As reported in last night’s news feed, yesterday’s French PEGIDA demonstration in Calais was banned by the government out of fear that it would provoke violence. But it went ahead anyway, and a retired army general was arrested for participating in it.

But this wasn’t just any general — this was General Christian Piquemal, the former commander of the Foreign Legion. Immediately before his arrest, Gen. Piquemal gave an interview to “Boulevard Voltaire”, a French online journal.

Many thanks to Oz-Rita for the translation, and to Vlad Tepes for the subtitling:

Below are excerpts from a BBC article about yesterday’s events in Calais:

Former French Foreign Legion Chief Held at Calais PEGIDA Rally A former French general has been arrested with about 20 other protesters at a banned anti-Islam rally in the city of Calais. Gen Christian Piquemal, who headed the Legion in the 1990s, was held after scuffles began with police in the northern city. […] On Saturday, officials said French police had issued warnings to disperse to about 150 Calais protesters, who waved national flags and sang the anthem in the town centre. As skirmishes began, the police used tear gas to break up the demonstration. Gen Piquemal said he was “shocked by the behaviour of the police”. “There are things that have to be respected, including the national anthem — the Marseillaise — when it is sung,” he told police officers. “I expected you to be at attention, singing with us but not-one of you opened your mouth. And this is France — the great France, the eternal France, which used to be the lighthouse of the world. It is in decline. Decadent. I regret that you received these orders. You are forced to obey your orders, but you don’t have to behave this way in the field.”

Video transcript: