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A69: Riot Police Try To Dislodge 4ecureuils' At The 'Crem'Arbre' ZAD

Two protesters are looking at an oak tree where 'Ecureuils' are preparing to live to prevent its cutting for the A69 highway. In the woods in Saix, Tarn Department, on the planned A69 highway route between Toulouse and Castres, opponents of the project have set up a ZAD named 'Crem'Arbre' (Zone To Defend), and 'Ecureuils' (squirrels) are living in the trees to stop them from being cut down. Gendarmes Mobiles (riot police) have intervened to clear the ZAD of all opponents and are now standing guard near the trees occupied by 'Ecureuils' to prevent sympathizers from supplying food and water. The Gendarmes Mobiles have cleared the nearby area of all opponents, and a special unit of policemen, CNAMO, has intervened to dislodge the 'Ecureuils' from their trees. After two days of police efforts, they have only managed to dislodge one 'Ecureuil'. The LDH (Human Rights League) has arrived to provide medical supplies to the 'Ecureuils'. Meanwhile, new trees are being occupied by 'Ecureuils' at a new location called 'Cal'Arbre'. The main collective 'La Voie est Libre' (The Way is Free) is demanding that construction of the highway be halted until all judicial decisions have been made. Not all expropriations for farmers have been resolved. Opponents argue that the reprofiling of the N126 would be sufficient for the 6,000 vehicles expected per day and would cost much less. The A69 highway is projected to cost EUR512 million (in 2018 euros, excluding inflation) for 54 kilometers, and its construction would destroy more than 100 protected species and 400 hectares of agricultural land. This is taking place in Saix, Tarn, France, on February 21, 2024. (Photo by Alain Pitton/NurPhoto)

Photo Details

Photo ID	#11012770
Date Taken	20 February 2024
Location	N/A
Photographer	Alain Pitton/NurPhoto
Category	Social Issue
Copyright	© 2026 NurPhoto - Alain Pitton/NurPhoto

Related Keywords

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