Post by Ja Ona i Pivo on Apr 3, 2009 4:22:39 GMT -5
The authorities of the city is preparing now for what they fear may become clean siege. When a series of leaders, with U.S. President Barack Obama in the lead, coming to the French town later today the authorities do everything to stop any demonstrations. On Thursday arrested 300 demonstrators.
40 heads of state arrive on Friday to Strasbourg to up to Sunday to participate in the celebration of the military alliance, NATO's 60-year anniversary. While preparing for an opponent of NATO to protest against the meeting.
The French authorities estimate that between 30,000 and 40,000 protesters will go to Strasbourg at the weekend. Of these nearly 3000 are estimated to belong to the "black bloc", the demonstrators should anticipate there is a fear of violence.
The repercussions for the city of Strasbourg is very large. Home team Racing Club de Strasbourg have been set their home match against Ajaccio, the Opera has been forced to move a show to Nancy, the swimming pool has been closed, the National Theater has moved four production for 2010 and the local bowling alley will have been close. Churches and museums are closed all weekend.
Critics from 500 organizations from some 80 countries have already gathered in Strasbourg with the aim to conduct a demonstration in the city center. Something that the French government has said it wants to do everything to stop.
A "red zone" with the demonstration ban will make much of Strasbourg to a protected zone where the shops are closed and tens of thousands of police and military will conduct surveillance. The people living inside the zone have received letters in which they briefed on security measures.
Already on Thursday occurred clashes between masked protesters and riot police. The masked broke away from a larger demonstration, a total of 800 and began to throw stones and bottles against the police who responded with tear gas and rubber bullets, writes the news agency AP.
The demonstrators also set fire on some building materials. 300 demonstrators were arrested on Thursday.
// Google Translated