Sorbonne riots

international | miscellaneous | news report Sunday March 12, 2006 18:05 by Organise

Yesterday evening, the Sorbonne, located on the Boulevard Saint Germain, was occupied.
This hasn't only happened before, the last time it happened it actually
triggered a cultural revolution [mai '68 revolts in France].

Not everyone can afford to studey in the vicinity of the jardin du
Luxembourg. Recently, Ronalde, a friend of '68, told me that "the really
cool thing then was that the rich kids went crazy: In spite of posh
clothes and gluttony, the tried to throw cobblestones at their parents -
so..."
The Sorbonne is famous ever since. Not as Elite-University (as it is
now), but because it was turned into a "people's university". The
university was in a sense the center of protests that would radically
change Central European society.
[...]

Anyway, back to unemotional fact-based journalism:). For about 6 weeks
now, protests have erupted all over France against the attacks on
working rights. Trade Unionists, "normal" workers, Students and school
pupils are uniting to prevent this egg. But it is only an egg. If the
protests are used decently, this egg can be stopped, but it is
essentially about more, it is about the chicken pen, the factories -the
whole bakery!

In France, for several weeks now, people have been gathering support and
last tuesday, almost a million people protested against CPE [the law
about work rights] etc. Approximately 20 universities are being striked
or occupied presently. The movement is expanding...now even to the
Sorbonne. 2 weeks ago, a few voices from Sorbonne were posting on the
French Indymedias: "we are 5 and are trying to form a movement..."
Yesterday evening about 80 students stayed in the rooms of the Richelieu
and others [the Sorbonne]. Even though a big number of CRS and other
"forces of order" stopped any support from outside, the number of
occupiers doubled over the night. They couldn't be evicted, because the
Sorbonne is to hard to break open and student reinforcements enter
through the windows...

This Afternoon, police presence in the Latin Quarter was shifted towards
the Sorbonne. A general meeting was called in the Sorbonne, to which one
had to carry one's student ID to (to show to Security - to stop
non-elite-students, external "autonome" and other evil scum...).
Strangely, the students of the qt. Latin who are often called lemmings,
managed to get more than 500 students to their general meeting. They
voted for Blockades and Occupations in the university (Yep, this is
normal in France...) and for free and unchecked access to the university.
This incredible, even though left-wing instigated event (Elite-students,
Yusties...they voted for occupations!!!) could fill the protests in
France with new Dynamism. Let's see what'll happen in the course of the
day. It would be stupid to continue present repression against the
students (as it has been happening in Tours, Lille, Toulouse and in
other Towns). About 38 years ago the Sorbonne was surrounded and
evicted. 600 arrests and 3 months of street fighting (rioting) in the
whole of Europe...Sarkozy - Think!

The French education minister has defended the use of force to evacuate almost 200 protesting students from the Sorbonne university in Paris.

Gilles de Robien accused some of the students of "odious acts", including defacing books and equipment.

Riot police using tear gas and batons confronted students angry at a new labour law, that would allow employers to hire and fire young workers.

But a student union leader said such tactics would lead to more violence.

The prime minister, Dominique de Villepin, is due to give a nationwide television address on Sunday, in an attempt to quell disquiet over the law, which has provoked several demonstrations throughout France over the past week.

At least two people were injured and there were several arrests in Saturday's operation at the prestigious Sorbonne.

Police stormed the university early in the morning to drive out the students - some of whom had been inside for three days - clearing the main building in less than 10 minutes.

They just got attacked in the most incredible way
Sorbonne student

"This is what happens when you call for disorder," said Mr Robien.

Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy, who cut short a visit to France's Caribbean Antilles Islands because of the unrest, denied there was any brutality.

One student, 20-year-old Marianne, said: "Police showed violence which went beyond all the limits. People were playing music and they just got attacked in the most incredible way."

But another said: "Their reaction was rather cool and they pushed us calmly to the exit."

Bruno Julliard, president of students' union UNEF, said: "If the government wants to continue using force... then we are heading towards a serious conflict."

Flexibility

The First Employment Contract (CPE), passed by parliament on Thursday, is a two-year contract for under-26-year-olds which employers can break off at any time without explanation.

Ministers hope the flexibility will encourage employers to hire more young people, safe in the knowledge that they will be able to get rid of them if they have to.

The law, which is intended to tackle France's chronic high youth unemployment, is due to come into force in April.

Critics of the legislation say younger workers would have less job security than older colleagues and France's generous labour provisions would be undermined.

The new legislation currently only applies to small firms but some fear it could be misused by larger employers and make it even harder for young people to find a permanent job.