The Secretary General of the Rural Coordination denounces a “completely sterile confrontation”

A demonstration against the upcoming start of a new mega-basin construction site in Poitou was interrupted on Friday 19 July by a fire caused by tear gas fired by the police.

“The farmers were afraid, because we all remember last year, Sainte-Soline”reacts Christian Convers, secretary general of the Rural Coordination, in the 19/20 info. He affirms that“There was violence that was prepared, that was organized” on the side of the protesters. Returning to the megabasins, he adds that “all the works are done with studies, with authorizations from the State, so this confrontation is completely sterile”. “It is unacceptable to import this violence into our countryside”he denounces.

Reacting via video conference in the 19/20 info to the comments of Christian Convers, Judith Rivière, spokesperson for “Bassines non merci 79”, indicates: “Indeed, there was violence on the part of the police.” “It was the police who threw grenades (tear gas, editor’s note) in a totally irresponsible manner to target a demonstration that was there to claim its legitimate right to protect water.”she laments.