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Michel Forst, United Nations Special Rapporteur On The Situation Of Human Rights Defenders, Came To The 'Crem'Arbre' ZAD Against The A69

Police officers from the CNAMO are preparing to intervene in the 'Crem'Arbre' ZAD. Michel Forst, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, is visiting the 'Crem'Arbre' ZAD (Zone To Defend) to see for himself if there are allegations of excessive police violence, deprivation of food and water, etc. During his visit, the media are not allowed by the riot police to follow him into the ZAD. Even the two Members of Parliament, Karen Erodi and Anne Stambach-Terrenoir, are not permitted. In Saix, Tarn, France, on the planned A69 highway between Toulouse and Castres, opponents have installed a ZAD named 'Crem'Arbre' (Zone To Defend) where 'Ecureuils' ('squirrels') are living in the trees to prevent them from being cut down. The Gendarmes Mobiles (riot police) are intervening to clear the ZAD of all opponents and are now standing guard near the trees occupied by 'Ecureuils' to block the supply of food and water by sympathizers. The Gendarmes Mobiles have cleared the nearby area of all opponents as a special unit of CNAMO police officers is intervening to dislodge the 'Ecureuils' from their trees. After two days of police efforts, they have dislodged only one 'Ecureuil'. However, new trees are being occupied by 'Ecureuils' in a new place called 'Cal'Arbre'. The main collective 'La Voie est Libre' (The Way is Free) wants the highway construction to be halted until all judicial decisions on the matter are made. All expropriations for farmers have not been resolved. Opponents of this project argue that the reprofiling of the N126 would be sufficient for the 6,000 vehicles planned per day and would cost far less money. The A69 highway is projected to cost EUR512 million (in 2018 euros without inflation) for 54 kilometers. More than 100 protected species and 400 hectares of agricultural fields will be destroyed. The events are taking place in Saix, Tarn, France, on February 22, 2024. (Photo by Alain Pitton/NurPhoto)

Photo Details

Photo ID	#11018169
Date Taken	22 February 2024
Location	N/A
Photographer	Alain Pitton/NurPhoto
Category	Environmental Issue
Copyright	© 2025 NurPhoto - Alain Pitton/NurPhoto

Related Keywords

ecology highway protest la voie est libre lvel environment nature law btp collective national road n126 A69 public works politics opposition opponent objector protester climate nge climate change global warming castres concrete toulouse france nature destruction concreting atosca activist arborist climber trees zad crem'arbre public money waste occitanie tarn gendarmerie mobile public interest gathering activistes nature pacifism occupation tree forest woods oaks oak cutting clear cutting toulouse semalens saix crem'arbre autoroute A69 ldh cnamo human rights league ligue des droits de l'homme cal'arbre United Nations UN Michel Forst United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human righ law human rights

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