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News > France

Martinicans Protest Against Compulsory COVID-19 Vaccination

  • The Sainte Therese ‘vaccinedrome’ set on fire, Fort de France City, Martinique, August 1, 2021.

    The Sainte Therese ‘vaccinedrome’ set on fire, Fort de France City, Martinique, August 1, 2021. | Photo: Twitter/ @Astrid_Aiyana

Published 2 August 2021
Opinion

"We cannot introduce a product into a man or a woman without their prior consent," trade unionist Serge Aribo said.

Early Monday morning, five police officers were injured in clashes with citizens protesting against new epidemiological measures imposed by France in the overseas department of Martinique.

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The measures mandate a health pass and mandatory coronavirus vaccination for health care workers and other professions. The most violent protests took place in Sainte-Therese and Canal Alaric in Fort de France City.

"We have cases of demonstrators who do not protest against the measures but who seek to fight with the national police and attack property," Police spokesperson Jimmy Helenis said, commenting that the riots followed a massive protest called by trade unions.

In recent weeks, Martinique has been the scene of demonstrations against the measures imposed by France to control the new wave of contagions. “The Martinican population, already poisoned with chlordecone by the French state, refuses the compulsory vaccinations,” activist Aiana tweeted.

The tweet reads, "Martinique continues to rebel against the confinement that has been imposed on it. There have been new disturbances on the Island. Last night, an angry crowd set fire to a vaccination center."

One of the leaders of the protest, trade unionist Serge Aribo, pointed out that the problem is not the vaccine itself but the fact that the government imposes its will on citizens.

"We want to recall today the fundamental principles written in international agreements: human rights must be respected. We cannot introduce a product into a man or a woman without their prior consent," he said.

Faced with an increase of contagions, the University Hospital of Martinique is transferring patients in serious condition to France. The French government sent soldiers to assist the hospital. The Caribbean island has 375,933 inhabitants and has reported 17,215 COVID-19 cases and 104 related deaths so far.

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