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Fine of 30.000€ for a graffiti in favour of the reunification of Brittany
11/03/2009
A French court in Nantes has accused six Breton youth of degrading public property with a graffiti and impose them the highest fine · They are also sentenced to more than 100 hours of community service and 2-months prison · The sentence is denounced as political by Breton parties and organisations.
French judiaciary has not hesitated to impose an exemplary sentence to six Breton youth who are guilty of writing a slogan on a wall in favour of the reintegration of the Loire-Atlantique department, historically Breton, into the region of Brittany. They also smeared the seat of the Pays the la Loire region with tar. After being accused of "degradation", each one of them will have to pay 30,000 € and work 100 hours in community services. They have also been sentenced to 2-months prison.
The sentence has stirred indignation among Breton political parties and organisations from the civil society, which consider it as being politically motivated and disproportionate. The have denounced that the French administration denies the existance of "the problem of partition" and that "elected reactionaries grant themselves the right to short-circuit the people's will by putting pressure on the Balladur committee". The Balladur committee is currently planning the territorial and administrative reorganisation of the French State, a process which is seen by Breton activists as a golden chance for reunification.
The Breton Democratic Union Youth has expressed its support to the six youth and has demanded to assess the "real damage" made by graffities on train carriages and tar on the public building.
According to the Breton Party, the sentence proves that "the French justice is fading", which is indicative of a "sick democracy".
Brittany/Breizh
General information
Population: 4.328.535 inhabitants (2009)
Area: 34,034 km²
Institutions: Brittany Regional Council and General Council of the Department of Loire-Atlantique
State administration: France
Major cities: Rennes, Nantes, Brest
Territorial languages: Breton and Gallo
Official language: French
Major religion: Christianity (Catholicism)
National day: Gouel Erwan (Saint Yves), 19 May
See Brittany profile for further information.
