Paris protest at public sell-offs

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Saturday, 19 November

2005, 20:34 GMT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paris protest at public sell-offs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rallies were held

in the capital and several other cities

 

 

 

Up to 30,000 people have

protested in the French capital, Paris, against government

plans to privatise several public sector companies.

It comes just two days before the state-owned energy company,

EDF, is floated on the stock exchange.

Protest organisers said privatisation would lead to poor service

and higher prices for consumers.

These would hurt those living in rural areas and poor suburbs

which have been troubled by recent riots, they argued.

'Social

cohesion'

Demonstrators in Paris, including trade

unionists and local government politicians, marched from the Place d'Italie to the

National Assembly.

" Energy is life, there's no place for

profit, " one banner read.

A delegation from the department of Seine-Saint-Denis, the scene

of some of the worst unrest this month, said the rioting had demonstrated the

importance of the future of public sector services.

Communist Party MP Marie-George Buffet said public sector

services " were an extremely important element in social cohesion " .

Infrastructure Minister Christian Estrosi said the government

had taken he needs of the French people into account when making its plans.

Since October, France has seen a number of

strikes in support of retaining publicly owned services.

On Monday, train drivers of the national SNCF

rail network are due to go on strike over plans to restructure the network

which, workers say, will result in job cuts and lower pay.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4453452.stm

 

Dear List Members,

 

Dasha: Sa/Mo/Ve/Sa/Sa, since 7:48 AM, 19 November 2005.

 

 

 

 

 

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satva

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jorge Angelino

 

 

Rua da Sociedade Filarmónica

Perpétua Azeitonense, 29

2925-598 Azeitão

Portugal

 

 

 

 

jorge.angelino

 

 

 

 

 

 

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