PARIS, March 9 (Xinhuanet) -- Over 2,000 French scientists tendered letters of resignation Tuesday in protest to government budget cuts, marking the culmination of a confrontation between French authorities and intellectuals.

    To some extent, the resignations were symbolic, as the scientists only quitted their administrative posts while continuing research work and receiving full salary.

    However, critics warned that the collective mutiny would still make a dent on the institutes' daily functions, and flashed a warning signal that potential brain drain may spell doom for the country's scientific future.

    The latest confrontation came after the scientists' protest against budget cuts, fund freezes and post reduction went unheeded in the government.

    In January, more than 5,000 scientists spearheaded their efforts by publishing a petition letter on the Internet.

    Still ignored by the government, the protest gathered momentum with waves of demonstrations sweeping the nation in February and March.

    A recent poll showed that over 81 percent of those surveyed threw their support behind researchers, and the final mass walkoutcapped the two-month confrontation.

    Analysts argued that the government's neglect of the scientists' grievances was deep-rooted in two factors: a lackluster economy and the inertial scientific research system.

    Facing a sluggish economy, France was criticized for its 4.1 percent deficit in 2003, a figure far above the 3 percent ceiling imposed by the European Union (EU).

    To check the rising deficit, France was struggling to cobble upsalvage plans, with scientific funds bearing the brunt.

    According to local media reports, France currently spends 2.13 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) on scientific research,far below the 2.98 percent in Japan and 2.69 percent in the UnitedStates.

    A spokesman of the scientific movement said over 10 percent of research funds was spiked in 2003.

    Another scientist was quoted by the Liberation daily as saying that 575 million US dollars was canceled between 2002 and 2003, not including the freeze of 359 million in 2002, which was released only recently.

    The fund shortage plagued most scientific research establishments, even those world renowned, such as INSERM researchinstitute and the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS).

    Another worrying factor, observers say, lies in the scientific research system riddled with archaic governance practice and bureaucratic rigidity.

    Financial daily Les Echos published an official report, accusing the CNRS of standing in stark contrast with the fast-moving world of research, and urging a quick reform.

    To make things worse, the government slashed over 550 full-timeposts, which were previously held by young researchers who conducted the work of their seniors and represented the country's future scientific reservoir.

    According to official figures, in 2000 alone, about 3,000 French science graduates turned their backs on homeland, leaving for other countries like the United States, Japan and Canada.

    The massive resignation sent tremor across the French politicallandscape in the run-up to the country's regional elections, forcing the government to make concession gestures to placate the anger.

    On March 6, French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin offered an extra 3 billion euro (about 3.7 billion US dollars) of funds toscientists.

    He said the government would find resources "to reach three percent of GDP spending by 2010...which would represent a nationaleffort of at least three billion additional euros by the end of this legislature" in 2007.

    Research Minister Claudie Haignere also promised on Feb. 27 that the government would release unpaid funds from 2002 to 2003 and add 120 entry-level positions, a promise rejected by the scientists as insufficient.

    No matter which side gets the upper hand in this wrangling overfunds, French scientific study is always the one to be hurt.

    If no effective measures were put in place soon to check the downward spiral, the accelerating brain drain would wreak irreparable havoc on the country's scientific field, which once produced scientific pioneers like Louis Pasteur and Marie Curie, analysts warn. Enditem