Violent clashes at an environmental demonstration in France

A demonstration in France against the reservoirs for irrigation led to clashes with the security forces on Saturday, in a context of violent protests for pension reform across the country.

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The authorities deployed a strong security device near Sainte-Soline (centre-west), where one of these large dams for irrigation is being built and which arouses criticism from environmentalists.

At half a day, some 6,000 people, according to the authorities, and some 25,000, according to the organizers, gathered in the place.

The Ministry of the Interior mobilized 3,200 gendarmes and police, twice as many as in a previous demonstration in October. In both cases, the prefecture did not authorize the protest.

Demonstrators from the “otter” convoy (Les Loutres) head to Sainte-Soline during a demonstration called by the “Bassines non merci” collective, the environmental movement “Les Soulevements de la Terre” and the French union “Confederation paysanne” to protest against the construction of a new water reserve for agricultural irrigation, between Vanzay and Sainte-Soline, central-western France, on March 25, 2023. (Photo by Thibaud MORITZ / AFP) (THIBAUD MORITZ /)

According to the authorities, “at least a thousand” violent activists could participate, some coming from abroad, probably from Italy.

“The objective is to approach and surround the reservoir to stop the work,” assured AFP a member of “Soulevements of the Earth”one of the organizers.

At midday, near the works, surrounded by security forces, violent clashes broke out with radical activists, who launched projectiles, according to AFP journalists.

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The surroundings of the reservoir looked like a battlefield, between multiple explosions. Several gendarmerie vehicles were hit.

Most of the marchers, however, were demonstrating peacefully.

“While the country stands up to defend pensions, we will go in parallel to defend water”said environmental organizers.

These types of reservoirs serve to store the water extracted from the groundwater tables during the rainy season and it is kept outdoors for irrigation purposes in case of drought or restrictions on water consumption.

Demonstrators from the “otter” convoy (Les Loutres) head to Sainte-Soline during a demonstration called by the “Bassines non merci” collective, the environmental movement “Les Soulevements de la Terre” and the French union “Confederation paysanne” to protest against the construction of a new water reserve for agricultural irrigation, between Vanzay and Sainte-Soline, central-western France, on March 25, 2023. (Photo by Thibaud MORITZ / AFP) (THIBAUD MORITZ /)

According to their defenders, they are totally necessary to maintain the fields in the face of global warming.

The construction of Sainte-Soline has a cost of 70 million euros (75 million dollars), financed 70% by public funds on the condition that agroecological methods are used. His detractors criticize the hoarding of water for agribusiness.

For more than two months, France has been immersed in a wave of mass protests against the pension reform.

In the last week, they have radicalized and led to hundreds of arrests, to the point that on Friday the visit of the King of England, Charles III, scheduled for this week, was cancelled.

Source: Elcomercio