down its proposed education.
wider than the education sector.
By Hilary Eleanor in Paris Alain Devaquet who, as Master or une versiv sector, gave his name to the 'reform bill' has been forced to resign just the first of the governCasually ment's defeat.
The Devaquet bill was an attempt to bring the higher education system into line with the demands of French capital and industry. At the core of its proposals were increased selection of ing of the links between the brivals universities.
Devaquet's bill provided a spark massive movement amongst youth atraid of unemployment, many of whom been radicalised through the mass anti-racist movement "SOS-Racisme'.
The first national student Thursday 27 November saw one million students the streets of Paris and towns The LONe OUL 'Student Coordination', a national body of delegates elected from encl and school, appealed for the occupation the universities after this magnificent show of strength They also appealed for a national strike in the whole education sector, and for a demonstration in Paris on 4 December.
The movement set shining example for the labour movement of determined icadersnip democratic forms of self-organisation. At each faculuniversity occupations, school strikes and bloody street battles, Jacques Chirac's right-wing coalition government was forced into a humiliating climb'reform' of higher The government's defeat, just nine months after their election victory, will have repercussions far ty, general assemblies were held frequently to discuss the next steps TOr Tne fightback. Delegates higher bodies were instantly recallable and were mandated voTe by general assembly.
This democratic tunc. tioning prevented successive attemnts to sabotage and defuse the movement by DOLI oeuvres and by media atred-bait divide the students.
The by secondarv school students gave an added depth to the campaign, broadening out the struggle ensuring popular for the withdrawal of the Devaguet bill.
On 4 December million people brought to a standstil in huge show of force.
While education ministers washed their hands of the affair, the government announced the nikola go ahead and placed the matter in the hands of the minister of the interior, Charles Pasqua, who took over by unleashing the CRS riot police, water cannons and tear gas grenades on the demonstrators The news of the government's intransigence provoked an angry reaction but it was the provocations of the lec the bloody battles that well Loal night. government out to smash by repression and to turn the tide of public opinion One million bring Paris to a standstill against labelling them 'rioters'. But itiative dramatically backfired. On Friday 5 December, they announced that the most controversial points or tne bill would de put on ice.
national Student Coordination responded by demanding complete and total withdrawal of the bill. More street fights erupted inal nignt as ine ko altempted to evict students from the occupation at the Sorbonne university. least inree leargas giellauc. hit human targets: one stueve was knocked unconscious bed off in full view of T valliciao mopping up operation after the demonsHe's every right to be tration, Malik Oussekine was brutally clubbed death, provoking a wave of opposition.
Coordination called for Malik on Saturday 6 December, token strikes and stoppages in workplaces the following Monday another demonstration on the Wednesday.
In spite of ment declarations that there would be no retreat bv the government, the tidal wave ot protests torced a climbdown. By Ipm on Monday, Chirac had announced that the bill would be withdrawn. The students decided to go head with a victory march on Wednesday December OuT given death of Malik it was, as some of the banners said. 'a sad victory'. Again a what the Sandinistas have million demonstrators vouth and workers - show. ed their defiance to the Following on from its defeat, the fragile coalition headed by Chirac is now in turmoil. It has had to temporarily withdraw its mediate projects including the new 'nationality code (a lucasuic alice stopping black people gaining French citizenship) and privatisation of the prisons.
Aside the immediate problems created for the government this exemplary will inspire others in the future After years of hot air and constant surrender trade union leaderships, the youll snowen I is possible to win.
the Nicaraguan border.