Page 8 - aruba-today-20181201

A8 WORLD NEWS
Saturday 1 december 2018

Talks collapse between French protesters and prime minister

By SYLVIE CORBET "It's as if there was a war. It's
ELAINE GANLEY incredible," said Paris resi-
Associated Press dent Olivier Le Quellec. "We
PARIS (AP) — A planned are sealing off the center
meeting between France's of the village. It becomes a
prime minister and a team little ghetto. It's frightening."
of representatives of a na- Motorists protesting a fuel
tionwide protest move- tax hike have been joined
ment collapsed Friday by farmers, white collar
amid threats from some workers, retirees and oth-
demonstrators and after a ers in the "yellow jackets"
request to broadcast the movement that now in-
talks live was rejected. volves a broad range of
The fiasco came on the demands related to the
eve of protests planned country's high cost of living.
Saturday across France, Their list of demands in-
including on Paris' Champs- cludes tax cuts, the cre-
Elysees avenue, where a ation of a citizens' assem-
demonstration last week- bly, state-funded subsidies
end turned violent. Shop- to help companies boost
keepers on Friday prepared hiring, and higher pensions
for the worst, barricading and a higher national mini-
their boutiques. In this Nov. 19, 2018 file photo, protesters known as the yellow jackets, wave a French flag and a mum wage.
The "yellow jackets" move- poster reading "Free toll" as they open the toll gates on a motorway in Antibes, southern France. A spokesman for France's
ment, heading into its third Associated Press Union of National Police
week, was triggered by ris- Chiefs said it was critical to
ing fuel taxes but has grown transmission of the encoun- grassroots movement with ing threats as people "terri- be prepared for Saturday's
to include an array of de- ter was refused. Another no leaders. bly hopeless, terribly miser- events. "We can't be na-
mands, becoming a major protester remained, spend- The eight-member delega- able (who) lost everything ive. Tomorrow is a day of
challenge to President Em- ing an hour with the prime tion set to meet the prime (because) everything was risks," David Le Bars said on
manuel Macron. So far, he minister but choosing to re- minister "no longer exists," taken from them." BFMTV. The protests began
has not backed down on main anonymous. he said. Meanwhile, shopkeepers to gain traction in neigh-
scheduled fuel tax increas- Philippe said later that his "We have all received enor- on Paris' Champs-Elysees boring Belgium as well, with
es meant to wean France talks with the remaining mous pressure ... threats, scrambled to prepare for dozens of "yellow jacket"
off fossil fuels. protester were useful and be they verbal or physical," possible new violence, demonstrators angry about
"Yellow jackets" is a refer- his door was open if the Herbert said. "Our lives are bringing in workers to bar- high taxes and living costs
ence to the fluorescent se- "yellow jackets" choose still at stake." He said that 89 ricade boutique windows causing traffic chaos in
curity jackets worn by the representatives. percent of the threats he with boards. Decorative Brussels on Friday. They
protesters. "So as not to betray any- received came from other iron grates, used last week gathered near the Belgian
Jason Herbert said he cut one, I didn't want to take "yellow jackets who maybe in barricades, were re- government and the par-
short his meeting with Prime part in a discussion," Her- thought we were there for moved from around trees liament, as police watched
Minister Edouard Philippe bert said, reflecting the the glory." and outdoor terraces dis- on with water cannon
after his request for a live complex nature of the He described those proffer- mantled. trucks parked nearby.q

Bosnian Srebrenica commander acquitted of war crimes

Naser Oric was accused of killer" means that all those Hundreds of Oric's supports,
killing three Serb prisoners who murdered Serbs during chanting "hero, not a war
of war in villages around the Bosnian war are being criminal," gathered in front
Srebrenica in the early days pardoned. of the courthouse during
of the conflict. His wartime Oric is seen as a hero by the verdict's announce-
deputy commander, Saba- many Muslim Bosnians for ment. Police guarded a
hudin Muhic, was also ac- his role in defending Sre- bus that drove Serbs to the
quitted on the same charg- brenica where around trial, which opened in Jan-
es. 8,000 Muslims men and uary 2016.
The acquittal triggered an- boys were massacred by A panel of judges ruled
gry reactions from Serbian Serb forces in 1995. that the prosecution didn't
officials. The Srebrenica massacre, present evidence proving
"The fact that somebody the worst single atrocity in the case against Oric.
was not sentenced for Europe since World War II, Oric's lawyer Lejla Covic
political reasons does not was defined as genocide said the acquittal was ex-
Former Bosnian Army commander of Srebrenica Naser Oric, mean that he did not com- by the U.N. tribunal in the pected.
center, escorted as he leaves court in Sarajevo, Bosnia, Friday,
Nov. 30, 2018. mit crimes," Serbian Presi- Hague, Netherlands. "We are absolutely satis-
Associated Press dent Aleksandar Vucic Serb officials continue to fied," she said.
said, adding that it is "obvi- claim the slaughter was This was the second time
By ELDAR EMRIC acquitted the wartime ous that for us Serbs there an act of revenge after that Oric was acquitted in
Associated Press commander of Srebrenica will be no justice." soldiers under Oric's com- a trial. Oric had also been
SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herze- who was accused of com- Serbian Defense Minister mand killed thousands of tried by the U.N. war crimes
govina (AP) — A Bosnian mitting atrocities during the Aleksandar Vulin said that Serbs in the villages sur- tribunal where he was also
appeals court on Friday 1992-95 Balkan conflict. the "acquittal of the proven rounding the eastern town. acquitted in 2008.q