France: Group Bombs Seven Speed Cameras
December 18th, 2007I don’t know if the insurgents are making a conscious effort by targeting speed cameras, but that is a cunning strategy in terms of PSYOP. They’re targeting regime symbols that are universally despised.
Does the group actually think the government will lower taxes?
Of course not. But this phase might be about winning over a few hearts and minds before escalating to more substantial economic targets. For now, the group is probably content to know that people are thinking about how badly they hate speed cameras and that someone is doing something about it.
Ahh, the slippery slope of guerrilla warfare.
Unfortunately, someone is going to get killed in the process, and the French government will never let people forget about it. If the group is especially cautious, and manages to avoid killing people, the French government will simply fabricate a situation to blame on the insurgency.
“See, they’re murderers,” the French government will say. “We, on the other hand, are here to save you from these ruthless terrorists. And we will.” Pay your taxes. The speed cameras are there for your protection. Submit to our police state. Etc.
And so it goes.
Unrelated Note: The Loire River Valley in France is shockingly beautiful. I highly recommend a visit, insurgency or not. 😉
Via: thenewspaper.com:
A group vowed to continue destroying speed cameras in France until government officials agree to meet a number of demands. On Tuesday the group planted a timed explosive device at the base of a radar unit in the village of Baillet in the Val-d’Oise, marking the seventh attack since April. The plan failed, however, when the simple device failed to explode.
RTL Radio revealed that a group identifying itself as FNAR, or Fraction Nationaliste Arme Revolutionnaire, sent the Interior minister a package several weeks ago containing both photos establishing their responsibility for the bombings and a letter providing a list of demands. The group insisted that attacks on the revenue generating devices would only stop once the French government lowered taxes and paid a ransom.
FNAR’s attacks began in April with an unsuccessful attempt against a camera in Aumont-en-Halatte near Senlis. A second bomb destroyed the camera June 6. Other speed cameras were blown to bits in the Yvelines, Apremont and Chantilly. Police are using anti-terrorist laws to hunt down those involved.
Attacks on speed cameras in France are common. Vigilantes not affiliated with FNAR began taking action against the devices soon after then-Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy installed them in 2003. In October that year, a camera near Paris on the RN20 was deactivated within 48 hours of its debut because a sledgehammer-wielding vigilante had smashed the lens. In December, a camera north of Amiens in the Somme was active for only a few hours before it was converted into a charred wreck. Other early attacks were made on the RN20 in Paris, the A35 in the Bas-Rhin, the RN7 near Drome and RN113 in Gironde. The company Sagem charges 80,000 Euros (US $115,000) to replace each machine.
Research Credit: EP
