Posted on 02/16/2009 5:55:49 PM PST by blueplum
FORT-DE-FRANCE, Martinique -- Strikes that have nearly frozen everyday life on France's Caribbean islands burst into clashes on Monday as police battled protesters angry at high prices and resentful of a tiny white elite on lands better known for beach-side vacations.
Police detained about 50 people after coming under a barrage of stones as they tried to take down barricades on the island of Guadeloupe, said Nicolas Desforges, the island's top government official.
Strikers were sprayed with tear gas and several, including union leader Alex Lollia, were injured, France's leftist NPA party said in a statement.
The leader of the LKP Collective that organized Guadeloupe's strike warned that deadly escalation is possible.
"If anyone injures a member of the LKP or a striker on Guadeloupe, there will be deaths," Elie Domota said in a television interview on Saturday.
On the sister island of Martinique...
(Excerpt) Read more at seattlepi.nwsource.com ...
Martinique and Guadeloupe have representation in the French Assembly, FWIW.
Martinique is a dump.
I wonder if a "tiny black elite," such as that in Zimbabwe, would have caught the attention of the Seattle PI.
So, in other words, this was just an angry, racist protest.
I made the mistake one time of going over to the French-side of Saint Maarten. It was stinky as Hell, much better on the Dutch side of the island.
“French-side of Saint Maarten”
Same here. The Dutch run half was mucho nicer.
As such the French won't let these islands go they represent too much money and prestige.
It wouldbe like letting the State of Massachusetts secede.......................hmmmmmmm
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