PARIS – Tens of thousands of people from all over France and the surrounding countries marched to the mega Sainte-Soline basin in the Deux-Sèvres region. Activists tried to reach the top of the Sainte-Soline basin, which is 16 hectares and has a capacity of 720,000 m³ of water.
This action had been announced for about three months. According to the organizers, 30 thousand people gathered. Activists oppose projects to build water reservoirs for agricultural use. Protesters say devices powered by pumping groundwater are designed for intensive agricultural irrigation and are a form of “grabbing” water resources. The collectives of the association have demanded their complete abandonment and for months have been expressing their intention to oppose the construction of these basins in every way, including sabotage, dismantling or destruction. Since 2018, the project has been carried out under the leadership of 450 agricultural cooperatives and with the support of the state.
Security forces intervened violently in the action that took place on Saturday. Thousands of gas bombs were used. Helicopters flew over the area.
Around 3200 members of the security forces were mobilized against the protesters. The balance sheet of the conflicts was heavy. There are at least 200 wounded on the activist front. It was noted that 40 of them had deep wounds and one was in an absolute emergency. The Ministry of Interior also announced that 24 gendarmes were injured, in an “absolute emergency” situation.
Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne issued a statement of support to the police, accusing it of an “intolerable wave of violence”. The prime minister also reacted to “radical speeches” encouraging the activists.
Opposition leader Jean-Luc Melenchon reacted on his Twitter account, saying, “Enough of police violence in Saint Soline.” Melenchon said that “there would have been nothing but walking in the fields” had it not been for the police attack.
Republican Eric Ciotti went further, accusing the activists of being “terrorists”.
