France braced for 'rebirth of violent left'

[balantz]

France braced for 'rebirth of violent left'

Despite claims of exaggeration, government reports insist a new generation of extremists will soon launch a wave of sabotage and bombings

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/04/france-government-left-wing-extremism


The French government fears a wave of extreme left-wing terrorism this year with the possible sabotage of key infrastructure, kidnappings of major business figures or even bomb attacks.

Secret French government reports, seen by the Observer, describe an "elevated threat" from an "international European network ... with a strong presence in France" after the radicalisation of "a new generation of activists" in recent years. Senior analysts and experts linked to the government have drawn parallels with the Action Directe group, which carried out 50 or more attacks in the early 1980s. Others cite the example of the Baader-Meinhof gang.

A report by the French domestic intelligence service talks of "a rebirth of the violent extreme left" across Europe that is likely to be aggravated by the effects of the economic crisis. Other secret documents expose alleged links with activists in Italy, Greece, Germany and the UK. "It has been growing for three or four years now and the violence is getting closer and closer to real terrorism," said Eric Dénécé, director of the French centre of intelligence research and a former Defence Ministry consultant.

While some believe such claims to be scaremongering, the present political atmosphere is tense, with many among right-wing President Nicolas Sarkozy's aides fearing a repeat of the violence in Athens last month, when angry and alienated young people and a hard core of violent left-wing extremists rioted for several days, causing significant damage and bringing the city to a halt.

Last week hundreds of fly-posters around Paris called on young people "forced to work for a world that poisons us" to follow the example of their Greek counterparts. "The insurrection goes on. If it takes hold everywhere, no one can stop it," the posters said.

-snip-

[Doctor_J]

1. Surprised to read this propaganda in the Guardian - would fit

better in the Standard or some other right-wing rag.

That said, we of the American left probably need to do more than whine to each other on DU. General Strike, anyone?

[balantz]

5. It is fear mongering propaganda, isn't it?

General Strike(s) is what we need.

[NOW tense]

2. Are there going to be guillotines? I doubt this report.

[47of74]

3. The righties always claim this horse manure

[DJ13]

4. Reading French posters on other boards complaining

how their government seems to be becoming a more right wing government by the day, Im not surprised.

The French have been liberal too long to let their government get away with emulating ours.

[FogerRox]

6. More Red Brigade false flag Bullshit ?

[bemildred]

7. What the hell is "the left"?

Citizens of the French Republic perhaps?
:puke:

[stillcool]

8. I just finished reading a book...

the title was 'the Art of Political Murder', by Francisco Goldman. It's about a Bishop assassinated in Guatemala after the war, and the attempt to prosecute. What was most revealing was the demonization of the left, the control of media, and how societies perceptions and fear, allow the madness to continue. It's pretty scary that a country that small, after all that bloodshed, still can't get out from under.

[Mojambo]

9. What they're not saying is that virtually all other terrorism comes from the right.

Religious, Racist and Separatist right, mostly.

[razors edge]

10. "Agent Provocateur"

That is a French wording of the the violent right wing practice thats all the rage nowadays, isn't it?

Ready! (get the press in line)

Aim! (pick an enemy, anyone will do)

Fire!!! (blame it on the dead guy)