French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanen said today that he would travel to Corsica later this week to speak with local officials following the violent incidents that broke out on the island over the weekend.
Calm must be restored immediately, Darmanen stressed.
Tensions remain high on the French island, with slogans such as “French state, murderer” echoed in demonstrations Sunday in Bastia in solidarity with Ivan Kolonas, eleven days after Corsica’s independence activist was convicted of the murder of Prefect Claude Erinyak, was attacked in prison.
“Liberta, Liberta!”: The younger ones wore hoods while the older ones held umbrellas, people of all ages took to the streets, with many protesters holding the Corsican flag.
According to the prefecture, the number of protesters reached 7,000, while the organizers of the protest spoke of 10,000 people.
When the march reached in front of the prefecture building, incidents broke out between the security forces and 200 to 300 protesters with their faces covered: tear gas and water pumps on one side and Molotov cocktails and stones on the other.
According to the prefecture, 67 people were injured, of whom 44 are police officers.
After the demonstration broke up, late in the afternoon, incidents broke out in various areas between the forces of the class and groups of young people.
“There have been riots in Bastia since 16:30,” said prosecutor Arno Viorneri, “and the violent incidents continue.”
At around 17:30, a fire broke out at the entrance of the Public Financial Service, with the windows of the building being broken by Molotov cocktails.
The incidents lasted until 22:30, according to the latest announcement of the prefecture, which called on “the residents of the center of Bastia to avoid leaving their homes”.
Ivan Kolona, ​​who was sentenced to life in prison for the 1998 assassination of Corsican prefect Claude Erinyak, is in a coma after being attacked on March 2 by a detainee.
Since then, many demonstrations have broken out on the island, following calls from students, separatist organizations and trade unions.
The official call for yesterday’s demonstration called for “truth and justice for Ivan, freedom for the patriots and recognition of the Corsican people.”
“Anger and resentment are being expressed,” said Jill Simeoni, the separatist chairman of Corsica’s executive council and a former Colonna lawyer.
“All the people of Corsica are mobilizing against injustice, demanding that the truth be revealed and a real political solution,” between the French state and Corsica, he added.
At the end of the week, the French government tried to calm down by announcing that two other members of the “Eriniak group” would be transferred to a Corsican prison.
Colonna, who is being held in a prison in Arles, in southern France, has long sought to be transferred to Corsica, with French authorities rejecting his request as he is being held in a special detention facility.
SOURCE: ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ
Source: Capital
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