Ban on Protests Issued... Claims of "Hidden Forces" Behind Demonstrations Emerge

[Anchor]

Following a nighttime curfew, the French government has abruptly announced a ban on protests. This appears to be a direct move to cut off escalating violent demonstrations. Let's connect with our Paris correspondent to find out more about the situation on the ground.

Correspondent Kwon Yeongin, student rallies were reportedly scheduled for today, October 22. What is the atmosphere like at the scene?

[Reporter]

I am currently at Saint-Lazare Station in Paris.

As you mentioned, high school and university students planned to hold a rally here today to demand improvements to the educational environment.

They intended to march from here to the Place de la Bastille. However, as the French government abruptly issued a protest ban yesterday, police have sealed off the area around the station as you can see behind me, and this station as well as other subway stations along the reported marching route have all been closed.

[Anchor]

Large-scale clashes are feared for this weekend as well. Will the government's protest ban actually work?

[Reporter]

The protest scheduled for this coming Saturday by the Yellow Vests, who were one of the main axes leading last week's massive demonstrations, has naturally been banned as well.

The scope of application is also broad.

All assemblies and protests are banned in major public facilities and tourist spots, including Place de la Républic where protesters gather, the Élysée Palace, the Louvre Museum, and commercial districts packed with department stores.

We also listened to what Paris citizens have to say.

[Cami / Paris, France Resident: Being able to protest is one of our fundamental rights. Citizens have demands and things they want to say. Yet they are blocking us from speaking and suppressing us with violence.]

However, the Yellow Vest camp stated that protests will take place even if the government tries to block them.

They are reportedly planning to file an appeal with the court against the protest ban.

Proceeding with protests could make individuals subject to criminal punishment including fines of hundreds of euros.

It remains uncertain whether the protest ban will dampen the momentum of the demonstrators or trigger even greater violence through forced dispersal.

[Anchor]

Are there also claims emerging that there are hidden forces behind the protests?

[Reporter]

Reports have surfaced that French intelligence authorities view the current situation as connected to left-wing anarchists.

Indeed, when you go out to the protest sites, graffiti of the letter A, symbolizing anarchy and anarchism, can be seen everywhere.

In particular, far-right conservative political circles inside and outside France continue to claim that immigrants are the core force behind the radical protests.

Even U.S. President Trump has joined in on this.

Student groups maintain that there are no hidden forces and that it is simply an explosion of accumulated grievances.

Meanwhile, the French government has also drawn a line, stating that while the existence of looting groups consisting of dozens or hundreds of people has been confirmed, they cannot be regarded as immigrant groups.

(Video footage by Kim Si-nae | Video editing by Jung Sung-hoon)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.