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UN Experts Warn Over Arrests of Farmers in France
(MENAFN) UN experts on Monday voiced serious concern about the growing use of police detention and criminal charges against farmers and agricultural trade union leaders in France, following the arrest of 52 individuals during peaceful protests in Paris this month.
“We are alarmed by the apparent shift towards criminalising peaceful trade union activities,” the experts said. “Arresting national spokespersons and international peasant leaders for symbolic acts of civil disobedience is a disturbing signal that threatens the right of peasants to voice grievances without fear of intimidation or reprisals,” they added.
The experts cautioned that the government’s response raises “serious” questions regarding disproportionate limitations on fundamental freedoms, including the rights to peaceful assembly, association, and expression.
“On 7 January, a group of farmers reportedly forced their way through police barricades with tractors, resulting in physical confrontations but no arrests. In contrast, the non-violent protests one week later resulted in mass arrests and the threat of criminal charges,” they said.
During a peaceful protest at the Ministry of Agriculture on January 14, 52 people were arrested over government policies related to the “lumpy skin disease” outbreak, the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, and support for small-scale farming. Those detained included three spokespersons from Confederation Paysanne and representatives of the international peasant movement La Via Campesina, the experts noted.
“Authorities have an obligation to facilitate peaceful protest, not suppress it through the excessive use of police powers,” the statement said. “The rapid escalation from tolerance to mass arrests — particularly targeting specific unions — appears unjustified and discriminatory.”
“We are alarmed by the apparent shift towards criminalising peaceful trade union activities,” the experts said. “Arresting national spokespersons and international peasant leaders for symbolic acts of civil disobedience is a disturbing signal that threatens the right of peasants to voice grievances without fear of intimidation or reprisals,” they added.
The experts cautioned that the government’s response raises “serious” questions regarding disproportionate limitations on fundamental freedoms, including the rights to peaceful assembly, association, and expression.
“On 7 January, a group of farmers reportedly forced their way through police barricades with tractors, resulting in physical confrontations but no arrests. In contrast, the non-violent protests one week later resulted in mass arrests and the threat of criminal charges,” they said.
During a peaceful protest at the Ministry of Agriculture on January 14, 52 people were arrested over government policies related to the “lumpy skin disease” outbreak, the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, and support for small-scale farming. Those detained included three spokespersons from Confederation Paysanne and representatives of the international peasant movement La Via Campesina, the experts noted.
“Authorities have an obligation to facilitate peaceful protest, not suppress it through the excessive use of police powers,” the statement said. “The rapid escalation from tolerance to mass arrests — particularly targeting specific unions — appears unjustified and discriminatory.”
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