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"It
is ironic that parents of some of these youth had lived under the
same law over 50 years ago, in similar circumstances," Alima
said.
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By
Hadi Yahmed, IOL Correspondent
PARIS,
November 15, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – A French member of the upper
house senate considered Tuesday, November 15, the tough security
measures to curb migrants' protests of their bad living conditions an
indication of "colonial mentality" that would not solve the
problem, stressing "social justice and equality among all French
citizens" is the only way out.
In
statements to IOL Tuesday, Alima Boumediene Theiry focused her
criticism on the notorious decision of imposing curfews in areas that
witnessed protest riots during the last weeks.
"Curfews
are based on a colonial mentality that considers rioting youth to be
not French," Theiry, Greens' Senator said.
"It
is ironic that parents of some of these youth, who live in the suburbs
of Paris and other cities had lived under the same law over 50 years
ago, in similar circumstances."
Late
Monday, President Jacque Chirac told the French cabinet the emergency
powers were "strictly temporary and will only be applied where
they are strictly necessary."
More
than 8,000 cars have been burned, scores of buildings wrecked and
dozens of police hurt since October 27, in attacks carried out mainly
by French youths of Arab and African origins.
In
his first address to the nation Monday
since the troubles began on October 27, Chirac vowed to fight the
"poison" of discrimination faced by France's immigrant
communities, acknowledging widespread rioting in the country revealed
a deep identity crisis.
Recurrence
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Sarkozy
has become used to be accompanied by strict security guards
wherever he goes.
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The
French Senator further blasted government handling of the crisis so
far, describing it as "bad" and depending only on
"security measures", insisting root causes must be tackled
first to avoid recurrence.
"The
crisis (rioting in the suburbs) won't be solved by security crackdowns
and it stands a recurrence unless social justice and equality among
all French citizens prevail.
"As
long as there are unemployment, discrimination in the work place and
degrading way of treatment (in dealing with migrants' youth), the
crisis stands a repeat and rioting could again erupt more
violently," she added.
French
Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy has come under intense criticism
over dubbing rioting youths "rabble", making his resignation
a top priority for some young rioters.
In
a direct acknowledgement of the economic and social roots of the
unrest, Chirac announced Monday the creation of a paid training and
employment scheme for 50,000 youths from such areas and a series of
measures to improve access to the workplace and to combat
discrimination.
Deportations
In
a related matter, Sarkozy's decision to deport foreigners accused of
taking part in the riots is witnessing a heated debate across France.
According
to Sarkozy, 120 foreigners, some of whom are staying legally in
France, "have been convicted" of taking part in the nightly
rampages.
As
a result of severe criticisms from the French public and several
parties' officials to Sarkozy, French media noticed that the
controversial politician has become used to be accompanied by strict
security guards wherever he goes. No reporter was allowed to approach
Sarkozy as he walked out of a cabinet meeting Monday unlike the case
in the past, IOL correspondent says.
According
to official figures, a total of 2,767 people have been arrested since
the beginning of the unrest.
