The
French National Assembly is debating a new law drafted to address the issue of
violence during public demonstrations. It’s known as the “anti-casseurs law”. “Casseur”
is the name given to anyone who breaks or wrecks things. The new piece of legislation
aims at preventing the destruction of public and private property by hooligans
and other ruffians, people that take advantage of legitimate manifestations to create
hell.
In
France, a number of politicians and intellectuals see this new law as
restricting the freedom to demonstrate. But the fact of the matter is that
fringe groups are systematically taking advantage of genuine street protesters
to behave destructively. That cannot be accepted. Law and order in public
places must be kept. If not, we are creating the conditions for extreme-right
movements to ride on chaos and gain political space. The democratic values, in
France and elsewhere in our part of the world, require a firm hand when dealing
with violence and looting. Anarchy, if untamed, leads to dictatorship.
