brigadista
4th May 2009, 14:17
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/feb/18/nicolassarkozy-guadeloupe
The public revolt on the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe (http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/guadeloupe) claimed its first victim today as an increasingly embattled Nicolas Sarkozy (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/nicolas-sarkozy) staked his presidency on efforts to calm social unrest caused by the economic crisis.
Jacques Bino, a union activist in his 50s, was shot dead shortly after midnight near a roadblock in the city of Pointe à Pitre, where armed youths had opened fire on police. His was the first death in a conflict that has escalated this week from peaceful protest to violent confrontation.
The movement, led by the umbrella group Collective against Extreme Exploitation, began on 20 January as a general strike and protest against the island's high living costs. But since negotiations with the French government over state aid broke down, frustration has increased and the island, an idyllic holiday destination known for its beaches and luxury hotels, has come to resemble a war zone. "They wanted Beirut; they've got Beirut," one protester told the Libération newspaper.
Burning roadblocks manned by armed bands have been erected around Pointe à Pitre, Guadeloupe's biggest city, where 70% of people live in social housing. Shops have been looted, cars set on fire and tourists told to stay inside their hotels. Several policemen, using teargas to disperse the crowds, have been injured and dozens of demonstrators have been arrested.
Today France's interior minister, Michèle Alliot-Marie, called a crisis meeting of leading political figures to discuss plans to quell the violence. But critics said it was too little, too late, condemning Sarkozy for failing to tackle the crisis earlier. "I call on the president to come out of his ivory tower and finally tell us if France still cares about Guadeloupe," said Jacques Bangou, mayor of Pointe à Pitre.
Sarkozy, fearful that the unrest in France's overseas territories could spread to the mainland, unveiled a package of state aid at a meeting with union leaders worth between €1.65bn and €2.65 bn, including tax cuts and one-off payments for the unemployed.
The president, whose approval ratings are at their lowest since his 2007 election, is terrified of a repeat of the discontent that brought France to a standstill in 1995. Just weeks after 2.5 million people took to the streets in protest at his handling of the economy, another day of strikes is scheduled for next month. One newspaper reported Sarkozy telling his aides he was "betting my term" on the meeting.
As the crisis in Guadeloupe heats up and shows signs of spreading to Martinique and French Guiana, however, the Élysée will be forced to address social unease further from home. Commentators believe a mishandled approach to such a sensitive problem could spell disaster for Sarkozy.
The Caribbean conflict — a turbulent mixture of contemporary economic woes and historic racial tensions — has been sparked by the recent downturn but is caused by long-term issues such as high unemployment, low wages and soaring living costs. The issues are comparable to those in the riot-hit Parisian suburbs, said Malek Boutih, a former president of the French pressure group SOS Racisme. "The youth of Guadeloupe is the youth of the banlieue," he said. "There is no concrete, there are palm trees, but it's the same dead end for its youth."
The public revolt on the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe (http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/guadeloupe) claimed its first victim today as an increasingly embattled Nicolas Sarkozy (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/nicolas-sarkozy) staked his presidency on efforts to calm social unrest caused by the economic crisis.
Jacques Bino, a union activist in his 50s, was shot dead shortly after midnight near a roadblock in the city of Pointe à Pitre, where armed youths had opened fire on police. His was the first death in a conflict that has escalated this week from peaceful protest to violent confrontation.
The movement, led by the umbrella group Collective against Extreme Exploitation, began on 20 January as a general strike and protest against the island's high living costs. But since negotiations with the French government over state aid broke down, frustration has increased and the island, an idyllic holiday destination known for its beaches and luxury hotels, has come to resemble a war zone. "They wanted Beirut; they've got Beirut," one protester told the Libération newspaper.
Burning roadblocks manned by armed bands have been erected around Pointe à Pitre, Guadeloupe's biggest city, where 70% of people live in social housing. Shops have been looted, cars set on fire and tourists told to stay inside their hotels. Several policemen, using teargas to disperse the crowds, have been injured and dozens of demonstrators have been arrested.
Today France's interior minister, Michèle Alliot-Marie, called a crisis meeting of leading political figures to discuss plans to quell the violence. But critics said it was too little, too late, condemning Sarkozy for failing to tackle the crisis earlier. "I call on the president to come out of his ivory tower and finally tell us if France still cares about Guadeloupe," said Jacques Bangou, mayor of Pointe à Pitre.
Sarkozy, fearful that the unrest in France's overseas territories could spread to the mainland, unveiled a package of state aid at a meeting with union leaders worth between €1.65bn and €2.65 bn, including tax cuts and one-off payments for the unemployed.
The president, whose approval ratings are at their lowest since his 2007 election, is terrified of a repeat of the discontent that brought France to a standstill in 1995. Just weeks after 2.5 million people took to the streets in protest at his handling of the economy, another day of strikes is scheduled for next month. One newspaper reported Sarkozy telling his aides he was "betting my term" on the meeting.
As the crisis in Guadeloupe heats up and shows signs of spreading to Martinique and French Guiana, however, the Élysée will be forced to address social unease further from home. Commentators believe a mishandled approach to such a sensitive problem could spell disaster for Sarkozy.
The Caribbean conflict — a turbulent mixture of contemporary economic woes and historic racial tensions — has been sparked by the recent downturn but is caused by long-term issues such as high unemployment, low wages and soaring living costs. The issues are comparable to those in the riot-hit Parisian suburbs, said Malek Boutih, a former president of the French pressure group SOS Racisme. "The youth of Guadeloupe is the youth of the banlieue," he said. "There is no concrete, there are palm trees, but it's the same dead end for its youth."