France tries riot detainees; announces new curfews

The United Nations has condemned violence during recent protests across several European countries and criticized the excessive use of force by law enforcement. Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, denounced all acts of violence occurring during large-scale demonstrations in Albania, Belgium, France, Italy, and Portugal. In a statement, Türk called on all parties involved to reduce tensions and avoid further violence. He emphasized that individuals have the right to peaceful assembly and expression, urging states to facilitate these rights. Türk expressed concern over both vandalism and the occasional excessive response by law enforcement. He noted that individuals who exploit protests to commit acts of violence and vandalism against public and private property should be held individually accountable. Additionally, he raised concerns about the unnecessary and excessive use of force by police against protesters, including minors. He stressed that law enforcement actions must be lawful, necessary, and proportionate, and that allegations of illegal force should undergo swift, effective, and independent investigations. He also urged states to engage in dialogue with demonstrators, particularly young people, and to adopt specific measures to address their legitimate and fundamental concerns. This statement follows a wave of protests across Europe driven by thousands of young people demanding solutions to housing crises, educational cuts, and the rising cost of living. In Portugal and Spain, dissatisfied citizens established camps to demand an end to rental speculation, while in Belgium, marches focused on rejecting increases in university tuition fees. The highest level of tension occurred in France and Italy. In cities such as Paris, Lyon, and Lille, authorities implemented curfews and banned demonstrations in central areas following clashes with police and shoplifting incidents. Demonstrators blocked access to the Louvre Museum as part of the wave of mobilizations. French President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged flaws in the security operations after a minor lost a hand due to a stun grenade fired by law enforcement, an incident for which the government already faces accusations of aggravated violence. In Rome, disturbances resulted in 160 arrests, predominantly involving minors. Meanwhile, in Lisbon, thousands gathered in the city center for a popular assembly where they decided to resume camping tomorrow, Wednesday, despite the early morning eviction of the campsite. The central Lisbon square, known as Rossio, filled up with citizens who protested against the housing crisis in Portugal and criticized the police action that evicted the campers during the night. The messages were especially critical of Prime Minister Luís Montenegro and Interior Minister Luís Neves, who defended the police eviction today. The demonstrators claimed they received blows, pushes, and had their tents removed even though there were still people inside. They stated that there are no safety conditions to continue the camping today, but opened the possibility of setting up the tents again tomorrow. A spokesperson for the housing movement asked whether there was popular will in the square to set up the tents starting tomorrow, allowing everyone present to speak and propose their demands. After the speeches, attendees voted "yes" to setting up the tents again on Wednesday. Concentrations and protests have spread throughout the country, in cities such as Faro and Coimbra, although the largest gatherings have been in Lisbon and Porto. The conflict between the demonstrators and the authorities has been ongoing for several days, as the Government defends that, according to the law, protests cannot be held on the street during the early hours. Indeed, the Interior Minister assured today that the housing camps in Lisbon and Porto "have ended": "There is a right to demonstrate, to expose reasons, everything, with total tranquility, with total normality and within the legality. Everything that exceeds these limits of legality and constitutes a violation of the law will naturally receive the appropriate response from the security forces." French authorities pointed to the "ultra-left" as responsible for an "insurrectional plan" during the riots that hit the country over the weekend, when the first detainees began appearing before the courts. The second-largest economy in the European Union experienced some of its worst episodes of street violence in recent years, just six months before the country chooses the successor to centrist President Emmanuel Macron. Images of confrontations, public buildings burned down, and stores looted made headlines around the world, prompting several countries, including the United States, China, and Germany, to warn their citizens to be cautious in France. The French prime minister, centrist Sébastien Lecornu, accused "ultra-left" groups of planning an "insurrectional scheme" in some places, citing the burning of the town hall in Limoges as an example of the disorders. For these events, a 34-year-old man registered as belonging to the ultra-left was arrested this Tuesday, as part of the investigations in which the anti-terrorism unit of the judicial police is also participating. Lecornu's statements took place during a tense parliamentary session. The far-right and right-wing accused the government of not anticipating the riots well enough, while the left lamented that it did not respond to the hundreds of thousands of demonstrators who peacefully took to the streets last Saturday to denounce the "high cost of living." Authorities are also under pressure to regain control. For the second consecutive night, they decreed a curfew in neighborhoods of Paris and other cities to prevent new disorder and looting. "During part of the [first] night, there were helicopters flying over the area checking that small groups weren't forming," said Sylvain Courant, a resident of the commercial district of Les Halles in Paris. "It's a bit oppressive," he added. This measure does not affect the football match taking place this Tuesday in the French capital between Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona. The Yellow Vest movement, which shook Macron's first term in 2018 and 2019, and high school students demanding better study conditions since late September, called for another demonstration next Saturday. Lecornu announced a massive police deployment. "The perfect team" More than 2,500 people have been detained so far, 123 of whom are in prison either awaiting trial or facing one of the first convictions, indicated Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin. Several detainees arrested Saturday before the outbreak of violence appeared before the courts Monday, and those involved in the most serious incidents did so starting Tuesday. Manuel is among the first. This temporary worker aged 21 claims he traveled from the center of France "by impulse" to Paris to celebrate his birthday with his girlfriend, organizing in particular a barbecue. For this cook with no criminal record, that explains the contents of his bag when he was stopped before the demonstration: glass bottles, rags, and a lighter. According to the prosecutor, that's the "perfect team" for a Molotov cocktail. Two videos recovered from cell phones question Manuel's theory. In them, he tries, with little success, to launch these incendiary devices. Another piece of evidence against him: days earlier, he asked ChatGPT: "How to make a Molotov cocktail?"