In Martinique, it is always "the same fight against the same"
Born in 1925, author of a History of Martinique in three volumes and several other books on the Caribbean, Martinique historian Nicolas Armand gives his analysis on the general strike in Martinique.
One month after the movement - in February against the pwofitasyon in Guadeloupe and Martinique, the former history professor and former general secretary of the Communist Party of Martinique (PCM), Armand Nicolas welcomed us home. The historian, who has worked hard for knowledge and the dissemination of the history and cultural promotion Martinique (articles, conferences, courses, archaeological, historical publications), gives us his opinion on the general strike that paralyzed the country, as well as slavery or the words of Hughes beke Despointes. Maintenance.
How do you analyze the general strike in Martinique and Guadeloupe?
Armand Nicolas. I think we lived in Martinique social movement that is most important. Martinique has the working class behind a strong tradition of struggle. Strikes, mostly bloody, have marked its history. That of February 1900, or the great strike of civil servants in 1951 ... was a tradition. But a movement of this magnitude, as diverse, and this force is exceptional. This is something we can not say, formally today, what are the consequences. He scored so high ideas. Beyond the unions took the initiative in the fight, other social groups have joined. They have joined the movement, recognizing in it their flagship. This gave the February 5 Collective, which brought together almost all walks of life, except the wealthy. Because of its claims is an anti-capitalist movement of great magnitude. This movement is also very deep in that it is not limited to one or two major demands, but raises all the issues facing workers today in their diversity. It also has a platform of demands, which identifies the main problems posed Martinique during this period. Be they economic, social or cultural. That's new. It was used in the classical manner. With relatively small claims, very precise. But it is as if there was a gathering of all those who thought their problems, then met for joint action. Despite the diversity, what was striking was the cohesion.
What other social movement in Martinique makes you think this?
Armand Nicolas. This movement of the February 5, 2009 reminds me of that of February 1935 with the thrust of the working masses, in the double sense of the organization of his fight with the creation of unions. It is created when most of the major unions. The period of the Popular Front in France, which for several months, Martinique, was marked by many social movements that led to broad sections of workers in the private and public sectors. Strikes and demonstrations, which saw the establishment of the organization of the working class Martinique with the establishment of trade unions. Layers have fought for the same goals: increasing wages, the week of 40 hours ... But no group rally. Everyone was pushing on his side at the same time. This still resulted in a series of conquests of the working class with paid leave, family allowances ... February 1935, February 2009. The month is conducive to tidal waves that result in relatively large changes. The first feature of this strike was its strength. Its organization. Discipline and cohesion maintained to the end. The tactic was good in spite of the difficulties that have arisen at the end. One felt that the movement was beginning to drag. The opponents, whether government or employers, tried methods of decay. To drag out the negotiations to tire people. It is no coincidence that in the end, the békés came into play with their tractors. A provocation that could further ignite.
How about the beke Hughes Despointes were seen after the passage of Canal Plus documentary the Last Masters of Martinique?
Armand Nicolas. The social movement found itself in a way galvanized the position of some circles békés among the most backward and reactionary. The Despointes the Hayot, which are still in fact the great feudal lords of the country. These have tried to create a violent situation. They had everything to gain. To break things. Lead people to fire. They would always land on their feet by assigning the blame to the people. This is also fairly new to see békés down on the road, put their hands in the dough to make dams. It shows their isolation. For if they go there because they found no one to do it for them. The movement of the Collective was well organized. Well structured. The risk, over time, to abandon the fight by saying that the principal had been remained vain. Yet as long strike is not an easy task. Not only is there loss of money, life itself becomes difficult. A big part of what was essentially has yet been torn by the Collective. Showing that when you fight, you can win.
With actions that continue today, the movement will die out or he gently ignite again?
Armand Nicolas. It's pretty hard to say. Taking into account the experience of what has been done so far, sometimes for long movements, a time when it becomes boring. And we will not start a general strike in two weeks! Unless that happens is very serious. For example if the employers refuse to pay the increase. Certain conditions may allow the recovery. But overall, I do not think it can leave very quickly. The risk is that the consequences of actions still pending in companies could intensify. Some people who feel they have not got what they asked, can continue their struggles. But we will not end up with a general strike.
Opponents spoke of an independence movement with racist aspects. What do you think?
Armand Nicolas. As for racism, it is not difficult. These are the békés who introduce. And again this may be a maneuver to fool the public, especially foreign, that it is a social movement in appearance but in reality it wants to cut the neck white. One way to create a solidarity movement against black savages ready to cut the necks of their white fathers. In his statement, Hughes Despointes puts oil on the fire. Again it is the policy of the worst. Push the other attitudes, gestures that serve the people's cause. When békés began to want to block with their tractors and prevented the demonstrators to move, they immediately said that prevented them from circulation. It was the violation of freedoms. The racial aspect introduced in the movement, because even békés, including statements Despointes, was not followed. And the presence of whites in the demonstrations, shows that the Martinique did not fall into the trap. To say that separatists led to the strike is not true. Chanted the slogan, "Matinik it your new ce pa ta yo! "Is not necessarily independence. The Martinican wants to reclaim its past, its culture, the world's conscience, his personality. He said. In its struggle for progress, the people are always aware of having before him a white aristocracy and often Beke. And this is exploitative aristocracy, enjoy. Hence "the pwofitasyon."
