Alan Stivell `Nine Bretons in Jail' (on `Before Landing' CD)
Brian Foster
(dreyfus fdm 36194-2). judging by the dates ((p)1977, (c)1992)
i'm guessing this cd is a re-issue of an older album. all of
the words and music on it are written mr stivell. the pieces
are arranged in a approximate historical fashion in two halves
(past and present), as the album's theme is brittany's history.
one of the last songs in the second half "hon amser-vreman"
("our present"), titled "naw breton 'ba' pizon" ("nine bretons
in jail"), is a rather nice english-breton duo. it talks about
an incident where (excerpting from the lyrics in the booklet):
nine bretons were thrown in jail over half a year ago
for six months they wait for trial and the charge we
do not know.
[ ... ]
police found papers in their homes calling for liberation
it's not a crime to read and write but they are jailed for
so long.
[ ... ]
they spoke of fraternity, equality and freedom
such words become an insult if in the tongue of bretons.
[ ... ]
the left in paris cannot help and we must work on our own
no time for minorities who live so far from their home.
i've been trying to recall a case of (apparent) injustice which
happened, as a guess, about the time the song was apparently
written (c.1976-7 ??) that fits this description. i cannot.
(not even knowing the country doesn't help, albeit the reference
to "paris" implies france or a former french colony ..... )
does anyone know what this song is about, and what ultimately
happened ??
disclaimer: my opinions are mine!
--
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Ray Price
wrote:
> one of the last songs in the second half "hon amser-vreman"
> ("our present"), titled "naw breton 'ba' pizon" ("nine bretons
> in jail"), is a rather nice english-breton duo. it talks about
> an incident where (excerpting from the lyrics in the booklet):
> does anyone know what this song is about, and what ultimately
> happened ??
I have always believed that the songs was simply about a group of Breton
seperatists who had their houses raided by the French authorities. Papers
were discovered that called for Bretons to rise up against Paris and they
were all arrested for the deed.
If you would like to know more about Breton political history, I suggest
that you subscribe to the newsletter 'Bro Nevez' (New Country) which is
published by:
Lois Kuter
Editor, Bro Nevez
169 Greenwood Avenue, B-4
Jenkintown, PA 19046
USA
Tel (215) 886-6361
It costs $15 per year in the US and Canada and $20 (surface mail) or $25
(airmail) from elsewhere.
Kenavo - Goodbye (Breton),
Ray
Alain Cedelle
>happened, as a guess, about the time the song was apparently
>written (c.1976-7 ??) that fits this description. i cannot.
>(not even knowing the country doesn't help, albeit the reference
>to "paris" implies france or a former french colony ..... )
>does anyone know what this song is about, and what ultimately
>happened ??
I don't remember exactly the precise facts at the origin of this song.
In the early seventies, there had been some bombings from the FLB, against
French administration. Many activists were arrested, As said the song, it was
quite usual that these people wait for their trial, more than 6 month in
prison. And also about the charges, they were unclear. Most of these people
were relased after the trial.
Only after 1977, especially with the bombing of Versailles (how outrageous !),
some bretons were really sentenced for years and years of prison.
If the bombings were not quite popular, the "prisonners" always received strong
support from people of Brittany, the Stivell's song is an example of this.
The trial of these 'terrorists', was done by the special court "State security
court" (supressed in 1981, this medieval thing only exist in Turkey nowadays)
Interestingly enough, As activists had quite a good support from many people,
and artists like Stivell, their trials turned to be the trial of the French State.
One last word to tell you what happened after 1981. The situation turned to be
much more quiet, all prisonners got amnesty. but harassment never really stopped.
Within the last two years, more than 100 bretons have been jailed.
The official reason is "inquiry about basques networks". That's right that there
exist many links with basques, and refugees have always been welcomed in Brittany.
But this "inquiry" leaded to arrest hundreds of bretons, and zero basques.
At the difference from the seventies, people don't stay many month in prison, but
only 4 days maximum, and some weeks for the stronger cases. And they seem to be
able to arrest anybody, even ladies of 78 years old.
But like in the seventies, the support for the "prisonners" is always quite strong.
There was more than 3000 people, in the last support demonstration, in Lannion,
kenavo.
a.c.