2023-10-19 07:32:37
After the “Exit of the road” last spring, it’s time for “ Ramdam on the tarmac “. This is the name chosen by opponents of the A69 motorway between Castres and Toulouse for the major event scheduled for this weekend of October 21 and 22, in a location that has not yet been revealed. Why now ? In what spirit and for what issues? 20 Minutes takes stock of this new turning point in mobilization.
The 53 km long route, the site, and in particular the earthworks operations, are progressing quickly. In places, the highway materializes outright. The Atosca concessionaire claims to have committed 36% of the planned funds and to have fenced off 70% of the construction site areas. However, opponents are still demanding a “temporary suspension” of the latter, “time to carry out an independent socio-economic expertise” on the usefulness of the infrastructure.
A very tense context
The communications war is raging. The association of mayors of Tarn has published a list of 900 local elected officials “who support the project”, the La Voie est Libre (LVEL) collective, local spearhead of the protest, displays the 85,000 citizen signatures of its online petition. But on the ground, the confrontation has become even more intense since on September 1, the felling of trees resumed at night under the surveillance of the police. This reactivation of the chainsaws led opponents, including Thomas Brail of the National Tree Surveillance Group (GNSA), to embark on a long hunger strike, then thirst strike, interrupted last week when three days were announced. truce of the machines.
Access to this content has been blocked in order to respect your choice of consent
I ACCEPT
More information on the Cookie Management Policy page.
But the confrontation has resumed with a vengeance since Monday. Fourteen “squirrels” dislodged from the trees by the police at different points along the route were taken into custody in three days. “It’s psychological warfare,” says an LVEL spokesperson.
A declared demonstration, but in an unknown location
Pressed by the prefect of Tarn to declare their “Ramdam on the tarmac”, in order to be able to “ensure good public order and the safety of the participants”, the opponents claimed this Wednesday to have done so. The official organizers of the mobilization are the Solidaire union and the GNSA. “We are putting our cards on the table with the prefecture,” assures Etienne, a member of Extinction Rébellion This Wednesday, however, the organizers have not yet made public, neither the route of the demonstration, nor the exact location where their camp will be set up. . Two sites would be in balance, due to the rain forecast which could make the ground muddy.
During the spring mobilization, security concerns were high, after the violent episode of the Sainte-Soline megabasins. But the strategy adopted by the police to remain at a distance, almost invisible, from the 8,000 demonstrators, had paid off, even if hooded elements had slipped into the ranks.
A “poetic and festive” spirit
From the Earth Uprisings to the Rout of the Roads, including the Peasant Confederation, the numerous organizations calling for demonstrations hope to infuse this mobilization with “a poetic and festive spirit”. Concerts, circus workshops, debate… the formula is now well established. Opponents want to attract a family audience in an “inclusive stroller” procession.
They are also counting on a big parade of agricultural tractors and activists ready to pedal. A convoy of bicycles must leave at noon on Friday from the Place du Capitole to reach the camp, the GPS coordinates of which will be revealed by then.
#ramdam #looming #weekend