A controversial deployment of France’s elite anti-riot police, the Companies for Republican Security (CRS), has landed in Martinique, raising concerns and drawing criticism from local leaders. The arrival of the CRS, banned from the island for 65 years following a bloody crackdown in 1959, comes amidst ongoing protests sparked by the high cost of living, The Associated Press reports.
The CRS’s deployment follows a week of violent demonstrations that saw six police officers and one civilian injured. The unrest culminated in widespread looting and clashes between protesters and law enforcement. In response, the French government imposed a curfew and banned demonstrations in several municipalities, including Fort-de-France, Le Lamentin, Ducos, and Le Robert.
While the government justified the measures as necessary to “put an end to the violence,” the restrictions were met with defiance. Thousands of protesters took to the streets Saturday night in peaceful demonstrations, banging drums and waving flags.
The arrival of the CRS, known for its aggressive tactics, has been met with alarm by many in Martinique. The unit’s history in the territory is marked by the 1959 riots, where their actions were widely condemned for resulting in the deaths of several young protesters.
Béatrice Bellay, a representative of the socialist party on the island, expressed her strong opposition to the deployment.
“Martinique is not in a civil war, it is a social war,” she said.
She called for dialogue between the government and protesters, arguing that the CRS’s presence will only escalate tensions and distract from the legitimate concerns of the Martinique people.
