The police carried out a large-scale operation this Monday to evacuate activists from the Zad de Saïx (Tarn), installed for several days to protest against the construction of the A69 motorway between Toulouse (Haute-Garonne) and Castres (Tarn).
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The operation to dislodge the squirrels on the Zad will last several days
Several hours after the start of the operation, no “squirrel” had been dislodged. However, one structure was dismantled. It will take time, perhaps all week, for the police to force the occupants of the trees to come down. The challenge is simple, summarized by the Tarn prefect Michel Vilbois, on site: “Get the 8 people still present down safely.” An operation that will take a long time: the last one of this type lasted 3 days. “It’s an operation that takes time,” acknowledges the prefect of Tarn, “because we don’t take people by force. We’re in a time of negotiation.”
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A69 motorway: why the operation to dislodge the squirrels on the Zad will last several days
The rant of the president of the Tarn Departmental Council
“No ZAD is acceptable,” writes Christophe Ramond. The president of the Tarn Departmental Council does not go there with the back of the spoon to qualify the Zadists. “The police have been subjected to great violence for several days on the A69 motorway construction site. I salute their commitment and their professionalism in the face of what is commonly called ‘green terrorists’, hooded individuals , seasoned and armed who express themselves through ultra-violence with Molotov cocktails. The only climate they protect is that of terror. Demonstrating is a right, breaking is a crime!”, writes Christophe Ramond.
Aerial lifts are used to dislodge “squirrels”
One hour after the start of the intervention, no “squirrel” had been dislodged. However, the intervention forces managed to reach their cabins at the top of the trees, using aerial platforms.
Firefighting units equipped with aerial platforms are mobilized.
Thirteen squirrels are said to be present in the trees on the Cremade site.
The gendarmes are being relieved by the CRS
We hear many screams coming from the Zad
The “squirrels” shout their determination and remind us that for them, the felling of trees is prohibited until September 1st. They ask the gendarmes “to be dignified”. Thirteen squirrels in total are said to be present in the trees on the Cremade site. A rear base where a few dozen Zadists are gathered is located 500 meters away.
An intervention led by very experienced non-commissioned officers
The intervention is led by the national mobility support cell (Cnamo) made up of very experienced non-commissioned officers. Firefighting units are also mobilized and arrive on site.
The twenty members of Cnamo in action.
The “anti-squirrel” operation has begun
The gendarmes launched the operation to evacuate the activists perched in the trees of the Crémade zad this Monday afternoon. The police also asked journalists to evacuate the area during the operation.
A69: the old Gascarié woods ZAD cleaned before the evacuation of the “squirrels”
Calm has returned since Monday morning at a place called Gascarié, in Saïx. After the scuffles of Sunday afternoon , the resumption of the construction site is in progress. The machines from NGE, concessionaire for the future A69, have been on site since Monday morning. Objective: clean the old ZAD of wood from the ground, while several “squirrels” are installed in trees to prevent their felling. After a final agreement with the owner, the concessionaire regained use of the land, known as de la Crémade, and “cleaned” it by getting rid of the material left on site by the opponents: pallets, furniture, tarpaulins, etc.
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A69: the old Gascarié woods ZAD being cleaned before the evacuation of the “squirrels”
A major operation underway in Tarn
The police are in the process of dismantling the Zad de Saïx, installed for several days to protest against the construction of the A69 motorway between Toulouse and Castres. Already this Sunday, clashes between Zadists and the police had marred a demonstration which had originally been banned by the prefecture.
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