The Celtic League has written to heads of government in Scotland, Wales, Ireland and the Isle of Man urging them to lend their support to achieving an amicable settlement of the dispute between the Dihun organisation and Schools authorities in France over Breton language teaching.
In a letter to Ireland's Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, the League say:
"I draw your attention to the attached correspondence relating to the situation of Breton language activist, Yannig Baron, who has been on hunger strike now for two weeks in protest at hostility being displayed by some Church school authorities in Brittany towards the teaching of Breton.
You will see that the Celtic League have written to the French authorities who have enormous influence in this matter, due to their direct funding of Church schools, urging that the issue be settled amicably.
I am now writing to leaders of political and cultural groups in Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Mannin and Kernow urging them to express support for the Dihun Association and asking them to use whatever influence they have to achieve a resolution of the issue so that Yannig Baron can end his hunger strike.
I hope that the Irish government will lend its support."
Similar letters have gone to First Ministers in the other Celtic countries highlighting the two week hunger strike of Yannig Baron. We have enclosed reports of the dispute together with copies of a protest sent to the French authorities by the Celtic League via the French Ambassador to London.
In addition to contacting Scottish, Welsh, Irish and Manx government leaders the League have also written to leaders of the main National Parties in Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Mannin and Kernow asking that their Parties also make statements of support.
J B Moffatt
Secretary General
Celtic League