The Lyon-Turin high-speed rail project has been a divide since its launch more than 30 years ago. Despite the ban from the prefecture of Savoie, a demonstration is organized on Saturday in the Maurienne valley.
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The spokesperson for the Ministry of the Interior, Camille Chaize, estimates on franceinfo “at 2,000” the number of people present on Saturday June 17 in the Maurienne valley (Savoie) to denounce the Lyon-Turin rail tunnel project. This event was banned by the prefecture, due to a “very particular geography with steep slopes and very few roads”, justifies Camille Chaize.
“We were unable to allow good security, a good commitment of relief in this configuration”, she adds. But the spokeswoman for the Ministry of the Interior maintains that “the dialogue with a certain number of groups and organizations is maintained”.
Strong mobilization of law enforcement
In order to “to avoid destruction, damage on construction sites or intrusions”, 2,000 police and gendarmes are deployed in this border valley with Italy. This device is “very adaptable and very responsive”, says Camille Chaize. “If the demonstrators make their voices heard in compliance with the rules of law, there will be no problem, on the other hand if they do not respect the regulations adopted by the prefect, we will be present and very mobile”, warns the spokesperson for the Ministry of the Interior.
27 foreigners turned back at the Italian border
Camille Chaize indicates that several “administrative prohibitions of the territory” were also executed overnight from Friday to Saturday, while a number of demonstrators from Italy and Switzerland are expected in Savoie. The forces of order therefore carry out “more important road checks” and will deport persons who are subject to these administrative exclusion orders to the border. 27 people were turned back at the border and handed over to the Italian authorities, a source familiar with the matter told franceinfo.
“For example, we will search vehicles, temporarily confiscate objects that can be used as weapons by destination”, adds the spokesperson for the Ministry of the Interior. She specifies that for the moment, the gendarmes have confiscated “more than a hundred objects that can be used as weapons”notably “hammers and gas cylinders”.