R=C9SEAU-INFOS-FACS
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Nantes le 6/12/95
On Tuesday 5th December several hundred people (500 to 800) confronted the
forces of law and order.
The confrontations began with some stone throwing (successful!) smashing the
windows of the police station. This was followed by some molotov cocktails
thrown against the walls. The events started at around 4.00pm whilst the
trade union demo had ended at around 1.00pm. The confrontations lasted until
11.00pm
The police used strong tear gas from the beginning along with disbursal
grenades. An enormous and teryfying police deployment plunged the town
centre into a de facto curfew: shops and bars closed, empty roads with
police checkpoints.
All public transport was stopped. According to the press there were 21
police injured but none of the demonstrators were hurt. There were four
arests for confrontations and 7 for looting. These figures do not seem
credible given the fleet of ambulances going from the hospital to the
university.
Moreover plain clothes police gave chase by car. Members of the National
Front and Student Renewal could be found behind the riot police lines and at
the beginning of the confrontation were making propaganda among the
demonstrators.
Many people who tried to intervene during the strongarm arrests were
insulted and even charged with obstruction by the police.
Bits and Pieces
The riot police were seen to be relieving passersby (young people...) of
their scarves, hats and jackets before ordering them to disburse. Those who
stayed behind were carted off.
Young girls and other evening strollers were truncheoned along the security
perimeter set up by the police. A creche that was in the vecinity was filled
with tear gas, the parents who protested were threatened and insulted.
There were numerous provocations andd manipulations by civilian police
trying to push the demonstrators into going 'too far'.
THE THINNER THE CARROT THE BIGGER THE STICK
FREEDOM PRESS
http://www.lglobal.com/TAO/Freedom