The prefect of Martinique will establish a curfew on Thursday from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. Demonstrations and gatherings are also prohibited across the island after the urban violence of recent hours.
The prefect of Martinique wants to regain control in Martinique. A curfew will be introduced from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. from this Thursday, October 10, accompanied by a ban on demonstrations and gatherings across the entire island. At issue: the urban violence of recent hours.
Stores were in fact set on fire or looted during the night from Wednesday to Thursday and flaming barricades were erected in several towns on the West Indian island, which presented a face of desolation after this violence which left 12 gendarmes injured.No less 400 vehicles were burned, AFP learned from a prefectural source, a huge parking lot housing new cars imported into Martinique having notably gone up in smoke. The Minister of Overseas Territories, François-Noël Buffet, condemned the violence of the night in a press release and called “to responsibility and appeasement“.
A shooting death had also been recorded alongside the looting of a shopping center, the prefecture announced in a press release, specifying that“no police officer and no gendarme used their weapon” during the night.
Since September, the island of the French Antilles has been marked by a movement against the high cost of living, a recurring theme in the Overseas Territories, which has degenerated with urban violence. The situation had calmed down in recent weeks but incidents broke out on Monday between the CRS and activists who were carrying out a blocking action against the high cost of living in Lamentin, near Fort-de-France. Since then, urban violence has been recorded again every night.
T.G.
Martinique on High Alert: Unpacking the Unrest and French Response
The picturesque island of Martinique, a French overseas department in the Caribbean, is grappling with escalating protests that have prompted the local authorities to impose a curfew and ban public gatherings. According to recent reports, the island’s prefect has announced a curfew from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., starting Thursday, to quell the surge in urban violence [[1]]. The decision comes after protesters, frustrated with the high cost of living, took to the streets, defying government restrictions and pushing the French authorities to deploy a long-forbidden anti-riot force [[2]].
The situation on the ground is tense, with protesters continuing to disregard the curfew and demonstrate against the government’s actions. A video on YouTube shows protesters defying the curfew, gathering in large numbers, and voicing their discontent [[3]]. The visual evidence underscores the gravity of the situation and highlights the determination of the Martinican people to bring about change.
From my analysis, it appears that the root cause of the unrest lies in the island’s economic challenges. The high cost of living, particularly when it comes to fuel, seems to have ignited the protests. The fact that the French government has been forced to deploy an anti-riot force, previously prohibited, indicates that the situation has reached a boiling point.
The imposition of the curfew and the ban on public gatherings are understandable measures to maintain order and prevent further escalation of violence. However, it remains to be seen whether these measures will address the underlying issues driving the protests. The government must engage with the protesters and listen to their grievances to find a long-term solution to the crisis.
Furthermore, the deployment of the anti-riot force raises concerns about the use of force and its potential to exacerbate the situation. The French government must ensure that the force is used judiciously and proportionally, prioritizing the safety of both protesters and law enforcement officials.
the situation in Martinique is complex, with deep-seated economic issues driving the protests. While the government’s measures to maintain order are necessary, they must also be accompanied by a willingness to engage with the protesters and address their concerns. The world is watching, and the French government must be mindful of the international community’s expectations for a peaceful and democratic resolution to the crisis.
References:
