A69: Riot Police Try To Dislodge 4ecureuils' At The 'Crem'Arbre' ZAD, Saix, France - 20 Feb 2024

Gendarmes Mobiles are repelling sympathizers of the 'Ecureuils'. In the woods in Saix, Tarn Departement, on the planned A69 highway between Toulouse and Castres, opponents have established 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 prevent the supply of food and water by sympathizers. They have cleared the nearby area of all opponents, and a special unit of policemen, CNAMO, is intervening to dislodge the 'Ecureuils' from their trees. After two days of police efforts, they have dislodged only 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 the construction of the highway be halted until all judicial decisions on the matter are made. The expropriations for farmers have not been resolved. Opponents argue that the reprofiling of the N126 would be sufficient for the 6,000 vehicles expected per day and would cost far less money. 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 happening in Saix, Tarn, France, on February 21, 2024.