As we approach 1Ahem In September, the first day of the tree-cutting period on the A69, a 53-kilometre motorway linking Toulouse and Castres, the opposition intends to continue occupying the land. A peaceful demonstration, banned by the Tarn prefecture, took place on Wednesday 28 August at the site of Cal’Arbre, named after the zone to be defended (ZAD), located in Saïx (Tarn). “We want people to come back because occupation is the best way to act. “,” explains Léo (who asks to remain anonymous), a history student from Toulouse, whose words are drowned out by the noise of a gendarmerie helicopter flying overhead. “Because we see that our presence is useful: it allows us to delay the work”welcomes the student who has held the position since June.
The land where the opposition has been located since February, at a place called La Calarié, is a meadow of centuries-old listed oak trees that are home to protected long-horned beetles and scaly clovers. But it is owned by the concessionaire of the A69 and is located on the route of the motorway. As a result, it is doomed to disappear. “We have two and a half months, until mid-November, to cut down the trees. “, confirms World Marcial Gerlinger, CEO of Atosca.
Grimm (not his real name), with a light blue sheet tucked under the flap of his backpack, carpooled and walked seven hours to join people sitting on the sun-yellowed grass on Wednesday. The humanities student from the Southwest plans to stay until Jan. 1.Ahem October, date of resumption of classes at the university. “The violence in Sainte-Soline challenged me and I told myself that it was not possible.remembers this activist. I decided participate in the fight against the A69 to be a force for proposals. »
Three attackers
The atmosphere of this meeting contrasts with the renewed tension observed in recent days. On August 13, activists reported having been the target of a “ attempted murder » and a “ irresponsible fire » committed by three attackers in Bacamp, where the activists have settled. “ It was 3:10 a.m. at the edge of the forest, under the canopy of a tree. Several friends were lying in their tent and in their vehicle when three figures appeared in the distance.The opposition testified in a text posted on the Telegram application. One of the three attackers allegedly placed “his hand with an object, presumably a knife, on our friend’s throat to prevent him from moving “. Meanwhile, a second is said to have doused tents and vehicles with petrol. Another Zadist, who came “ to try to calm the tension “, I would be “sprayed with gasoline”A judicial investigation is underway into the damage caused by the fire.
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