Martinique: this fake news causing new riots and violence

In the midst of the cost of living crisis in Martinique, fake news caused riots at the Martinique-Aimé-Césaire international airport. Dozens of people invaded one of the airstrips.

New clashes took place in Fort-de-France, Martinique, at the Aimé-Césaire airport. According to a press release from the prefect, “rumors have circulated on social networks (…) according to which 300 or 350 CRS should arrive in Martinique by plane”. This rumor, which was false, prompted several dozen people to invade one of the airport’s landing strips. The events took place in the afternoon of Thursday October 10, therefore during the night from Thursday to Friday in mainland France. The police arrested eight people, according to AFP.

Following this violence, the airport was closed. According to the prefect’s press release, “three planes, or more than 1,000 passengers, (were) diverted to Guadeloupe. 500 passengers who were supposed to leave by these planes are stuck at Fort-de-France airport.” The prefect “calls for a return to calm”.

A context of strong tensions since September

After this violent episode at the airport, the riots continued into the night in this context of violence following the movement against the high cost of living which began in September. 26 police officers and gendarmes have been injured since the start of the demonstrations. The island’s prefect even decreed a curfew and a ban on demonstrations until Monday.

The strong tensions were caused by the price difference, including for the most basic and essential products, between the mainland and Martinique. While a bag of sandwich bread costs around 1.50 euros in mainland France, it is almost 11 euros in Martinique. Most products there are twice as expensive. It is because of these high prices, which greatly reduce the purchasing power of the island’s inhabitants, who feel abandoned by the government, that tensions have arisen.

Supermarkets are regularly looted and demonstrators use violence to make their distress heard. One man was still shot and killed. We do not know the exact circumstances of his death, but it appears to have been a settling of scores between rioters, since the police did not use their weapons during the riots. The person was found seriously injured by the gendarmerie, who were intervening against the looting of a shopping center. Taken to hospital, the man did not survive.