Students injured
during demonstration in southern France
PARIS, April 6—Five students and a police officer
were slightly injured on Thursday when police
violently evacuated a train station in Toulouse (southwest
France), where a protest was being held against the
youth labor law being promoted by the government.
|
Many
blockades like this one were
organized by students against
the First Job Contract. (AP) |
Five young women suffered multiple bruising and
were attended to by medical personnel at the station.
According to protesters, other young people were
injured and shaken up during clashes with the police,
who used sticks and tear gas to disperse them,
according to an AFP dispatch.
Dozens of students blocked rail traffic for two
hours to protest against the First Job Contract law.
At least six were arrested, according to police.
Meanwhile in Paris, young people who blocked rail
traffic in the Gare du Nord clashed with police and
attempted to block the path of agents by setting up
barricades.
"These young people do not realize the danger
they are in or the danger they’re causing for others,"
said Dominique Perben, minister of transport, after
various train stations in Paris were temporarily
blocked throughout the day.
More than two months have passed since this wave
of mass protests exploded, and tension would appear
to be mounting.
Labor and student organizations gave an ultimatum
to the government on Wednesday (April 5) and
demanded a repeal of the First Job Contract law
before April 17; otherwise, they said, the strikes
and demonstrations would grow.
