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Batuk Gathani

London , Nov. 7

THE average European citizen is both stunned and perplexed by the spreading race riots in France and over the speculation about the "spill-over" effect into neighbouring countries with high non-European African and Arab immigrant population - particularly Holland and Germany.

The rioting in Paris suburbs broke out 12 days ago and so far more than 3,500 cars have been set on fire and 800 people have been arrested. Race rioting has now spread to some 15 French key metropolitan areas.

France has a population of 60 million of which Arab Muslim and African immigrants and their descendants number about 10 per cent. Migrants from France's former African colonies have been living in France for more than 40 years and their children are French. The rate of unemployment among the French immigrants of African and Arab descent is 20 per cent or twice as high as the French national average. The current crisis is rated as the biggest explosion of street violence in France since the late 1960s. The residents of Arab (North African) and African origin have yet to assimilate in the national mainstream. In theory at least, under the "ethnically colour free French model", the non-French citizens are regarded as `equal' citizens.

In the post-War years, the French authorities encouraged immigration to restructure the economy as in Germany and Holland. But in recent years the "race situation" has deteriorated with rising unemployment and current recessionary and depressed economic situation.

With 20 per cent unemployment among the French citizens of African and Arab decent, mostly living in grim suburban housing estates, the ingredients of social explosion has been brewing for some time.

The French President, Mr Jacques Chirac, last night vowed to put an end to the 11 days of rioting that has now spread across other French metropolitan areas, but concentrated into the heart of run-down suburban Paris. It remains to be seen how soon the French authorities can contain the riots and then what initiatives the French Government will take to boost economic welfare and bring down the level of high unemployment among the decedents of French citizens of Arab and African origin.

According to observers, although the current rioting is confined to French Africans, French Muslims mainly of North African Arab decent are cautiously watching the unfolding race scenario.

So far, the Muslims have remained neutral but are desperately keen to know how French authorities propose to contain the situation.

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