FRANCE: Thousands hold mass rally at funeral of Slain union representative Jacques Bino shot dead in Guadeloupe conflict

Record ID: 699486

  • Title: FRANCE: Thousands hold mass rally at funeral of Slain union representative Jacques Bino shot dead in Guadeloupe conflict
  • Date: 23rd February 2009
  • Summary: BINO'S WIFE CRYING BEHIND HEARSE COFFIN INSIDE THE HEARSE HEARSE DRIVING PAST
  • Embargoed: 10th March 2009 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: France
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA2AUJWAW430HS2A96LEKKSRFM2
  • Story Text: The funeral on Sunday (February 22) of slain union man Jacques Bino -- shot dead in violence in Guadeloupe early in the week -- turned into a mass rally.
    His coffin was covered with an Afro-Caribbean union flag before it was carried to the cemetery.
    Former presidential candidate Segolene Royal attended the funeral but was heckled after the coffin was moved out of the sports hall where the funeral ceremony took place.
    She earlier blamed French President Nicolas Sarkozy for failing the people of Guadeloupe and warned the island, a French territory in the Caribbean, was on the brink.
    Local media said 4,000 people came for the funeral. Special buses were organised to bring people to Petit Canal, just outside the economic capital of Pointe-a-Pitre.
    The leader of the LKP, the umbrella union organising the strike, gave a political speech during the ceremony in which he called once more for the employers to pay higher salaries and the government to control prices that are higher than on the main land, known as the metropole.
    Elie Domota also wants the government to launch an emergency plan to train school dropouts. Youth unemployment is higher in Guadeloupe than in the rest of France.
    Negotiations between the LKP and employers, through mediators, are due to restart on Monday (February 23) amid fears that violence could break out again if they fail to reach an agreement.
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