SPAIN: Death, arrests and clashes hit Spanish fuel protest

Record ID: 338929

  • Title: SPAIN: Death, arrests and clashes hit Spanish fuel protest
  • Date: 12th June 2008
  • Summary: (EU) MADRID, SPAIN (JUNE 11, 2008) (REUTERS) GROUP OF RIOT POLICE READY TO START UNBLOCKING OPERATION TRUCKERS BLOWING THEIR HORNS AS THEY UNBLOCK MOTORWAY TRUCKERS WATCHING AND APPLAUDING FROM BRIDGE VARIOUS OF TRUCKS DRIVING AWAY (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) STRIKING TRUCKER FORCED OUT SAYING: "This does not stop here. They are absolutely shameless." POLICEMEN CLEARING OUT LA
  • Embargoed: 27th June 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Spain
  • Country: Spain
  • Topics: Domestic Politics,Energy
  • Reuters ID: LVA7GK5BOIIB8RCC7U4G7UUSHTM2
  • Story Text: Farmers angry over fuel prices clash violently with police in the southern city of Almeria. Police in Madrid arrests truckers, breaks up protest and reopens beltway traffic. Truckers in Granada observe minute of silence for picketer killed in fuel protest.
    Spanish farmers angry over soaring fuel prices clashed violently with police in the southern city of Almeria on Wednesday (June 11).
    Riot police charged on protesters after they started throwing fresh fruit and vegetables at a local government building, according to local media.
    Police hit protesters with sticks as they threw empty fruit boxes back at them.
    Tension also mounted in the capital when riot police arrested lorry drivers and cleared blockades as part of the nationwide strike over gas prices.
    Policemen seized truck keys and towed away all vehicles, breaking up the protest and reopening motorway traffic.
    Truckers clogging the highways were arrested during the third day of the road transport strike that is causing supply disruptions across Spain.
    Strikers followed police gently yet in disagreement -announcing that they will take further actions.

    "Yes, we are detained --on top of that they told us that under no circumstances they are going to allow a single truck to go through the M-30 (motorway). Since they are putting pressure on us with vans, sticks and hammers, we are giving in and taking the M-40 instead, just to prevent five of our colleagues from spending the night in prison," Union leader Jose del Monte said.
    Although government authorities announced on Wednesday that some of the strikers accepted a 54-measure-package overnight, many have no intentions of calling off the strike.
    Meanwhile in Granada, truckers observed a minute of silence in memory of another trucker killed at a picket line on Tuesday (June 10).
    Truck drivers wore black ribbons on their arms in memory of their striking colleague who was run over and killed near a wholesale market by another trucker who broke the strike, according to witnesses.
    Blocked by the Spanish protesters were two French truckers. They looked on and expressed solidarity with the Spanish drivers but said they were looking forward to going back to France.

    "I don't have much to say about this. What I want is to return home but I understand why they are here," said a French driver.

    "All truckers across Spain are going to stop and observe a minute of silence," one of the Spanish truckers remembering the dead man said.
    Portuguese drivers have joined the strike and there have also been protests in France over the impact of record oil prices, now at highs of more than USD139 per barrel.
    Diesel has risen to 1.30 euros (USD2.01) / litre from 0.95 euros a year ago, pressuring European Union governments to help heavy fuel users such as truck and taxi drivers, fishermen and farmers.
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