FRANCE and Corsica

Martin Storey, a French globe trotter says: "A slight correction to Christopher Jones's message on Corsica, specifically on the "resounding defeat of the government-sponsored autonomy plan and high electoral turnout". Firstly, the defeat was narrow (51% against vs. 49% for). Second, the turnout was approximately 50% (I don't have the exact figure handy) - hardly a high turnout for such an emotional and decisive issue. The government had bad luck with timing: the Corsican people were in shock after Colonna's arrest. They voted more against the French government, than for the status quo. The result is a failure all right, just as much as is the low turnout; the real failure is: we still don't know what the people of Corsica want. Now, as we say in French, "c'est reparti pour un tour": chances are that the terrorist acts will continue (there's been several already since the elections) and it will be a decade or two again, before the question can be put forward again". RH: Martin is right. Terrorist acts continue.

Ronald Hilton - 7/20/03