Thank you, to the French Police Force today for defending my human rights to SAFETY!
In the early hours of this morning, rocks were thrown at my tent (one large enough to cause injury), while I was trying to sleep inside. This is not the first time, there have been three other incidents involving these same men who are believed to be part of a large Polish/Romanian group and are known to police for their drinking and disorderly behaviours. The culprits were at it again.
I have been previously instructed by police at the 1st district station, that Police Reports can not be done before 9:00am, and therefore, I didn't bother to knock on their door till after 9:00am; so that I could make my statements directly to the correct personnel.
At the time of the attack, it was obvious that the two men (mentioned on the attached Police Report) were trying to extract me out of the tent - I didn't know at the time that they were armed.
The two men in question and their entire group are unknown to me and this assault was completely unprovoked.
The two men responsible were arrested and taken to the 9th district to be processed, it was then brought to the attention of police that one of them was armed with an American Fist.
At the 9th district, (I was also asked to attned by police making the arrest to give my evidence), an interpreter was called for me. I did not ask for an interpreter and I did not want one; because the police officer making the initial arrest told me shortly after arrival that the officer whom I will be giving my formal Police Report to can speak English but I would have to talk slow for him and personally, I was looking forward to the challenge - and I am also a very independant person - and to the opportunity to try and exchange some communication in French directly with police on duty.
The problem with English interpreters for some one like me, who is trying to learn French in France and has been living here for over 2 years (and I still can't converse French), is that it's not going to help me progress in the French language. When you have interpreters at your disposal, you get lazy in the English language and don't learn anything different. At the Paris University Library, they have offered me the an interpreter to communicate my needs with duty staff and I have always decline. This forces me to learn French, by writing down what I can't understand and then looking everything up online, using the computers upstairs, and then coming back downstairs and continuing in French to the best of my ability. After the Police Report was completed, I returned back to the 1st district on foot.
The police did ask me if I am afraid of the two men who attacked my tent, and I said 'NO I JUST DON'T TRUST THEM'.
Allez La Police Francais
MERCI
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