RIOTS AND TENSION IN CORSICA FOR 2 WEEKS OVER YVAN COLLONA’S ASSAULT IN PRISON

USPA NEWS - Corsica, which is also called in France "Ile de Beaute", being part of the French territory, since Napoleon (Like the other overseas territories) has been under fire, violence and riots, since two weeks after the violent attack of the independence activist Yvan Colonna, by a fellow prisoner, in prison in Arles (South fo France) on March 2. Yvan Colonna, is a former Corsican shepherd, sentenced for the assassination of a prefect, Claude Erignac, in 1998. This case had a very high profile following the dissatisfaction of the many independentist’ movements in Corsica opposing them to the French State, and claiming thus has the autonomy of this island. This is how Sunday, March 13, the demonstrations and riots reached a peak, with between 7 and 12,000 people, shouting in Bastia, "French state assassin", under the clashes with the police. french Minister fo Interieur, eventually, travels today to Corsica, to discuss with the nationalists, and try to appease the tensions.

RIOTS AND TENSION IN CORSICA FOR 2 WEEKS OVER YVAN COLLONA’S ASSAULT IN PRISON------------------- Corsica, which is also called in France "Ile de Beaute", being part of the French territory, since Napoleon (Like the other overseas territories) has been under fire, violence and riots, since two weeks after the violent attack of the independence activist Yvan Colonna, by a fellow prisoner, in prison in Arles (South fo France) on March 2. Yvan Colonna, is a former Corsican shepherd, sentenced for the assassination of a prefect, Claude Erignac, in 1998. This case had a very high profile following the dissatisfaction of the many independentist’ movements in Corsica opposing them to the French State, and claiming thus has the autonomy of this island. This is how Sunday, March 13, the demonstrations and riots reached a peak, with between 7 and 12,000 people, shouting in Bastia, "French state assassin", under the clashes with the police. Since last Sunday, the tension has not diminished, with a demonstration in Bastia (Haute-Corse) bringing together twelve thousand (12,000 according to organizers), seven thousand (7,000 people according to the highways) in support of Yvan Colonna, who is still in a situation of coma in hospital. Knowing that line is populated by three hundred and fifty thousand 350,000 people. These demonstrations were transformed into riots, of nationalists with very violent clashes had broken out between demonstrators and police, causing sixty-seven (67) injuries. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin finally travels to Corsica (for a two-day visit) today, after two weeks of demonstrations and riots, by young students, to try to ease tensions after devoting an interview yesterday in Corsica Morning, the Minister declared: "We are ready to go as far as autonomy" going very far in the pre-negotiation with the Corsican nationalists, the day before his trip.

INTERIOR MIN. DARMANIN TRAVELS TODAY TO CORSICA AFTER 2 WEEKS OF PROTEST RIOTS& TENSION Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin finally travels to Corsica (for a two-day visit) today, after two weeks of demonstrations and riots, by young students, to try to ease tensions after devoting an interview yesterday in Corsica Morning, the Minister declared: "We are ready to go as far as autonomy" going very far in the pre-negotiation with the Corsican nationalists, the day before his trip. This visit will be the starting point of a "cycle of discussions" with "all elected officials and active forces" and "unprecedented discussion around the institutional question". Minister Darmanin went so far in opening up that he said: But, wondering if the government really “heard the demands of Corsica’s elected officials?----------------------------------------------- The Minister of the Interior, nevertheless tempered, calling for a return to calm, a prerequisite for any discussion: "There cannot be sincere dialogue in a democracy under the pressure of agricultural bombs and the presence, or the omnipresence, of the forces of order." ". The nationalists meanwhile, are angry because of the tragic state of Yvan Colonna, who is between life and death, and accuses the French State of "complicity" because the assailant co-detainee, is a notorious terrorist and dangerous and had even had a mission of "auxiliary chaplain" of the prison, thus working for the State. They thus wish the creation of a parliamentary commission of inquiry to shed light on the conditions of the aggression of Yvan Colonna. The attempted murder, which would have lasted "11 to 12 minutes in a central prison, that of Arles, which is, for those who know it, very secure, (…) raises a lot of questions", said Jean-Félix Acquaviva , MP for Haute-Corse (Liberties and Territories group) and elected to the Assembly of Corsica in front of the press on Monday. (Source 20 mins) During this interview, Gérald Darmanin also recognizes a "responsibility" of the State in the aggression of the nationalist militant. "There is a responsibility of the state as protector of the people who are under its responsibility, in this case prisoners." The Minister of the Interior also undertakes to tell "the truth about what happened to Yvan Colonna" at Arles prison where the tragedy took place on March 2. The attack of Yvan Colonna, seems to be the last straw that breaks the camel’s back because the Corsican nationalists have long demanded that the prisoners of Corsica be imprisoned on their island and not on the French Continent, to be continued...