On May 20, a large-scale "anti-terrorist operation" was conducted on the French island of Corsica, in the Haute-Corse region, APA reports.
The operation took place in the cities of Bastia, Pruno, Lucciana, and Furiani.
Official reason for the operation – fight against FLNC
Officially, the repressions are related to alleged terrorist acts "committed" by the FLNC (National Liberation Front of Corsica) in the Corsica region at the end of 2023.
It should be noted that the explosions in Corsica in October 2023 occurred against the backdrop of protests against French President Emmanuel Macron’s proposal for broad autonomy for Corsica. At that time, the FLNC and affiliated groups rejected Macron’s proposal and began protest actions. According to French authorities, the FLNC "carried out" several explosions in October 2023 and on December 31 planted an explosive device at the administrative building of a state agency (DDETSPP) in the town of Borgo, Haute-Corse region.
Statement from the French National Anti-Terror Prosecutor’s Office
The French National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office (PNAT) announced that the anti-terror operation was conducted based on the decision of an investigative judge, and those detained have been placed in “pre-trial detention.” It is claimed that the detainees were close associates of Charles Pieri, known as a figure linked to groups fighting for Corsican independence and national liberation, and participated in violence "under his influence."
Anti-terrorist operation - why two years later?
Interestingly, France "decided" on the "anti-terror operation" nearly two years after the incidents, and today arrested 10 members of the independence movement in Corsica.
Rome conference and the real reason behind the repressions
The real reason behind the official Paris launching a new wave of repression is, of course, different. What “angered” France was the conference held on May 13 in Rome, jointly organized by the Baku Initiative Group (BIG) and the Corsican independence movement “Nazione,” titled “National Identity, Resistance, and Sovereignty: Perspectives for Corsica.”
It is worth recalling that at the event, members of the “Nazione” movement sharply criticized the assimilation policy deliberately pursued by the French government against the Corsican national identity and language, which have suffered under French colonial policies and highlighted economic and social discrimination faced by the Corsican people. During the conference, a memorandum of cooperation was signed between the Baku Initiative Group and the “Nazione” movement.
Two weeks after the conference, France decided to carry out an “anti-terrorist operation” in the region.
Local organizations’ reaction: “This is repression”
Naturally, these events have sparked outrage among the local community. Organizations actively involved in the Corsican independence and national liberation movement, such as “Gjuventù Libera” and “Associu Sulidarità,” have condemned the arrests as repression and expressed support for the detainees. These groups declared the arrests politically motivated and aimed against Corsica’s autonomy movement.
Protest call from the Nazione party
Note that the Nazione party announced on its official Facebook page that a protest will be held on May 21 in front of the Bastia Courthouse against the detention and transfer of detainees to Paris by law enforcement authorities.
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