Marie was a week away from her 20th birthday. She was the youngest
sister in a very close-knit family: with her parents, older brother,
older sister and grand-parents who all loved her, many friends who
appreciated her and a full life ahead of her.
Intellectually, she was a brilliant pupil with outstanding results.
After her Baccalaureate, her teachers instantly advised her to follow
the path reserved for the best pupils, the prestigious French
Engineering Schools "les grandes ecoles". But she did not feel that
this was the right path for her. At age 18 she took charge of her
future and decided to work as an au-pair in England, which she did for
a few months. She mastered the English language and wanted to find out
for herself what she wanted to do.
She enjoyed life in England so much that she decided to stay and
continue her education here. She enrolled at the London Metropolitan
University to study Economics and Politics. She had a very successful
first year and then decided to transfer to a translation course in her
second year. In fact, last month we met up with the course leader who
would have taught her from September 2008. She had already befriended
Marie and deeply regrets her disappearance.
Her intellectual ability did not prevent her from dreaming and hoping
for a better world. She was an idealist who wanted to change the world,
by raising awareness about and fighting against injustices such as
conflicts, poverty and wasting resources.
What she liked about England was that it was the country of freedom of
expression: and she soon found friends who shared her vision of the
world and a boyfriend she loved and who loved her. She always led her
battles with full respect for others and the laws of the country. She
died during the "Week of Peace" whilst on her way to demonstrate
against a weapons factory with a group of friends.
So, we, her family and all her friends, are fighting to prevent young
people, who are making a stand for non-violence, from dying in violent
circumstances and to stop children from being run over on English
roads. All human beings deserve respect and cannot just die like an
animal by the roadside in total impunity.
http://www.sussex.police.uk/pressline/expand.aspx?uniqueid=26064