FRANCE : The French government imposes rarely used emergency laws to put riot-torn areas of the country under curfew

Record ID: 858520

  • Title: FRANCE : The French government imposes rarely used emergency laws to put riot-torn areas of the country under curfew
  • Date: 9th November 2005
  • Summary: (EUROPE) PARIS, FRANCE (NOVEMBER 8, 2005)(REUTERS) WIDE OF LOBBY OF PARLIAMENT
  • Embargoed: 24th November 2005 12:00
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  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAD95DZYV092IE5OYM4QLRIUDXH
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  • Story Text: The French government imposed rarely used emergency laws on Tuesday (November 8) to put riot-torn areas of the country under curfew in efforts to quell the worst unrest in decades.
    After 12 days of violence by youths who have torched cars, schools and churches in protest against racism and unemployment, the government invoked a 1955 law on states of emergency that was used to curb unrest during Algeria's war of independence.
    The decree was due to go into force at midnight (2300 GMT). It allows emergency measures to be in force for 12 days and can restrict the movement of people and vehicles in areas where local government officials known as prefects declare a curfew.
    The northern city of Amiens was the first to announce a curfew, saying unaccompanied youths would not be allowed to walk the streets of the city and neighbouring districts from midnight until 6 a.m. In coming days the curfew will start at 10 p.m.
    "France is wounded. It cannot recognise itself in its streets and devastated areas, in these outbursts of hatred and violence which destroy and kill," Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin told the lower house of parliament.
    Prime minister Dominique de Villepin received a standing ovation after the 35 minutes speech in parliament. But, while the move was welcomed on the streets of the capital, a handful of politicians said the move was excessive.
    Maxime Gremetz, a Communist member of parliament, said the move was an invitation to disaffected youths to create more trouble and an admission that France was at war. A centre right member of parliament said the move to restore curfews -- the first in metropolitan France since the 1950s -- was disproportionate.
    More than 5,000 cars have now been set on fire during the 12 days of unrest and more than 1,500 people have been detained, some of them white youngsters but many of them of Arab and African origin.
    Villepin said 1,500 police would be brought in to back up the 8,000 officers already deployed in areas hit by violence, widely seen as the most serious unrest since protests in 1968.
    Villepin also promised to accelerate urban renewal programmes and vowed to help young people in poor suburbs by reducing unemployment and improving their education opportunities.
    Chirac said the measures were needed to restore order but he faces criticism for saying little in public about the violence, in which one man has been killed.
    The violence, which began when two youths were accidentally electrocuted fleeing police in a Paris suburb on October 27, has undermined France's efforts to portray itself as a society based on equality for everyone.
    It has also put fierce pressure on Villepin and President Jacques Chirac.
    Five cars were torched in Brussels during the night in what officials say could have been copycat attacks.
    Fears of riots erupting in other countries helped push down the value of the euro, which at one point hit a two-year low against the dollar. French officials also fear investment and tourism will be hit by the violence.
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