Four mobile gendarmes were slightly injured by gunshots on the night of Monday, October 7 to Tuesday, October 8 in Martinique during urban violence, in the context of a protest movement for purchasing power, the prefecture announced on Tuesday. “In the Sainte-Thérèse neighborhood [à Fort-de-France]“The direct shots once again targeted the internal security forces, slightly injuring four of them.”the island’s prefecture announced in a press release.
According to her, four people were arrested who were trying to rob a store in Lamentin, a neighboring town of Fort-de-France, and three others who were trying to burn down a gas station. Burned barricades were set up in several towns on the island, public facilities were damaged and eight vehicles were set on fire, according to the same source. Rubbish fires also required the intervention of firefighters, according to the fire and rescue service.
This renewed tension comes after a day of clashes on Monday between activists against the high cost of living, who led a blockade action in Lamentin, and CRS 8 police officers. Since Monday, fifteen police officers and gendarmes have been injured. and eighteen people detained, the prefecture states.
The Demonstration for the Protection of Afro-Caribbean Peoples and Resources (RPPRAC), origin of the protest movement in favor of purchasing power, and the prefecture offer different versions of the events.
Clashes with the police
“After the call” As usual, the prefecture states in a statement published on its Facebook page, the police intervened to ” release “ the Mahault roundabout, in Lamentin, occupied by about fifty people, seven heavy vehicles, two vehicles “out of use” and construction equipment. The police suffered “violent attacks” During this intervention, the press release continues, facing the throwing of stones and bottles. “Faced with such behavior, the internal security forces used force, dispersed the crowd and arrested five people”the prefecture reported.
Rodrigue Petitot, president of the RPPRAC, was injured in the confrontation. “We confirm that our president Rodrigue Petitot, known as “la R”, was chased and wounded in the hand and leg”The RPPRAC reacted in a press release, denouncing the “police repression” of “Peaceful Martinicans”. The group reported that two activists were taken into police custody.
A movement against the high cost of living, a recurring theme in the French Antilles, was launched at the beginning of September by the RPPRAC, which demands an alignment with France of the prices of food products, 40% more expensive in Martinique.
Aside from this movement, the island was shaken by urban violence that led the prefecture to establish a night curfew in certain districts of Fort-de-France and in the neighboring commune of Lamentin.
The authorities have organized four round tables since the beginning of the crisis, without a satisfactory result for the protesters. A fifth, which was to be held on Monday, was postponed indefinitely.
