Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Grateful

Today, we read that the strike in Guadeloupe, indeed, turned violent. Here is a portion of the article.
GUADELOUPE STIKE TURNS VIOLENT
A union activist was killed overnight in Guadeloupe as the month-long strike on the French Caribbean island escalated into riots and shootings, local authorities said Wednesday.

Jacques Bino, aged in his 50s, was shot dead while driving his car near a roadblock manned by armed youths who opened fire at police with buckshot in the capital Pointe-a-Pitre, an official from the local administration said.

He was the first victim of the escalating violence on the island crippled since January 20 by a general strike over the high cost of living.

The government in Paris appealed for calm and Interior Minister Michele Alliot-Marie called crisis talks on the deteriorating security situation.

Six members of the security forces were slightly injured during shoot-outs with armed youths, including three police officers who were hurt while helping emergency teams who rushed to Bino's aid, police said.

The activist, employed in a government tax office, was returning from a labour meeting, said Elie Domota, leader of the Collective Against Exploitation (LKP), the coalition of unions and leftist groups that launched the strike.

Gangs of youths looted shops, smashed storefront windows and threw up burning roadblocks overnight along the main streets of the capital and in at least two other towns. At least 13 people were detained.


We are so grateful for an inspired mission president who was in tune with the spirit, and knew when to pull the missionaries from Guadeloupe.

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