France: demonstrators and trade unions denounce an increase in police violence

A riot police officer holds a launcher of rubber defense bullets (LBD 40) Place de la République during a demonstration, in Paris on March 21, 2023. © LUDOVIC MARIN / AFP

Text by: Laurence Théault Follow

4 mn

Since the passage of the pension reform, Thursday, March 16, 2023, spontaneous demonstrations have taken place every day in Paris and throughout the France. If at first it happened without violence, the testimonies of abusive arrests multiply.

Advertising

Read more

On Monday, March 20, the general secretary of the CGT union Philippe Martinez denounced an increase in the repression of demonstrators that was not justified. Since then, testimonies have multiplied. Several people say they were beaten with batons. At the time of videos that are easily relayed on social networks, we can see images, including that of a protester receiving a particularly violent blow to the face from a police officer.

On the morning of Wednesday, March 22 on France news, the prefect of police Laurent Nuñez justified himself.

"What my officials are saying is that they stopped an individual who, with a paving stone, was degrading this kiosk. All this is verifiable and I will check it. Then, obviously, the individual was arrested and several individuals opposed this arrest in a violent manner. So they were pushed back and it was in the context of this maneuver that this blow was given. Again, I will obviously determine whether it was suitable or not and I will take all necessary measures. I asked for an administrative investigation obviously as soon as I became aware of these videos and like all the others we have seen."

Laurent Nunez also said that there had been 755 arrests in Paris since last Thursday and that firefighters had to intervene 85 times. But the prefect of Paris ensures that there are no massive arrests.

This is not the opinion of the magistrates

The Paris prosecutor's office said that in the first three days of spontaneous protests, 425 people had been arrested. Only 52 of them had been prosecuted at the end of the proceedings. This means that the police are picking up a lot of people, including people who are just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

On Wednesday, March 22, in a statement, the Union of Magistrates condemned: "this policy of repression of the social movement and all the illegal police violence that would have occurred in recent days". The SM calls "that they do not remain without follow-up, without waiting for new tragedies". Judges who specify that freedom of expression and demonstration is an essential right of democracy.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) also notes that several clearly identified journalists have been attacked by security forces while covering demonstrations against the pension reform.

► READ ALSO: Pensions: unions call to remain mobilized, rallies everywhere in France

The Concerned Defender

Here too, it is the consequences of these preventive arrests that are worrying. The defender of rights Claire Hédon recalls the rules of ethics in the maintenance of order. In addition, three rebellious deputies have written to the Ministry of the Interior to demand the dismantling of the BRAV-M, the brigade for the repression of violent actions motorized. It is a police officer of this brigade who is involved in the punch previously mentioned.

This aggressive policing is also denounced by the demonstrators. The police are multiplying the traps, in other words the encirclement of the demonstrators by blocking the streets. In principle, this is illegal if everything goes well. This is clearly indicated by a decision of the Council of State. Law enforcement must always give people a chance to move around and get out of the trap. However, RFI journalists on the ground found that this was not the case, including during completely calm demonstrations. The context therefore did not justify it.

For their part, police officers quoted by Mediapart express their discomfort. They obey orders and explain that the Minister of the Interior wants to secure Paris as a priority. But some think they are on the eve of an insurrection and many fear a tragedy. In other words, the death of a protester.

► READ ALSO: Pension reform: young people are also mobilizing and want to harden the movement

Newsletter Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

Read on on the same topics:

• France
• French politics
• Social issues