AJACCIO, France: Violent clashes broke out between protesters and police in a single day Wednesday to Thursday on France’s Mediterranean island of Corsica the place native anger is rising over the attack in jail of a nationalist determine. Yvan Colonna, who’s serving a existence sentence for the assassination in 1998 of Corsica’s most sensible regional professional Claude Erignac, is in a coma after being crushed on March 2 in prison by way of a fellow detainee, consistent with investigators.
The detainee is Cameroon nationwide Franck Elong Abe, who’s serving time for terror offences after being arrested in Afghanistan. Investigators mentioned Abe attacked Colonna whilst he used to be understanding within the jail fitness center, pulled a bag over his head and attempted to strangle him. Some media first of all reported Colonna lifeless from a scarcity of oxygen to the mind, however medical doctors controlled to stay him alive. French prosecutors have charged Colonna’s alleged prison assailant with tried homicide in affiliation with an apprehension team. In keeping with France’s most sensible anti-terror prosecutor Jean-Francois Ricard, he confessed to the assault, pronouncing he have been angered by way of “blasphemous statements” made by way of Colonna whilst at the back of bars.
The incident has stoked anger at the island the place some nonetheless see Colonna-who used to be arrested most effective in 2003 after a five-year manhunt that at last discovered him residing as a shepherd within the Corsican mountains-as a hero in a battle for independence. Masses demonstrated in the principle Corsican towns of Ajaccio, Calvi and Bastia with the protests swiftly degenerating into clashes with safety forces, AFP correspondents mentioned. Corsica, one of the vital Mediterranean’s biggest islands, has been French because the 18th Century. It’s referred to as “Island of Good looks” on account of its unspoiled coastlines, impressive seashores and delicate local weather, that have made it well-liked by vacationers who’re the island’s major supply of source of revenue. However there have additionally been consistent tensions between independence-seeking nationalists and the central govt, involving assassinations of officers despatched by way of Paris, in addition to common murders between the island’s rival political factions.
‘Substantial injury’
Govt constructions had been the principle focal point of the in a single day unrest, with protesters breaking into the principle justice development in Ajaccio, surroundings fireplace to scrap papers. “There used to be a hearth at the court docket’s floor flooring which didn’t unfold to the higher flooring, however there’s nonetheless substantial injury,” the executive of the southern Corsican fireplace products and services, Jean-Jacques Peraldi, advised AFP. Protesters then went directly to ransack a financial institution positioned on a sq. named after the murdered prefect Erignac. Native government mentioned 14 other people had been wounded in Ajaccio by myself, together with a journalist for France’s TF1 TV channel who used to be harm within the leg.
No less than two other people had been arrested, a police supply mentioned. In Calvi, dozens of demonstrators threw petrol bombs at govt constructions and smashed home windows with rocks, native government mentioned. In Bastia, 23 anti-riot police and 3 civilians had been injured, they mentioned. Colonna used to be jailed within the south of France with government lengthy rejecting his call for to be transferred to Corsica, pronouncing his offence made him a different standing detainee. In a bid to ease tensions, High Minister Jean Castex on Tuesday got rid of this standing, however the transfer did not placate Colonna’s supporters in Corsica. – AFP