Violent clashes have taken place in Kosovo between ethnic Serbs and police belonging to the Albanian-led government
Kosovo is open to the possibility of new elections in four northern Serb-majority municipalities following unrest, but other steps need to be taken before then, according to Kosovan foreign minister Donika Gervalla-Schwarz.
Violence has flared since Kosovo authorities installed ethnic Albanian mayors in the municipalities after being elected on a turnout of just 3.5 percent, angering Serbs who form a majority in the region and who had boycotted local polls.
Reinforcements for NATO’s peacekeeping force began to arrive in Kosovo following the unrest.
Kosovo declared internationally recognised independence from Serbia in 2008, although it was rejected by Belgrade.
Serbs in Kosovo’s north are seeking autonomy for their region under a 2013 deal that has not been implemented.
An aide to US President Joe Biden spoke with Kosovan Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, pushing Serbia to withdraw armed forces stationed near the border and urging protesters to remain peaceful.
The French island of Corsica is in turmoil following the assault in prison of a nationalist militant seen by some as a hero and others as a cold-blooded murderer.
Corsican nationalist activists are likely to continue to stage demonstrations across the island through March. The wave of unrest broke out following a violent attack against imprisoned Corsican nationalist, Yvan Colonna, March 2. The largest demonstrations have occurred in the capital Ajaccio, as well as Bastia and Corte. Attendance at larger demonstrations has been in the thousands.
French Minister of the Interior Gerald Darmanin traveled to Corsica March 16 and has suggested the French Government is willing to consider autonomy for the island as part of solutions to quell the unrest. It is unclear whether Darmanin’s announcement will result in a reduction in the demonstrations and associated violence. The National Liberation Front of Corsica (FLNC) threatened to resume militant activity March 16 despite Darmanin’s statement, the group previously suspended activity in 2014.
Corsicans have welcomed with caution statements by French Interior Minister Gerard Darmanin that the government is ready to consider autonomy for the island in the Mediterranean. But what would autonomy actually look like, and how likely is it to happen?
Corsica already has a bit of autonomy after it was designated as a special territory in 2018, which allows it to have its own legislative assembly, the Assemblée de Corse, and an executive council, which has the powers of departmental and regional leaders of mainland France.
Official autonomy could take several forms.
Darmanin evoked French Polynesia, one of France’s already autonomous territories .
“French Polynesia has an autonomous status that allows it, clearly, to be completely within the Republic, and have a particular specificity, notably in terms of economic and social issues,” he told BFM television on Wednesday.
French Polynesia has had control of education, healthcare, social services and local taxation since 2004.
New Caledonia, France’s territory in the Indian Ocean, has even more autonomy – it does not use the euro, for example, and can sign its own treaties.
Macron had proposed recognizing Corsica’s special status in the constitution, but a revision planned for 2019 did not happen.
A major concern for Corsicans is the use of the Corsican language. Autonomy could give it more control over education, and how the language is taught and dissemnited.
Taxation is also a concern, says pro-autonomy regional council president, Gilles Simeoni.
“There is no real autonomy without fiscal autonomy,” he told France Info radio, adding that other issues are specific to Corsica, like the fight against real estate speculation, or local economic development.
Security forces in the Central Asian state of Kazakhstan say they have killed dozens of anti-government rioters in the main city, Almaty.
They moved in after protesters tried to take control of police stations in the city, a police spokeswoman said.
Twelve members of the security forces have been killed and 353 injured in the unrest, sparked by a doubling in the cost of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
Russia is sending in troops at the request of the Kazakh president.
Violence in Chile : the revolt of the poor against neoliberalism and inequality.
Chile has been in political turmoil for almost 3 weeks since demonstrations began last month after the government announced a hike in subway fares. The protests have expanded to include demands over education, health services and economic inequality.
Le journal du peintre 2 