This article was originally published in English
Riots in Martinique: Fort-de-France airport reopened with the landing of a first flight from the Dominican Republic after having had to close the day before, due to the intrusions of demonstrators against the high cost of living.
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Hundreds of passengers were stranded on the French Caribbean island of Martinique after Fort-de France airport was briefly forced to close its doors due to the intrusion of protesters who had invaded the tarmac.
The airport finally reopened on Friday morning (local time) with the landing of a first flight from the Dominican Republic. Faced with the situation, the authorities ordered the diversion to Guadeloupe of three planes and more than 1,000 passengers. The latter were due to leave for Martinique in the afternoon, indicated the prefecture of Guadeloupe. Some of them spent the night on camp beds in a gymnasium in Pointe-à-Pitre transformed into an accommodation center.
On Thursday evening, protesters invaded the airport tarmac and attempted to force their way into the main entrance, where hundreds of passengers had taken refuge, according to videos posted on social media.
The new Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, declared that the authorities had regained control of the airport and announced the sending of reinforcements of police to ensure the maintenance of order.
“We will restore order”indicated the minister while adding that the French State must “also take into account” the discontent of the local population with the rise in prices.
Since Monday evening, Martinique has been gripped by demonstrations against the high cost of living which have led to urban violence. At least one person was killed when protesters set fire to a police station, cars and roadblocks.
The prefecture indicated that the blockade of the airport followed “rumors” spread on social networks concerning the imminent arrival of hundreds of French police officers by plane.
“This completely false information is the cause of groupings and the invasion of the airport runway”we can read in the press release.
Since the start of the week, nearly a dozen police officers have been injured after protesters threw bottles and rocks and police responded with tear gas, according to the government.
Some demonstrators also opened fire, according to authorities.
Persistent problems
The latest wave of violence prompted the French government to announce a new curfew and emphasize that demonstrations on public roads were banned.
It is the latest in a series of protests that began in early September and prompted France to send special riot police forces to the island, which banned demonstrations in some areas.
Martinique has seen similar protests in recent years, often fueled by anger over what protesters see as economic, social and racial inequality.
