Police violence: We want the truth!

france / belgium / luxemburg | repression / prisoners | press release Friday March 24, 2006 13:09 by Alternative Libertaire - AL

Statement on the case of SUD-PTT militant, Cyril Ferez

At the end of the Paris demonstration against the CPE on 18th March, SUD-PTT militant Cyril Ferez was violently beaten by French riot cops. Cyril was grabbed during a charge and was trampled on by the police. According to several witnesses he was also batonned by them.

Police violence: We want the truth!

At the end of the Paris demonstration against the CPE on 18th March, Cyril Ferez, a militant of the SUD-PTT [grassroots trade union] was violently beaten by the CRS [French riot cops]. He is currently lying in a coma in a critical condition. There must be light on this disgraceful action by the police. During the confrontations on Place de la Nation on Saturday evening, Cyril was grabbed during a charge and was trampled on by the police. According to several witnesses he was also batonned by the CRS.

After a weekend of silence on this matter, a government source stated: "this is about a guy stuffed with two grammes of alcohol in his blood, who either hit himself off something or was accidently hit during the clashes" (Libération, 21st March 2006). At a time when Cyril is in an extremely worrying state, this declaration is simply scandalous and insulting. His state of intoxication, if proved to be correct, does not justify in any way the disgraceful behavior of the CRS. This is not just an insignificant accident that happened to a man who is supposed to have drunk a little too much, as the police, police unions and certain government-controlled media would have us believe. It must be remembered that the CRS took all the time in the world before calling for medical help and that the Prefecture had announced that there were no serious injuries during the clashes in Place de la Nation.

Alternative Libertaire supports the steps taken by the SUD-PTT so that there can be justice in this case. We offer our friendship to his family, comrades and colleagues. Police violence will stir up the revolt against this merciless government whose only response to the concerns of young people is the truncheon.

Alternative Libertaire,
23rd March 2006

Translation by Anarkismo.net