The Water Cannon, France & Germany. We're Listening.

[BIAD]

When you demand a Government to censure those you oppose, prepare yourself for such laws
to be used on everyone. Even though those who wanted such rules.

Paris riots erupt causing police to fire water cannon at furious Macron protesters

France has erupted in fury over the Government's latest bill that threatens freedom of the press,
sparking hundreds to descend on Paris in demonstrations that were met with riot police.



In one video, a water cannon on top of a truck could be seen spraying protesters to disperse them.
In another, a group of gendarmerie, a military force with law enforcement duties, are forced to take
refuge in a building hall.
One protester throws a projectile at them, while an officer sprays him with an unidentified can.

In other footage, a large fire can be seen in the middle of St. Germain blvd and flares are thrown
throughout the street. The protesters met just a few hours before the bill was to be debated in the
National Assembly.

The bill seeks to make it unlawful to disseminate photos of French police officers or gendarmes
in which they can be identified. Any picture or video with an "identifying element of an officer when
engage in a police operation" and "with the aim or harming their physical or psychological integrity"
could be subject to a a year in prison and a maximum €45,000 (£41,000) fine.
Activists and journalists are worried that the legislation could compromise press freedom.

One group of French lawyers, the Black Robe Brigade, denounced the bill as an "attack on democracy
and freedom of expression". At the protest, Human Rights League LDH warned: "You, journalists,
you could be arrested, handcuffed, placed in police custody and brought before a court."
Demonstrators outside the Assembly could be heard chanting: "Paris, stand up, lift up."

The interior ministry, Gérald Darmanin, has defended the law, claiming that it aims to protect police
and gendarmes who have been increasingly targeted and threatened. About 40 journalist organisations
have signed a statement asking him to remove the clauses that are likely to “undermine the freedom to
inform”.

Reporters Without Borders, a press freedom watchdog, said in a statement that the article was based
on a “slippery concept”. This is due to the fact that intent is “open to interpretation and hard to determine".

They said: ”Any photos or video showing identifiable police officers that are published or broadcast
by critical media outlets or are accompanied by critical comments could find themselves being accused
of seeking to harm these police officers."...'

SOURCE:

Anything Emmanuel can do, Angela can do better...

Germany protests: Chaos on Berlin streets as police fire water cannons - hundreds arrested

'Police in Berlin have turned water cannons on protesters outside the country's parliament, where thousands
have gathered in opposition to Angela Merkel's coronavirus plans.

Groups of officers were reportedly charging into the crowds and picking out individual demonstrators and
arresting them, according to local media. The occasional firework could be heard in the background.
One protestor wore a face mask scrawled with the words "Merkel-Muzzle".



Others held banners with slogans such as "For Enlightenment. Peace and Freedom".
Bottles and firecrackers were seen being hurled among the crowds as multiple brawls broke out.

Clouds of red smoke hung over the protesters, some of whom used umbrellas to shield themselves
from the water cannons. Protesters were neither wearing masks nor adhering to social distancing guidelines. 
Riot police formed a wall to stop demonstrators getting too close to the parliament building.

Germany's lower and upper houses of parliament are due to pass laws on Wednesday afternoon which
could allow the government to impose restrictions on social contact, rules on mask-wearing, drinking
alcohol in public, shutting shops and stopping sports events.

Critics have said the law will give the government too much power and endanger citizen’s civil rights without
the approval of parliament. Germany is in the grips of a second wave of coronavirus and is in the middle of
a month-long “lockdown light”.

The shutdown, which is not as restrictive as the rules implemented in March, is supported by most Germans.
But fears have been raised by many citizens over the possible tightening of rules...'

The Express: