Incarcerated pending trial, Rodrigue Petitot was released on January
24th. However, the leader of the RPPRAC was sentenced to a 12-monthsuspended prison sentence for "trespassing, public outrage, and
rebellion in a group." He will also have to pay a fine of EUR500 in
damages... ---- The Republic and its Order ---- "This is a trial for an
attack on the authority of the State," declared the prosecutor,
considering the entire Martinican revolt against the high cost of living
and its initiator, Rodrigue Petitot, known as "the R." The prosecution
speaks of "a rebellion in a perfectly constituted group." On November
11, 2024, members of the RPPRAC (1) had invited themselves into the
prefectural residence. They are therefore accused of trespassing and
entering the prefecture where F.N. Buffet, then Minister of Overseas
Territories, was also residing. They wanted to address the minister on
the issue of the high cost of living or to obtain an appointment
previously denied by the prefectural authorities. It should be noted
that the three other RPPRAC activists accused of the same act will not
be tried until March 31, 2025. This accusation is refuted by the RPPRAC
leader: "I do not admit to being the perpetrator of trespassing; the
gate was open." This is confirmed by the video footage and cameras at
the prefectural residence. "They want to imprison the symbol of the
fight against the high cost of living," he declared. The "R" had already
been imprisoned since November 2024 following a video posted on the
TikTok network in which he denounced the island's mayors who opposed the
population's mobilizations. This new sentence is in addition to the
ten-month prison sentence already requested against him. We are thus
witnessing the continued criminalization of the social movement after
three months of revolt and the fight against "Pwofitasyon." In addition
to the criminalization of participants in the movement against the high
cost of living, we are especially witnessing judicial harassment of the
RPPRAC representatives who initiated the movement.
The State's Heavyweights
It is clear that the populations revolting against the high cost of
living and colonialism, whether in Martinique, Kanaky, or Mayotte, have
no illusions about the new government. On the contrary, they have
everything to fear from the colonial state and the ministers in office,
recycled by F. Bayrou, who became Prime Minister.
The "R" was to be neutralized. He had previously been detained three
times during the three-month revolt, followed by two court sentences.
This repression was embraced by the new Interior Minister, B.
Retailleau, who declared on BFM TV: "We are working with the justice
system to prosecute a certain number of individuals... I'm thinking
particularly of Rodrigue Petitot..."
And F. Bayrou reinforced his government with "heavyweights." The first,
therefore, is B. Retailleau, the Interior Minister who is competing,
without exerting any effort, with the National Rally, whose task it is
to pull the rug out from under his feet when it comes to maintaining
social order. A Minister of the Interior (reappointed) who, while
visiting the devastated island of Mayotte after the ravages of Cyclone
Chido, far from the immediate concerns of the poor, destitute population
lacking everything: water, hospitals, schools, etc., had as his first
concern and "national priority" the issue of legal or illegal
"migration." "We will not be able to rebuild Mayotte without addressing
the migration issue with the utmost determination..." he declared. Well
supported, the latter found at his side, appointed to the justice
system, G. Darmanin, whom the overseas territories know well as a former
delegate to the Overseas Territories. He had previously distinguished
himself, as Minister of the Interior, by sending the GIGN and the RAID
to support the already sufficient repressive forces in maintaining order
in Guadeloupe. During his term in Mayotte, the latter praised in 2023
the effectiveness of "Operation Place Net" or "Wuambushu (Recovery)"
consisting of destroying the slums where the poor and vulnerable were
housed for lack of other solutions. Unfortunately for the population,
cyclone "Chido" has just completed its dirty work.
Obviously, the latest heavyweight recycled by F. Bayrou, shamelessly
moved from the Socialist Party under F. Hollande to Macron's party,
former Prime Minister, formerly a rejected candidate for Barcelona
mayor. This (also) former Minister of the Interior declared in 2013
regarding his pursuit of the Roma, with his characteristic serenity, but
following in the footsteps of N. Sarkozy: "The Roma are destined to stay
in Romania or return there..." This "ex-"... Do we still need to name
him: Mr. Valls! Such defenders of order and the republic reveal how
order will be maintained and the republic defended.
They released him; it was the only thing they could do.
During the "R" trial, the judges rejected the lawyers' request for
acquittal. They also refused to follow the prosecutor's request. The
prosecution had requested a 30-month prison sentence, 15 of which were
suspended, and continued detention with a two-year probationary period.
However, despite the measure and restrictions imposed on the "R," the
judges' verdict was received with considerable relief by Martinicans,
activists in the movement, as well as the hundreds of people who came to
joyfully welcome him outside the prison when he was released. "Yo la
djé-y. Sé Sêl bagay ki té reté yo pou fé." "They released him; it's the
only thing they could do." This judicial repression had already been
denounced during the previous trial by unions and other political
groups. Against this appearance, the CGTM, the island's main union,
called for a day of strike action in solidarity with the "R." In its
appeal, the union denounced: "an attack on freedom of expression and our
right to fight for a more just world. It is also a worrying signal for
all those who, like him, dare to oppose the established order." A
solidarity strike took place that day in schools, among dockworkers,
municipal officials, etc. An echo of solidarity that must be directed
towards the Kanak people and their leaders deported and enslaved in
mainland France, including the leader of the CCAT: Ch. Tein. The Kanak
people and workers, the Mahoran population, etc., have much to fear from
the three heavyweights of the colonial state and the republic's offers
of "peace." It was during a rally in front of a thousand Martinicans and
movement activists that the leader of the RPPRAC announced the following
Sunday: "The fight continues... we will express ourselves differently...
We must become a people..."
A political turning point in view of the upcoming elections?
Decaen 05 02 2025
Note
1.....RPPRAC: Rally for the Protection of Afro-Caribbean Peoples and Wealth.
P.S.
Also read the previous Alternative Currents: No. 341: Guadeloupe, a
curfew, and then what?, No. 344: High cost of living and anger, No. 345:
Anger persists, No. 346: Between police repression and judicial harassment.
http://oclibertaire.lautre.net/spip.php?article4394
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