'Yellow vest' protesters return to French streets
PARIS - Hundreds of protesters are trying to breathe new life into France's apparently waning yellow vest movement with marches in Paris and gatherings in other cities, but numbers appeared down on their first demonstration of the new year.
There were no reports of violence on the eighth consecutive Saturday of yellow vest protests, in contrast to some December demonstrations that degenerated into chaotic violence. Paris Metro lines were open.
Authorities have warned that they won't tolerate illegal acts. One known figure in the movement, Eric Drouet, was detained overnight this week for allegedly organizing an illegal demonstration. On Friday, government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux said those still protesting "want insurrection."
Scaled down protests
The scale and intensity of the protests has shriveled in recent weeks, however, and authorities put Saturday's nationwide turnout at around 12,000, compared with 282,000 for the initial rally on November 17.
Public anger has on occasion been directed at the media, seen by some as too close to the government. Several journalists have been assaulted since the protests called by the grassroots movement started in November.
Last Saturday saw scuffles in Paris between some demonstrators denouncing media "collaborators" and police outside the headquarters of broadcasters BFMTV and France Televisions.
Police made four arrests Friday evening in the northeastern city of Nancy after some 50 demonstrators tried to block the entrance of newspaper L'Est Republicain.
On Friday, government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux denounced those still protesting as "agitators who want insurrection and, basically, to overthrow the government".
The midweek Paris arrest of Eric Drouet, one the movement's spokesmen, sparked anger among his supporters. Drouet already faces trial for carrying a weapon at a previous demonstration.
The latest opinion poll, published on Thursday by Odoxa Dentsu, indicated 55 percent public support for the "yellow vest" protests.
The government has deployed police around France to deal with the protests, backed up by specialist response units, sources said.
The "yellow vest" demonstrations - named after the high-visibility jackets worn by the protesters - began in rural France over increased fuel taxes.
The movement ballooned into a wider revolt against President Emmanuel Macron's pro-market policies and governing style.
Macron initially refused to make any concessions, but in mid-December, after weeks of violence, he scrapped the planned fuel tax rises and promised extra cash for minimum wage earners and tax cuts for pensioners.
Afp - Ap
(China Daily 01/07/2019 page12)
