RE: [Marxism] riots in france

["Walter Lippmann" <walterlx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

It's striking to see that the French left media do not describe the
participants in these events as Africans, Arabs or Muslims, which I
suspect most of them are, but only as people living in working class
communities subject to discrimination. One wonders why that element
seems to have been omitted from their commentaries.

Today I'm hearing news on NPR that protests are NOW being organized
(Probably with plenty of media support), against the riots. I found
it interesting that both the LO and the PCF seemed to make a point of
criticizing the protests by those who'd been victims of
discrimination and police brutality rather than focusing on the cops
and their acts of brutality, all of which began with the deaths of
two young men through electrocution in an underground tunnel...

Any additional information you might have on this would be
appreciated. It's being followed very closely here in the Cuban
media. Would like impressions which anyone else has of the conscious
organization which is suggested in the report from Cuba's Prensa
Latina news agency which came out yesterday.

Walter
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==

Rioting Still Flares in France

Paris, Nov 5 (Prensa Latina) The Paris riots of the last few days,
which began with African immigrants, have now spread to the youth of
other cities and continue to be strategically organized, avoiding
direct clashes with police.

Parisian DA Yves Bot told Le Monde daily Saturday that the movement
seems to be aimed at State institutions and informed that the
Interior Ministry has increased the number of police in affected
areas and is filming from a helicopter.

Nightly violence in the last nine days in Paris´ poorest districts
began with an eruption of youth enraged by the electrocution of Bouna
Traore, 15, and Zyed Benna, 17, when their vehicle hit a power
substation while presumably being pursued by police.

According to Liberation daily, the violence is youth´s rejection of a
model which fails to meet their expectations and the result of
problems neglected for 30 years.

Minister of Interior Nicolas Sarkozy admitted as much Friday, citing
high unemployment and a perceived lack of economic opportunities.

In an attempt to solve the crisis, Prime Minister Dominique de
Villepin met on Friday with 15 young people, including immigrants and
unemployed, from urban areas hit by the unrest, but was strongly
criticized by a group of 30 mayors and other elected officials from
the affected areas, who said this was no time for a plan.

mh/ccs/rma/hav








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