2019.06.05. [English Version] French yellow vests, anger that still doesn't calm down

2019.06.05. [English Version] French yellow vests, anger that still doesn't calm down

* Original source (Korean version) : <Revolutionary Voice of Workers>
https://voiceofworkers.org/2019/06/05/%ED%94%84%EB%9E%91%EC%8A%A4-%EB%85%B8%EB%9E%80%EC%A1%B0%EB%81%BC-%EC%97%AC%EC%A0%84%ED%9E%88-%EA%B0%80%EB%9D%BC%EC%95%89%EC%A7%80-%EC%95%8A%EB%8A%94-%EB%B6%84%EB%85%B8/

 - Published by <Revolutionary Voice of Workers>, No.15, at 22th May. Posted on the web at 5th June.

 - Translated into English by Fernand Kim. (It is clear that the perspective of the translator and this post may be different.)


French yellow vests, anger that still doesn't calm down


 From November last year to nowadays, for six months, the yellow vests demonstrations are continuing every Saturday. The total number of participants is 3 million.

 On Saturday, May 11, ACT 26 Yellow vests demonstration was 18,600 people in police statistics and 37,500 people in organizer statistics. The government and the bourgeoisie media are delighted that the scale of demonstrations has decreased than the first time. They are looking forward to end of the yellow vests demonstration. However, the yellow vests demonstration showed amazing vitality on several occasions.


Flimsy compromises and shameless repressions are useless


 As soon as the yellow vest protests proceeded immensely, Macron’s government submitted compromise measures in early December, such as the withdrawal of the fuel tax increase and the minimum wage increase. (despite theirs fraudulence) However, the yellow vests demonstrations continued to uprise with demanding the restoration of wealth-tax, the increase in wages, pensions, and allowances, the expansion of public services, and the demission of Macron, etc.

 Macron's government had announced a "social big-debate" masquerade around the country for two months starting 15th January, followed by an income tax cut of 5 billion Euro. But the "social big-debate" was just only a deceptive masquerade to enforce the viewpoint of the ruling class such as "social dialogue" in Korea, so it could not stop the yellow vests demonstrations.

 The French government has executed strong oppressions by mobilizing not only police but also military forces. As of 20th April, the police fired rubber bullets (flash balls) 14,000 times. One person died and 2,500 people were injured, including 400 seriously injured. About 8,700 people were arrested and 800 were sentenced to prison sentences. Despite facing these merciless oppression, the yellow vests demonstrators did not succumb.

 Notre-Dame Cathedral burned on 15th April, and a donation of about 750 million Euro was donated in just one day. The LVMH Group which is famous for Louis Vuitton donated 200 million Euro. Also the Kering group which is famous for GUCCI, cosmetics company L'Oreal, and refineries company Total S.A. (etc) donated 100 million Euro. As the billionaires poured their advertising donations in order to raise their brand value, the yellow vests demonstrators were very angry and launched huge demonstrations shouting "We are also Cathedral, too !" and "Help us, firstly !".

 On May 1, at least 150,000 people participated in the Labor Day demonstrations, along with workers and yellow vests demonstrators.


To change worker's life


 The reason why the anger does not calm down is because the compromise measures by the Macron’s government are too much insufficient to substantially improve the situation of the poor publics. What's worse the government is trying to spend more money on strengthening oppression against workers by reducing the number of workers in hospitals, schools and public transport. Thus, the Macron’s government's policy of fantasizing of the end of the yellow vests just only prepares for a new social eruption.

 To advance on to the substantial changing the situation of the workers, workers should more united. Especially, it is important for the workers to make united struggles in the workplace where the capitalists took profit who are ruling this society. Only, when the working class has a clear perspective and strong willing leadership and consciously launching strikes and demonstrates on the streets can make capitalists and their governments tremble in fear.