Tear gas, domestic military used on protesters in Rivierdorp
Bareland > Báraarde > Breaking
Rivierdorp (UP) - Yesterday, October 11th, ten thousand protesters showed up in the streets of Rivierdorp to protest the reelection of President Stiaan Jacobs. Jacobs was reelected with 76% of the popular vote on the 27th in an election many consider to be rigged. The protesters held up signs complaining that their right to democracy enshrined in the Constitution has been infringed upon by the meddling government. The Báraarde Election Committee has declined the claims of election fraud.
In response to the mass protests, tear gas and riot police were deployed to subdue the mostly peaceful protests. In some locations, it was reported that the military had been deployed and was using armored vehicles. In all, it was estimated that 203 people were killed by the riot police and thousands more injured.
Later that night, the protest became violent as the military brought in tanks to disperse the protest. Police cars were destroyed and stores were looted between 8 PM and 1 AM. Several fires were started throughout the city, however most did not cause major damage. One fire spread through 20 buildings on the eastern end of the city, killing 4 people who could not escape the fire. 2 buildings collapsed due to the fire, killing another 10 people.
Talk about the protests were suppressed on the state-sanctioned social media network Praat! and about 350 people were arrested for their roles in the destruction of property and are expected to go to trial on the 16th. The protests were considered the first step in revolution by exiled opposition party member Annalie Du Preez. Du Preez said in a blog post that “…the first step to the modern Báraarde we all want is dissent in the form of protest.”