France authorizes emergency powers to cope with riots News
France authorizes emergency powers to cope with riots

[JURIST] France's Interior Ministry [official website, in French] announced Tuesday that the government has authorized local officials to use emergency powers [press release] to help deal with riots that have broken out across the country [JURIST report] over the past 12 days, mostly instigated by disaffected Muslim immigrant youths. The emergency powers, which enable authorities to impose curfews and carry out raids without warrants, stem from a 1955 law [amended text; original 1955 version – page 1 and page 2, PDFs] which has never been implemented in France itself, but has been used in French colonial conflicts in Algeria and New Caledonia. Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin [BBC profile] declined to bring in the army as violence raged outside of Paris again Monday night, but has imposed curfews and deployed an additional 1,500 police officers [JURIST report] to aid the nearly 8,000 already dealing with the unrest. BBC News has more. Le Monde has local coverage (in French).

THIS DAY @ LAW

38 Santee Sioux hanged by US for rebellion

On December 26, 1862, 38 Santee Sioux men were hanged in a mass execution for their roles in a rebellion against US authorities in Minnesota which left hundreds dead and made refugees of some 40,000 white settlers. Government annuities promised under a treaty with the Sioux had failed to arrive on schedule and credit for purchases was not advanced in the meantime, threatening the tribe with starvation. The Santee Sioux Tribe's members were deported first to South Dakota and ultimately to Nebraska, where they remain today. Learn more about the 1862 Minnesota Sioux Rebellion.

Louis XVI put on trial during French Revolution

On December 26, 1792, Romain de Sèze, a defense attorney for deposed King Louis XVI, presented a defense of his client. The former King was on trial before a French Revolutionary court on thirty-three charges, including treason and other crimes against the state. He was convicted on January 15, 1793 executed by guillotine on the following January 21.