All demonstrations and gatherings are prohibited on the weekend of October 29 and 30 in an area around Sainte-Soline in Deux-Sèvres. Decision of the prefecture while a major mobilization is expected against the project to build reserves for agricultural irrigationon the slogan “not one more basin”.
In a press release, the prefecture specifies that the bans concern:
- any demonstration and crowd
- the movement of agricultural machinery alone or in a procession (excluding local residents)
- the sale, transport and use of fireworks
- retail sale and transport of fuels as well as acids and all flammable, chemical or explosive products.
- carrying and transporting weapons of all categories, ammunition and objects that may constitute a weapon by destination within the meaning of article 132-75 of the penal code.
The prefecture specifies that these measures “will apply to the perimeters, delimiting axes included” of the following municipalities in Mellois:
- Sainte Soline
- Lezay
- French
- Roma
- Vanzay
- Mass
- Caunay
- People
- Clussais-la-Pommeraie
- Saint Coutant
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Prefecture of Deux-Sèvres
The decrees are also valid in two municipalities of the Marais Poitevin:
- Mauzé-sur-le Mignon where the first reserve was built
- Cute Valley
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Prefecture of Deux-Sèvres
“Avoid any risk of disturbing public order”
The prefecture justifies these measures “taking into account the violence and destruction observed during the last actions of the same collectives and in order to avoid any risk of disturbing public order”. These bans take effect from Saturday October 29 from 7 a.m. until Monday October 31 at 7 a.m.
“The construction site must stop”
Earlier in the day, opponents of the project announced the filing of declaration of demonstration this Monday, October 24 in the prefecture. 150 organizations, collectives, associations, unions, political parties are calling for mobilization. Opponents who denounce a _“water grabbing”_and who have a watchword “the construction site must stop”. Work on the second reserve of the Sèvre Niortaise basin project, the largest of the project, started in beginning of october
.
Opponents who had also detailed the program for the weekend, in particular the meeting in Sainte-Soline on Saturday October 29 from 10 a.m. for a mobilization intended, according to Benoit Feuillu, of the Uprisings of the earth, “broad, popular and festive and which is part of the register of civil disobedience in the face of the climate emergency”.