France: Police
01 January 1991
France: Police
artdoc April=1995
Trouble in the banlieues after deaths
There has been more unrest in the French suburbs around Lyon
after a number of young North African joyriders were either
killed or seriously injured following car chases with the police.
In Bron, a police chase in April left two people dead and two
in a serious coma, considered clinically dead. About a week
later, on 19 April, a 20-year-old North African youth, Kalifa
Amra died in Vaulx-en-Velin. Following a police chase, he lost
control of his car, collided with a stationery bus, and died
later in hospital.
After these incidents, sporadic violence occurred across the
whole Lyon region. A sports centre in Vaulx-en-Velin was burnt
down and vehicles set alight (l'Humanité 20.4.94, Croix 20.4.94).
Too many unanswered questions following death of Faouzi Benrais
A police chase in Toulon (Var) has led to the death of 22-year-
old Faouzi Benrais. A passenger on the motorbike, Virginie
Vantre, was injured. According to the police, Faouzi Benrai was
riding without a helmet and went through several red lights
before being picked up by a patrol car and chased. While trying
to escape he lost control of the bike (which had worn tyres) and
smashed into a wall.
In trying to piece together the circumstances that led to Faouzi
Benrais' death the testimony of his passenger is vital. But
Virgine Vantre, who suffered a broken arm, was questioned by the
police in hospital even before she was given any medical
treatment. During this interrogation, she is said to have
confirmed that Faouzi Benrais lost control of his motorbike.
However, she retracted this statement the following day in a
newspaper interview and then on France 2 TV station where she
announced that she would file a complaint against the police
officers who questioned her. They `made me say what they wanted
when I wasn't in a state to speak' she said, adding `It was a
chase to the death. They overtook us on the right, then they cut
us out. The bike was forced into the wall.'
A local teacher who knew Faouzi well described him as `a calm
boy. He went from one little job to another without ever shying
away from work. He was big and strong but not a hooligan.' After
his death, the police claimed that Faouzi's driving license and
insurance were not in order and that the vehicle had been stolen.
All of these claims turned out to be false, as proved by his
parents who presented the up-to-date papers on television.
Danielle Demarche, a regional councillor (PCF) has written to
the prefect of Var highlighting the irregularities of the case
and articulating the feelings of the local community that the
death had been `unjust and useless'. She asks: Why were the
motorbike and police car concerned immediately removed and the
blood washed away in the night without an immediate report being
taken from witnesses?. And why was Faouzi's elder brother refused
permission at the hospital to see Faouzi's body? (El Monde
3.5.94, l'Humanité 29.4, 2.5.94).
Demonstrators claim police racism
More accusations of police racism and violence followed a
demonstration in Faouzi Benrais's memory. Protesters say that 200
police prevented them from having a peaceful demonstration and
that police officers gave demonstrators the V-sign and called
them dirty wogs. A policeman and a child were injured in the
violence that followed and ten cars were set on fire (l'Humanité
29.4, 2.5.94).
Two deaths in Paris
Demonstrations and disturbances in Paris have followed the
shooting on 2 June of two Antilleans in Paris. 25-year-old Joël
Nebor and 24-year-old Frederic Adon were shot dead by an off-duty
policeman, Pascal Valpaille, while trying to rob a coin shop. The
day after the shooting, 200 people gathered in Garges-lès-Gonesse
and threw molotov cocktails at the police station, breaking
windows and setting cars alight.
Pascal Valpaille has been charged with `violence which le