Press Interpreter

11/05/05 -- On Saturday, after nine nights of riots, during which 900 vehicles have been torched and some 250 people questioned, in Ile-de-France but also more and more outside the capital, UMP* deputy Nicolas Dupont-Aignan observed that Jacques Chirac was "strangely silent" and asked that he "speak to the Nation right away" to present certain urgent measures. The cohort of the president of the Republic, approached by Agence France Presse (AFP), said that Mr. Chirac would speak about the urban violence "when the moment comes, if he deems it necessary."

SOS Racisme** denounced "the increasing number of meetings with incomprehensible messages" in a statement. The group asked the prime minister to organize a round table "from the perspective of emphasizing the simple police duty and designing future prospects for the urban ghettoes."

On his own part, the president of Front National, Jean-Marie Le Pen, denounced "the powerlessness of the governing authorities" on Radio Courtoisie. The ultra right-wing party continues to call for a state of emergency to be established in the areas affected by the violence.

The bishops of France have expressed their "vivid concern" about the violence of late. "We believe that repression and incitement to collective fear do not respond to the height of these dramatic tensions in our society," Monsignor Jean-Pierre Ricard, archbishop of Bordeaux and president of the Conference of the Bishops of France, said in a statement. He said it was "vital" to provide to the young people of the cities, "often in bad spirits, a future of liberty, dignity, and respect for each other."

The rector of the Great Mosque of Paris, Dalil Boubakeur, declared that he was awaiting "words of peace" from the entire government. Without expressly condemning the recent proposals of Mr. Sarkozy***, notably the use of the term "riffraff," he noted that "in such difficult circumstances, each word has its importance." Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin conferred with him briefly on Saturday, in order to "express to the Muslim community his total esteem, his respect" according to Mr. Boubakeur. The prime minister also assured him that, according to the investigation into the tear-gas grenade that struck the mosque of Clichy-sou-Bois on Sunday, the incident "was not in any way the intention of the police forces, but was [instead] an unfortunate accident."

Dominique de Villepin gathered eight of his ministers in Matignon and asked them to display the unity and resolve of the government. As he left, Nicolas Sarkozy stressed that "the government is unanimous in its resolve" and that "we are continuing an extremely strong action." The Minister of the Interior warned that the nighttime interrogations would lead to "dozens of appearances before the law, which will result in convictions!" After the deep divisions at the beginning of the week, Minister of Labor Jean-Louis Borloo affirmed that "we're at work (...) in the sense of a united government." He has been put in charge of "accelerating" the establishment of urban renovation and social cohesion plans. Finally, Mr. Sarkozy gathered the directors of the police in his office to "make the point" on the violence.

(with AFP)

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*UMP is a French right-wing political party. Its acronym stands for "Union pour un Mouvement Populaire"

**A French organization, apparently with Socialist roots, whose mission is to fight racism.

***Nicolas Sarkozy, the Minister of the Interior.

--Translated By Chris Drake

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