France Threatens Student Protesters With Compensation Over Damage
France is threatening student protesters with compensation over damage as school and university demonstrations enter a new phase, with the government pursuing a plan under which some participants could be required to pay heavy financial damages for any losses caused.
According to Agence France-Presse, tens of thousands of school and university students have taken to the streets in recent days in cities across France, and a number of unions and teachers have also joined high school students. The protesters say conditions in education must improve.
France’s interior ministry said that by early Tuesday, 86,000 people had taken part in nationwide demonstrations, while the General Confederation of Labour (CGT) estimated participation at 260,000.
According to the report, students have blocked the entrances to hundreds of high schools since late September and complain of teacher shortages, heavy curricula, worn-out classrooms and buildings that they say are not prepared for rising temperatures.
Alongside mostly peaceful gatherings, there have been reports of fires, damage to bus stops and clashes with riot police in some areas. Police have also tried to disperse the protests with batons, tear gas and riot-control munitions.
The French government says 215 students and 715 police officers have been injured since the protest movement began. Meanwhile, unions, human rights groups and some students have accused the security forces of using “disproportionate” force.
In one of the most notable incidents, a 15-year-old boy in the northern city of Lens lost one of his hands on Monday after being hit by a stun grenade fired by riot police.
Laurent Nunez, France’s interior minister, announced late on Monday that police had opened 10 internal investigations into allegations of police violence since the protests began.
France’s education ministry has also said 24 schools have been set on fire or targeted in attacks and acts of vandalism since the start of the protests. More than 5,000 people have reportedly been arrested, 87% of them minors.
The office of French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu also reported that 85 education staff members were injured. At the same time, the French government is seeking approval for a bill that would classify some protest-related actions as “damage to public property” and would allow the costs of repair and restoration to be claimed from demonstrators.
