Today was the third day of the evictions and, having sufficiently intimidated the residents of the Southern sector through the excessive and illegal use of force on days one and two, the French prefecture were able to carry out the demolition work under the protection of a much smaller and slightly less hostile CRS precsence.
The area being demolished was the Sudanese area and most of the residents just stood quietly and watched as their homes were destroyed and the land cleared by bulldozers.
A group of Iranians, the first to have been evicted, decided to stage a dramatic protest by sewing their mouths shut symbolising the fact that they do not feel they have a voice. Like this they walked in silence to the police line carrying placards asking questions about human rights and democracy. It was a very sombre scene.
During the day, mysterious fires continued to break out. Some eye witnesses say they have seen refugees starting the fires and it has widely reported as an act of protest. But to many this theory doesn't add up as some of the fires have occurred in areas of the Southern section far away from the eviction zone and shelters that are being lived in have been destroyed by them. In most instances, those starting the fires are not seen. Many are concerned that far right groups have infiltrated the camp and are taking the opportunity to attack the refugees and some eye witnesses claim to have seen sinister characters doing this. These are tense times in the Jungle.
