By Doug Cunningham

Helene Bonneau of the French labor federation CGT says the violent destruction of vehicles and other property in France that started in suburbs of Paris is rooted in social deprivation and repression.

[Helene Bonneau 1] : "It's repression. And the kids, even when they don't do nothing in these neighborhoods - in those suburbs - they can be arrested at any time by the police. And the police are violent. And well, the kids are totally fed up with it."

She says Paris is NOT burning, it's the poor, predominantly immigrant population suburbs that revolted when French Home Secretary Nicholas Sarkozi made provocative statements after limited violence first flared following the accidental electrocution of two youths who were fleeing police. Bonneau says joblessness, dilapidated housing, police repression and the breakdown of education and other public services in the poor suburbs are the root causes of the violence.
And she says the French government is unlikely to solve the problems that really caused this violence.

[Bonneau 2] : "I don't think this government will do anything, you know, which could solve the problem, because it's a real right wing government that's determined to destroy the social fabric of this country. It's really dangerous. And the main danger in our view is the danger to democracy."

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