Corsicans protest at persecution of peaceful activists by French police

Despite all the difficulties, Corsicans are continuing their fight for the freedom of their country. The newly-established Nazione Party already brings together more than 600 activists. The fact that the party has been so successful from the very first day is causing the wrath of the French government. Unable to digest this success of the political party, the French government has attacked the houses of the party’s activists and started persecuting them.

Two days after the first meeting of the new party’s assembly, Nazione held a press conference in Bastia to voice its protest against brutal and merciless repression by the French police.

According to AZERTAC, speaking at the press conference, members and spokesperson of the party strongly condemned the persecution unleashed by the French police in recent days. They demanded immediate release of two Nazione activists arrested by the police and sent to Paris. Also, they called on all Corsicans to stage a protest during a visit of French Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin to Corsica.

“Just two days after the first meeting of the general assembly of the Nazione Party, the French government responded to the success of this new political initiative with yet another wave of repression, arresting two of its activists and members of our national coordination committee, Anto Simoni and Nicolas Pinzuti.

This despicable police operation at the behest of the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office clearly reflects the determination to harass our activists and their families. Their houses were attacked, their doors were blown up with explosives, the fathers were pushed onto the floor and arrested right in front of their children, their homes were vandalized, the children’s toys were deliberately broken, and the two activists, who were honest and respected with regard to their political and professional obligations, were arbitrarily sent to Paris.

Today, Nazione condemns these deplorable and unacceptable practices against peaceful people, which are characteristic of the worst authoritarian regimes,” the party members told local and foreign media.

It was stated that their activists belonged to the land of Corsica, to their families, workplaces and the struggle for the survival of their country. They must be released.

“The sole purpose of this renewed aggression against the national liberation movement is to try to suppress the great people's movement created by Nazione and to silence its political resolve.

French political leaders and some politicians in Corsica will dismiss any political motive behind these calls, once again relying on their power. We reiterate that it is a “myth” to say that the political and judicial authorities are independent in the “Corsica affairs” because the arrests on Tuesday were carried out by the political police on the orders of the political judiciary.

Indeed, the entire process is now obvious and has become very crude: every initiative of the independence movement is met with mechanical repression.

It is no coincidence that these repressive operations coincide with the announcement of the arrival of French Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin in Corsica next week. This step of the French police is a part of the policy to neutralize the only political movement fighting for the independence of Corsica. Our political struggle is based on the resolute defense of the interests of Corsica and the Corsicans,” the spokesperson of the political party said.

It was noted that hundreds of Nazione activists confirmed again in the vote on the general directions of the party's movement that it was the main actor in favor of a real political solution and real peace in the country. However, the search for a political solution that brings peace never means abandoning the demands that are fundamental to the future of the Corsican people.

“Persecution can never silence our national struggle, or make us surrender. In the coming days, Nazione will continue to promote its political project by bringing together all the Corsicans who agree with our policy”, the party members pointed out, adding that they would intensify their activities in the coming days.

At the end of the press conference, Nazione activists called on the people of Corsica to stage a protest action with slogans “For the rights of the Corsican people! End the repression! Long live the nation!” in connection with the visit of French Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin.

In conclusion, party members stated that the raid by 18 masked French policemen on the houses of Nazione activists was unacceptable. Saying that this was the limit of repression, they pointed out that France, which considers itself a law-governed state and the cradle of human rights, was actually not democratic but dictatorial. They noted that such a situation was possible only in an authoritarian regime. However, all these repressions will not be able to break the will of the Corsicans as they will continue to fight for their freedom.