PROTEST AGAINST THE WILD REPRESSION OF THE MAY DAY DEMONSTRATION OF WORKERS AND THE PEOPLE

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COMMUNIST PARTY OF BENIN (PCB)

01 B.P. 2582 Main Recipe Cotonou (Rep. of Benin)

Such. : 21 30 03 22/97 98 35 65 – Site: www.la-flamme.org

PROTEST AGAINST THE WILD REPRESSION OF THE MAY DAY DEMONSTRATION OF WORKERS AND THE PEOPLE

Today, May 1st, 2024, as usual, the worker union CSTB (Confédération Syndicale des Travailleurs du Bénin) has planned demonstration in Cotonou and in several large cities in Benin to protest against the high cost of living, hunger, gross attacks on freedoms and for the defense of national sovereignty. But the government chose to ban them despite the administrative formalities completed. Everywhere, police forces occupied the places where the rallies were to be held. In DJOUGOU, in NATITINGOU, in PARAKOU, in COUFFO, the demonstrators were harassed or repressed.

In Cotonou in particular, from April 30 at 11 p.m., the police barricaded the Place de l’Etoile Rouge, the starting point of the march, and surrounded the Bourse du Travail (Workers house), where the closing meeting was to be held. This morning, May 1, the repressive forces, under the direction of DGPR (Director General of the Republican Police) YAYA SOUMAILA, prevented all those who came to Place de l’Etoile Rouge from reaching the scene. Buses of demonstrators coming from the Atlantic department and Ouémé were boarded or hijacked. While the marchers who managed to regroup began the march, they were charged and gassed, under the direct orders of YAYA SOUMAILA present on the scene. Currently, at least 72 people have been arrested and detained at the judicial police headquarters in AGBLANGANDAN.

The Communist Party of Benin protests against these actions of the of Talon governement and his executioners of the Republican police.

Firmly denounces the actions of YAYA SOUMAILA who appears more and more as Patrice Talon’s trigger in his fight against the people.

Demands the immediate release of arrested demonstrators and an end to savage attacks against the people.

All this comes after the repression of demonstrators on April 27, 2024 denounced by the entire people.

One thing now appears clear: The autocrat Talon, at bay in the face of the awakening of the people against his governance, closes all legal avenues of popular expression to workers, youth and the people.

Cotonou, May 1, 2024

The Communist Party of Benin