on TV5, CNN, BBC, etc, and the prevailing images are those of european adults protesting and of some more riotous elements with left-wing paraphernalia; even though I disagree with the CPE issue I think people need to get their facts straight: yes, a "revolution" is needed to change the way the political system is handling the economy and no, the answer isn't the riot but to protest.

[Señor Malo]

Originally Posted by Duchemin

Ah, I know this kind of media... The comments, I know them by heart! French are lazy, they keep protesting, they do strikes all year long...

Just read this American article :



http://ender.redstate.com/story/2006/3/28/105734/619



In our current situation (right now, concerning the CPE and social reforms) better them than timid rightists who don't understand anything and side this System and its bunch of anti-social reforms at any time.



Exactly my thoughts! Lately, I have found myself to be in complete disagreement with chilly tradional Nationalists, so no need to say classic rightists have no clue in this matter according to me. They are literally offside.
Rightists side the System and some Nationalists as well (but they are not even aware). They can give their support to the Police all they want (just because they fight with lefties... That's what I call "bright" reasons for a support...), claiming they want order and law, the Police won't side with them for that. They can support the reforms as much as they want, it will not prevent the System to destroy them and replace them (we are officially "throw away" workers now).



Rightists don't give a damn because they are not directly concerned at all by reforms... so far. So typical for Bourgeois. It makes me angry when I hear people in their 50-60's who want the order and law to come back ("stop the riots, the streets will not rule this country, CPE is not that bad to start a carrer"). They are reactionnaries, they put all their little energy in reaction and do not want change to occur. Damn it, they are the ones who bear a heavy responsability for our very bad situation, the ones who made troubles in 1968 for nearly nothing compared to our current difficulties. And now that they have power, the good jobs, the money, this spoilted generation of gaspillors who do not know anything about unemployement, who has destroyed everything, who do not want to give their places, would like to see their own children to accept any reforms without mouthing a word and behaving like sheeps.

I say we have been betrayed by our own parents and it hurts.



Once again, I could have not said it better! This is an equation for nuts. But quite caricatural quotes as "better dead than red" (aka primary anti-leftists) are so representative of a certain mentality on our side that I am not surprised by some reactions. :thumdown Some people should learn to use their brain...



That's correct. Yet, from what I know, people whom the Police arrest are of European extraction... The Police do not threat the alien trouble makers.

Not that I like Anarchists, but at least they have an ideal, a goal : the Revolution. And they use the means of the Revolution. While foreigners coming from the suburbs are only lead by low greedy motives : attacking young European people to rob demonstrators of their money and phone cells, using violence for they love violence (and not as a mean to accomplish a goal). Violence is only but an end to them. Finally, what is aliens main purpose? Well, they have none... (Ah maybe : "Niker la France" = "F_ck France" ) They have no concern with the social reforms, they do not work and do not plan to find a job.

We should not equate these demonstrations with riots.

i don't know what's your point of view on this issue of CPE, Duchemin (But after a quick reading of your comments I don't think is favorable) Mine neither.
I would not like to see my children to be forced to live at my home after their forties because no one agrees to grant them a credit to buy a house or even to sign a location contract (I know what will follow up after the CPE, I would not be surprised that after that they invented a CDE-contrat deuxième emploi-second employment contract! and so on !!!
What will happen after someone gets fired from his CPE?
I can hear the personnal responsibles int heir folowing interviews for job appilcation
"-Very interesting your CV, indeed. Yet ther's unfortunately a bugg; I see that you were expelled before your CPE arrived to its term.What guarantee have we that you haven't been expelled for a professional fault?"

[Carnyx]

PARIS (Reuters) - Ni retrait, ni suspension, ni dénaturation du CPE. C'était le 21 mars, Dominique de Villepin refusait de "capituler" face à l'ultimatum de la rue.

Le contrat première embauche enterré, le Premier ministre affronte des mois difficiles à Matignon, sous le sceau de la défaite.

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