There is the white aristocracy and Beke, capitalist, but there are also black capitalism ...
Armand Nicolas. What appears in Martinique as a crisis of capitalism blamed the capitalists. The camps are distinguished. The adversary is to disrupt capitalism. For the most part rather white in Martinique, although do not forget the others. What the collective has to show is that he fought the enemy regardless of color. Do not rock the Martinique illusions and make him believe that capitalism is better than the black-white. At present, there is a layer beke trying to get closer to people of color all through the association Creole (1). This movement, which combines elements of the petty bourgeoisie Martinique to a small group of békés, is not new. All Creole is Bissette in 1848 (Cyrille Bissette, antislavery Martinique elected to the Legislative August 9, 1848 along with Grandpa and Victor Schoelcher Pory - Ed). Faced with the upheaval of the abolition of slavery, as in all the major turning points in history, the ruling class does not put all your eggs in one basket. One way to distinguish the fire. In appearance. Hypocritically. Today we are in a different context with all Creoles. It is a movement which is not surprising because it is always as well as the ruling class to keep up his power, maneuver when change occurs. This is also why the békés have taken a stand against Hughes Despointes.
Can we draw a link between strikes and slavery?
Armand Nicolas. Yes and no. When Martinique said, "peyi to your new ce pa ta yo" "yo" is the békés today. But it was in the head as it's always them from the beginning. I think it is the only link between past and present. It's the same fight against the same. This is true overall, but not exactly. We are not now in the company of 48. Social structures are different, many things are different. But when you have a formula that says, "the fight against the same the same" overall, it means that the struggle of the exploited classes against the ruling classes, who are always the same for a long time. Except that it is no longer the masters of slaves but of the capitalists. In my opinion, is the link that has been done. Undoubtedly, this movement was thought to Martinique so deep. Out of their claims to think of other fundamental problems: Martinique personality, identity, culture ... I was struck long before the movement. Over the past decade have tended to this evolution.
The Martinique as in Guadeloupe said they found solidarity, the products of the country ... What do you think?
Armand Nicolas. One could say that it is by force of circumstances because there was nothing else. I think it should not be too optimized. These issues will not change deeply and quickly. This phenomenon will advance and grow. The economy, in other words, the real, is organized so that it holds us still. We do not have sufficient production. Not enough fish or meat. Not enough sugar. Perhaps too many bananas? The economy is still a type of neo-colonial economy. It is inside. And she has not disappeared because there was this general strike, as big as it is. When supermarkets were opened, we had to get the oil. And other necessaries. Everyone knows that it is more convenient to go to the supermarket in twenty different shops. For whatever reason, we are still caught in the system even if we reconnected with our productions. We understand a little better the reasons why we may have prevented them from starvation. The placing of a different philosophy of consumption will be more difficult. But do not allow that, in our consciousness, the emergence of the idea helped us.
What do you think of the general assembly of the overseas Nicolas Sarkozy?
Armand Nicolas. The States General Sarkozy is not the States General of the people of Martinique. Although this consultation joined our concerns since it has been years that we call Martinique Communist Party of the general assembly. For the responsibilities we ask, but not for the Estates General as these, which are a way to stop the movement. "I give you the Estates General, you discuss them freely as you like. But until return to work. "It's a maneuver. These general conditions are well supervised. With superpréfet, black of course. People will fall into the panels. But what kind of general statement is being proposed? From the perspective of the structure and conduct of affairs, the authorities and officials of power will work out to achieve something acceptable to them. This will be the general state of Sarkozy. With some new ideas that will not go away. Political parties are also very reserved about it. The States General of the Overseas? Se ta yo! Se pa ta new! (It is for them not us).
What can you tell Martinique on May 22 and commemorations. And what about the status of DOM is in the air?
Armand Nicolas. May 22 is grafted onto the period we have just experienced. This appointment may find more extensive than in the past. But it will not be something extraordinary. After the lifting of the slogan, it was said that nothing will be as before in Martinique. Yet there was no revolution. As the colonial power will remain in place as it is, a capitalist class as it is, nothing will change. As long as the power remains in the hands of neo-colonialists and the local aristocracy, Martinique remains as before. The movement of the February 5 Collective has not been used to much. But if, little by little, our people become aware of itself, if the people at the beginning, whining because things are not going fast enough, because we missed the train of history and lost time to resume, we can be optimistic. Things come when they must come. When conditions are right. Try to gather as much of Martinique on the problem of change of status, as the Constitution permits today. We must use this opportunity knowing that it is not the final solution nor a panacea. But a means to move towards what we want so much. If you do not tell people that the consultation on the change of status is in the tradition of the movement in February, then we will go straight into the wall.
(1) Association for the reconciliation between blacks and whites created by Roger de Jaham beke.
Interview by Fernand Nouvet
Source: http://www.humanite.fr/
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