Thomas Brail, opponent of the A69 Toulouse-Castres motorway project since installed in a tree opposite the Ministry of Ecological Transition, in Paris, was taken down Sunday morning by the authorities, we learned from the Ministry of Transport, which invokes the need to “ensure medical care”.
The “squirrel” Thomas Brail, on hunger strike since the beginning of September, was dislodged from his plane tree by firefighters equipped with a basket, according to images posted on social networks.
“Major danger” for his health
“The prolonged hunger strike situation as well as the announcement of an imminent thirst strike posed a major danger to the health and even life of Mr. Brail,” the ministry justified in a press release.
“In this context, teams from the Paris firefighters and the police headquarters intervened and provided his medical care. This protective intervention will not prevent a dialogue from continuing, while respecting fundamental democratic decisions and principles and the rule of law,” he adds.
Request for suspension of work
Thomas Brail settled on September 14 in a tree located on Boulevard Saint-Germain, opposite the Ministry of Ecological Transition (which includes Transport). He briefly came down from his tree on Tuesday to be received by the Minister of Transport Clément Beaune, in vain. Several other opponents of the highway have started hunger strikes.
The “The Way is Free” collective, which the demonstrator represents, is opposed to the A69 motorway project in the name of the environment and the climate, and is calling for the suspension of work until the appeals on the merits have been exhausted.
A project “strongly supported by local elected officials”
On Friday, elected officials from Tarn and representatives of the local economy reaffirmed their support for the highway, with Renaissance deputy Jean Terlier denouncing “active minorities” in opposition to the project.
For the minister’s entourage, “the A69 is a project initiated a long time ago and strongly supported by local elected officials, of all political colors.” The minister spoke again on this subject with Carole Delga, PS president of the Occitanie Regional Council, the ministry said on Sunday.