- Title: French ban Calais protests after recent violence
- Date: 3rd February 2016
- Summary: CALAIS, FRANCE (FILE - JANUARY 21, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF POLICE IN MIGRANT CAMP MIGRANTS PUSHING TROLLEY
- Embargoed: 18th February 2016 14:51
- Keywords: Calais migrants Cazeneuve protest
- Location: PARIS AND CALAIS, FRANCE
- City: PARIS AND CALAIS, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Topics: Asylum/Immigration/Refugees,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA00542XSUVB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: France's interior minister said on Wednesday (February 3) he had banned demonstrations planned this weekend in Calais after protests last month turned violent and saw dozens of migrants forcing their way onto a boat for Britain.
Thousands of migrants from the Middle East and Africa have set up camp in the town in northern France, living in lamentable conditions as they await the opportunity to illegally board boats and trains across the English Channel.
On January 23 some 200 migrants burst through barriers into the port after a demonstration in support of those in the "Jungle" camp, closing the port for several hours.
"In view of these protests and the serious threat to public order they provoked, and after having discussed the subject with (Calais Mayor) Natacha Bouchart, I have asked the prefect of the Calais region to ban all demonstrations, no matter who organises them, which might threaten public order so as to avoid clashes which should not be taking place," Cazeneuve said.
On Saturday, a march had been planned by anti-immigrant right wing group Pegida which has been most active in Germany, but Cazeneuve said it would not take place.
"Protests by those who call for the hatred of these migrants, all the protests which will only create violence and division, and provoke a serious danger to public order, they're all banned next weekend," Cazeneuve added.
The newly-elected boss of the northern French region home to Calais, Xavier Bertrand, a political opponent of Socialist Cazeneuve, applauded the measures.
"The decision to ban this weekend's demonstrations is a good one, but it's also good that the ban is not subject to who the organisers are, because it will apply to all agitators, all of those who want to exploit the tragedy of Calais and who only want one thing: for an even greater tragedy to occur. These people do not want the common good, they just want to exploit poverty and anger and they have no place in Calais," he said.
Identity checks would also be stepped up at the entrance to the Calais jungle, Cazeneuve said, adding it had shrunk dramatically in size from 6,000 people to 3,800 since December.
Twenty-eight smuggling networks involving over 700 people had been broken up in 2015, Cazeneuve added. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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