Events in Calais and Rennes: there he had “double standard”? – The world

Le Monde | 02/08/2016 at 4:12 p.m. • Updated 02/08/2016 at 18:15 | By Samuel Lawrence

the arrest on Saturday, February 6 at Calais, on the sidelines of an Islamophobic banned demonstration, the general Christian Thornton, 75, former head of the French foreign Legion in 1994 1999, and four others, was denounced by many celebrities to the National Front, but also in some of the more traditional right

Read also:. Protest prohibited in Calais three months in prison for a man arrested with two bombs tear

Some, like William Larrivé or Guillaume Peltier (Republicans) have suggested a “double standards” , comparing the arrests this weekend in Calais to the “total impunity” which would have benefited the militants No Borders in Calais, the last few weeks, and activists of extreme left in Rennes, Saturday, February 6. The demonstration against the proposed airport in Notre-Dame-des-Landes and against the state of emergency was marked by breaking windows and throwing various projectiles towards the police.

“the impunity for No Borders who are tagging the statue of General de Gaulle in Calais, the last few weeks. Then there is total impunity weekend in Rennes (…), where the city was ransacked by extreme left militants, no immediate appearance. And here we attack this general, who was the commander of the Foreign Legion, “said Mr. Larrivé, France Info radio Monday, February 8.

A brief overview of these events , permission or not the judicial consequences at this stage, and without prejudging future decisions.

1. Which organized the event in Calais?

It is a gathering of French sympathizers Pegida, Islamophobic and anti-immigration movement born in Germany, who had called for demonstrations. Pegida is represented in France through an association created by Loïc Perdriel, in 2015, with the help of the far-right ideologue Renaud Camus.

This small group, who had gathered a few hundred people at a first event in Calais in November 2015, does not shine by its tolerance. Just go on his Facebook page to find very many links to radical right-wing sites, and more hateful comments.

In early 2015, members of the Bloc identity, small group of ultradroite, had assured the stewards of Pegida meeting in France, said Le Figaro . and participants in these gatherings are often known figures in ‘ultradroite.

the first manifestation of Pegida in Calais in November 2015, had resulted in numerous Islamophobic acts and excesses, the mayor of the city, (Natacha Bouchart, LR) lambasting the prefecture had not banned the parade.

2. The event was it authorized?

No. Following clashes between extreme right and extreme left militants in recent weeks, the Ministry of the Interior banned the rally. Pegida but warned of its intention to march anyway. The small group was challenged in court the ban on demonstrations in vain: the Administrative Court proved him wrong

On Saturday, a few hundred demonstrators has tried to gather in the city.. “Towards 12 h 30, groups began to circulate in the city center, mostly neo-Nazi type ultradroite. Seven of them were arrested at the beginning, then a rally was made before a brewery of the station “, said the prefecture.

After several overflows and summonses the security forces, a series of arrests took place. On twenty arrested, five are charged with bringing weapons (tasers, knives, etc.). General Santos, he appears for “participating in a gathering that has not dissolved after summons.”

3. This type of arrest is it unusual?

No. Whenever a rally is forbidden, hold still exposes the organizers and participants to sanctions.

Article 431-9 of the Criminal Code prescribes a penalty which may go up to six months imprisonment and 7500 euro fine:

• does having organized a demonstration on the public highway not having been the subject of a prior declaration;
• does having organized a demonstration on the street have been prohibited under the conditions set by law;
• does having established an incomplete or inaccurate nature of declaration to deceive on the object or the conditions of the proposed event.

Being a single participant in an unauthorized demonstration, however, is not an offense in itself. But refuse to disperse after summons by the police, is: Article 413-4 of the Criminal Code prescribes one year imprisonment and 15,000 euros fine “The fact for one who is not carrying a weapon, to voluntarily continue to participate in a gathering after the summons “.

and if it often focuses on the most serious cases (which add violence or carrying weapons at the rally), it is not unusual that justice condemns participants in a banned rally. six pro-Palestinian activists have paid the price in 2012, for example

4. Demonstrations of Calais and Rennes were they authorized and have they resulted in prosecutions?

Both gatherings were allowed. A dozen activists No Borders were detained after their protest in late January, several of whom are awaiting trial. Same thing in Rennes, where several arrests took place after the excesses Saturday, February 6 and where three people are believed to be in immediate appearance.

To evoke immediate appearance as Mr. Larrivé to suggest that it is an aggravating circumstance, is also somewhat unfair: it is applied to cases of flagrant offenses that do not require long instruction – No Borders some activists have also been affected by this procedure in January – and any defendant may reject it and request a hearing later if he wishes

5.. A retired soldier is it held in “reserve duty”?

The question may arise. The general status of the 1905 military specifies a strict duty of confidentiality and the prohibition of participation in militant groups, but for military activity. In retirement, General Santos remains a reserve officer and therefore in principle subject to some discretion as to his political views

This arrest occurs in a particular context as to senior officers of the army. Since the coming to power of François Hollande, in 2012 and even more since the demonstrations against gay marriage in 2013, part of the far right stirred fantasy of a military insurrection, and the french General Staff admits vigilant about these trends.

on the Facebook page of Loïc Perdriel, it was also a week before the event, the image linking to a Wikipedia article devoted to demonstrations of extreme right leagues, February 6, 1934, which had almost degenerated into coup.