In Martinique, the day of Thursday, October 10, was once again marked by incidents on the island within the framework of the movement against the high cost of living, underway since September. The prefect has decreed a curfew and a ban on demonstrations throughout the country until Monday. On Thursday afternoon, more than fifty people invaded the runway at the Fort-de-France airport.
The situation had calmed down in recent weeks, but on Monday incidents broke out between police officers from the Republican Security Companies (CRS) and activists leading a blockade action against the high cost of living in Lamentin, near Fort -from-France. Since then, violence has been recorded every night again.
The minister responsible for the overseas territories, François-Noël Buffet, condemned on Thursday “with the greatest firmness” the violence that broke out overnight and urged citizens “to avoid any escalation (…) and encourage dialogue.”. An appeal renewed in the afternoon by the prefect of Martinique, who, in a statement, “Celebrated the progress made in the fifth round table on the cost of living” and I called “de-escalation”.
A sixth round table against the high cost of living with the various stakeholders is planned for Friday at 3:00 p.m. The previous five, which brought together the Rally for the Protection of Afro-Caribbean Peoples and Resources (RPPRAC), a movement leading the mobilization, and economic actors, elected officials, state services and the local authority of Martinique (CTM) failed to produce results considered satisfactory by the protesters.
Schools closed on Friday
On Thursday afternoon, more than fifty people invaded the runway of the Fort-de-France airport in the town of Lamentin. “Rumors circulated on social media this afternoon that 300 or 350 CRS would arrive in Martinique by plane. “This completely false information is the cause of the groups and the invasion of the airport runway.”deplored the prefecture of Martinique on the social network “1,117 passengers on board” They were diverted to Guadeloupe after the airport closed, according to the Pointe-à-Pitre prefecture.
Schools will also remain closed on Friday for the second day in a row, according to Martinique’s rectorate. The Martinique University Hospital announced on Thursday the launch of a white plan during which “The descheduling of surgical procedures or consultations is organized”.
“However, special attention is paid to urgent or cancer-related interventions”added the CHU in its press release, specifying that “Cancelled appointments will be rescheduled as soon as possible”. In addition, pharmacies on the island reported on the same day “I can no longer provide emergency service”.
Twelve gendarmes were injured during the night from Wednesday to Thursday
The situation had calmed down in recent weeks, but on Monday incidents broke out between the CRS and activists carrying out a blocking action in Lamentin. As a result, the prefect of the island, Jean-Christophe Bouvier, signed two decrees on Thursday regarding “the entire territory of Martinique”. The first establishes a curfew from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., the second prohibits meetings and demonstrations from 6:00 p.m. on Thursday. Both orders will be valid until Monday.
The movement against the high cost of living, a recurring theme in the French Antilles, was launched in early September by the RPPRAC, which demands an alignment with France of the prices of food products, which are 40% more expensive in Martinique. .
Twelve gendarmes were injured during the night from Wednesday to Thursday “including one per bullet”a prefectural source told AFP. A police source reports fourteen CRS police officers, 8 slightly injured and six detained. According to the same source, no less than 400 vehicles were burned and a huge parking lot that housed new cars imported to Martinique was burned.
A man was also shot dead in circumstances still unclear: he was found wounded by gendarmes who intervened against the looting of a shopping center in Le Robert and died in hospital, according to the prefecture of Martinique. An investigation was opened, the prefecture added, ruling out the involvement of the police, who did not “they did not use their weapons during the riots”.
