“We’ve been waiting for it for a long time”, says the Confédération Paysanne

“We’ve been waiting for it for a long time. For us it is important“, said Monday, July 10 on franceinfo Laurence Marandola, spokesperson for the Peasant Confederation after the publication of the report of the League of Human Rights on the maintenance of order during the demonstration in Sainte-Soline on March 25. , in which the LDH points to the responsibility of the State. The 150-page report is based on field work by the twenty or so observers present during the mobilization, which had resulted in violent clashes between demonstrations and forces. of order. The report highlights the “deliberate intention not to provide assistance as soon as possible“and a use”disproportionate“weapons by law enforcement.

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“For us who were organizers of this demonstration, which was then banned, the truth must prevail“, continues Laurence Marandola who says she is attached”freedoms, the right of expression and the right to demonstrate“. Of the rights that the Confédération Paysanne has “tried to make life in Sainte-Soline with the consequences that you know“, she adds.

Laurence Marandola recalls that she was there on March 25 “cLike the spokesman at the time Nicolas Girod and like many peasants of the Confédération paysanne“. She claims to have “seen and lived” of the “scenes of terrible police violence” on the spot. “So we needed this report“. A report that the spokesperson qualifies “extremely factual“: “I haven’t had time to read it in detail yet, but there were 18 observers spread over the entire area. Minute by minute it corresponds exactly to what I saw and experienced on the spot“.

“Awareness”

Asked about the follow-up to this report, Laurence Marandola hopes that “it will be able to reverse this discourse that has been built since the ban on the demonstration and the following days“. According to her, the text highlights that “some things are false, namely that there were indeed shootings carried out on peaceful processions but also the delays and the difficulties in evacuating the most seriously injured and all this communication from the State which is false“.

For the spokesperson, it is a good thing that “the LDH [ait] the means to show that rescue was effectively prevented, that there were extremely violent shootings against demonstrators who were exercising their right to demonstrate peacefully“. She is also delighted that “responsabilities [soient] dotted“of the finger and expects from it all”that there is awareness and that demonstrations can be authorized rather than prohibited with a completely different policing management when demonstrating peacefully“. Another expectation of Laurence Marandola: “That dialogue be urgently reopened around the fundamental question of water management and sharing“.

Finally, concerning the trials at the Niort Criminal Court on September 8th “where two of our spokespersons are accused of organizing prohibited demonstrations“, she says: “It will help to highlight our rights as a union and all these issues around water“. As to whether the fight continues, she answers without hesitation: “Of course“.