text: information wasalsosoughtconcerning thenumberofaliensworking without a permitandtheextenttowhichclasses werebeingtaughttothemigrant children in theirrespective languages andcultures oforigin. Lastly,itwasaskedwhether provisions oftheActof1July1901,according towhichanyassociation thataimed atviolating theintegrity ofthenational territory andtherepublican formof government, werenullandvoid,alsoapplied toassociations thatsoughttoachieve independence bylegalmeans,andwhether therehadeverbeenanyorganizations that promoted intolerance basedonnati.)nal origin. 52.Withregardtoarticle 6oftheConvention, members oftheCommittee wishedto knowwhether theMediator hadalready hadoccasion totake ~ctioninc~sesof racialdiscrimination. Qbserving thatitwassometimes verydifficult tostatehow effective theprotection andremedies provided forunderarticle 6were,itwas suggested thatinquiries intotheireffectiveness mightbecarried outin connection withanti-racist organizations. -20-53.Replying tothevarious questions askedconcerning theOverseas Departments andTerritories, therepresentative oftheStatepartysaidthattheFrench Cons~itution provided forunrestricted exercise ortherightto self-determination. InthoseDepartments andTerritories, pro-independence opinions werefreelyexpressed andpro-independence parties andmovements existed, although theideaofindependence didnotenjoyfullmajority backing. Freedom of exprssionwasalsofUllyguaranteed inthoseDepartments andT8rritories, provided itwasexercised inalawfulmanner, whichexcluded anyactsofterrorism. The situation inNewCaledonia wasquitedifferent, inasmuch asthegroupstherethat werecalling forindependence andthoseinfavourofmaintaining theterritory withintheinstitutions oftheRepublic wereofcomparable size.Itwasinorder totakethissituation intoaccount thattheFrenchGovernment hadmadeprOVision foravoteonself-determination totakeplacewithin 10years. Referring tothe actsofviolence thathadbeencommitted in1988,therepresentative pointed out that,underthereferendum lawof9November 1988,amnesty hadbeengranted tothe persons convicted following thoseevents. Furthermore, theorganization ofthe island's courtshadsubsequently beenmodified soastoavoidanexcessive concentration inNoumeaoftheadministration ofjustice. 54.Replying tootherquestions, therepresentative notedthatFrancehadentered areservation inrespect ofarticle 27oftheInternational Covenant onCiviland Political Rightsinwhichithaddeclared thatFrancewasacountry wherethere werenominorities. TheRepUblic wasoneRndindivisible and,whiletheremightbe someformsofregionalism, therewasnonationalism otherthanFrenchnationalism. The"Living TO<;Jether" campaign, towhichreference hadbeenmade,hadnowended. Ithadled,interalia,totheappointment oflocalmediators tosettlethemost pressing conflicts. 55.Turnin<;J toarticle 3oftheConvention, therepresentative saidthattheban onnewinvestment inSouthAfricawasstillinforce,thattheimportation ofSouth African ironandsteelhadbeenterminated andthatcoalcontracts hadnotbeen renewed. 56.Referring tothepointsraisedconcerning article 4oftheConvention, the representative saidthattheNational Frontwasapolitical partyoperating under thelawbutthatthestatements byitsleaders andthepressarticles supporting itsopinions couldgiverisetoprosecution iftheyinvolved slander, racial insults orincitement toracialhatred. Withrespect toSalmanRushdie's book,he saidthatnopermission wasnecessary topuulish abookinFranceandthat, consequently, therehadbeennoapproval ofthecontente ofthebookbythe Government orbyanyofitsmembers. Although therewasnolawagainst blasphemy inFrance, insults, slander andincitement toracialhatred wereprohibited. In thatconnection, Muslimassociations hadlodgedcomplaints Against theauthor and thepublisher ofthebookanditwasforthecourtstoruleonthematter. He pointed outthattheFrenchl,olice andFrenchjustice tre~ted foreign nationals and Frenchnationals inexactly thesameway.Fllrthermore, thecourtswere automatically seizedofanyC8~ewhereanactofviolence wascommitted against a foreign national andwhereself-defence couldnotbeinvoked. Insuchcasespolice officers responsible forsuchactsweresubject todisciplinary measures. 51.Withrespect toarticle 5oftheConvention, therepresentative saidthat Francewasmaking amajorefforttoguarantee theprotection ofregional languages andthatinthecaseofsomebaccalaureate examinations theuseofsuchlanguages wasauthorized. Onthequestion ofrefugees, hesaidthattheregimethathad -21-succeeded thatofFrancoinSpainoffered thenecessary guarantees inrespect of
analysis: The text appears to be a report or statement from the French government to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. It discusses various issues related to racial discrimination, self-determination, and human rights in France and its overseas territories. The text mentions specific policies, laws, and events, such as the ban on new investment in South Africa, the situation in New Caledonia, and the "Living TOGETHER" campaign. It also touches on issues like education, language, and refugee protection. Overall, the text seems to focus on human rights and international relations rather than economic or scientific topics.