Redon free party: Amnesty points to the “excesses of the maintenance of order” in France – South West

The prolonged use of tear gas and grenades to disperse hundreds of participants at night in the illegal free party in Redon (Ille-et-Vilaine) in June, one of whom had his hand torn off, is “emblematic of the abuses of law and order in France,” according to an Amnesty International report on Tuesday. Force was “neither necessary nor proportionate” and the conditions of intervention contrary to “basic principles of the United Nations”, denounces this report entitled “Redon: Free party of repression”, produced from interviews, articles and videos.

Violent clashes broke out on the night of June 18 to 19 between the police and participants in an undeclared free party, organized in tribute to Steve Maia Caniço, who drowned in Nantes in 2019 following a controversial police operation. Several dozen wounded were recorded among the participants, according to Amnesty, and 11 among the gendarmes. According to the prefect of Ille-et-Vilaine, the gendarmes had “wiped jets of Molotov cocktails, pétanque balls, etc. all night long. “

“Ineffective” approach

“No violence was observed on the part of participants before the violent intervention of the police,” said Amnesty for its part. The NGO criticizes the use of force “as a first resort”, the absence of mediation and “not very audible” summons.

“In Redon, the police threw tear gas and stun grenades for more than seven hours at a crowd at night, including grenades likely to mutilate people. The use of these weapons in such dangerous conditions has led to dozens of injuries: wounds, fractures, burns, but also panic attacks and respiratory distress, ”notes Amnesty.

“The duration of the intervention reveals how ineffective the approach was,” considers the NGO, which also denounces a total absence of a rescue plan for the injured. “Unnecessary use of force can amount to corporal punishment, which is illegal under international human rights law,” Amnesty adds.

“Review intervention strategies”

According to her, “the case of Redon takes place in a context of repetition of cases of excessive use of force in law enforcement operations”. She warns the government “on the urgency of banning explosive grenades in law enforcement” and “to review intervention strategies so that they are based on dialogue and de-escalation approaches”. It also calls for the creation of “an independent body responsible for investigating complaints lodged against law enforcement officials”.

Tuesday Emmanuel Macron must precisely announce in Roubaix an “independent control” of “the action of the police”, according to the Elysee. Following the events of Redon, justice had opened two investigations for “involuntary injuries” and for “unlawful organization of a festive gathering of a musical nature”.