In his report, Michel Forst points out failings on the part of the police, in particular the deprivation of sleep and food, noted France Bleu Occitanie.
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The UN rapporteur calls this Thursday in his report consulted by France Bleu Occitanie for an investigation and sanctions in the management by the police of the ZAD of the A69 motorway near Saix. On February 22 and 23, the UN special rapporteur responsible for the protection of environmental defenders, Michel Forst, visited the Tarn on the A69 construction site, after complaints about the methods of maintenance of order and expulsion of environmental defenders, the Squirrels, who occupied trees on the site of “Crem’Arbre” (Saïx) against the A69 motorway project. He met opponents of the controversial Toulouse-Castres motorway project. He was then received the next day by the prefect of Tarn.
The rapporteur has just submitted his report. It points to failings on the part of the police, in particular the deprivation of sleep and food, noted France Bleu Occitanie. According to him, the particularly tense climate on the “Crem’Arbre” site is completely incompatible with an expulsion of the Squirrels in satisfactory conditions of security, for themselves or for members of the police. Michel Forst asks the French authorities to take immediate measures to protect squirrels.
He asks to authorize without delay and without hindrance the supply of food and drinking water to the Zadists, but also to take all the precautionary measures essential for the safety of the Squirrels and the members of the police responsible for their arrest.
Environmental defenders in France “persecuted or harassed”
The rapporteur also calls for an investigation and sanctions for acts of sleep deprivation, burning of materials, lighting of fires and dumping of apparently flammable products by the police, which may have endangered the life of the Squirrels, France Bleu Occitanie learned. He also pleads for a “constructive dialogue necessary“with the French authorities, to ensure that environmental defenders in France are not”persecuted or harassed for their commitment”.
Michel Forst finally insists on access to the site by the press. “During my visit I was able to note that the press and the members of the Toulouse Observatory of Police Practices were kept at a significant distance from the site (…) with extremely limited visibilityhe describes. Although a judicial police operation may justify certain restrictions on access to the site, these should be strictly limited and clearly defined. France’s international obligations (…) include facilitating the exercise of their functions by observers.“
