In the bucolic landscape of Cuq-Toulza, a silent but determined confrontation is playing out between the police and a group of determined activists. The latter, perched in trees for two weeks, are facing forced evacuation, marking a turning point in the resistance against the A69 motorway project linking Toulouse to Castres.
A morning and determined intervention
At dawn, the police began their evacuation operation. Five activists and a dog, living symbols of this resistance, were asked to leave their perch. Two of them were taken into custody, while three others held on, refusing to give up their place in the branches.
The Crests campsite, located in the town of Lacroisille, became the scene of a symbolic struggle. Around this place, the landscape bears the scars of the A69 project: a largely cleared area, where three hundred-year-old trees still stand, witnesses of a past that will soon be over.
Strategies and tactics
The police, faced with steep and difficult-to-access terrain, had to adapt their strategy. Their specialized unit, accustomed to more conventional interventions, finds itself faced with an unprecedented challenge: dislodging determined activists, perched at dizzying heights.
The next generation of activists
Resistance has changed over time. Seasoned professionals from the National Tree Surveillance Group gave way to less experienced but equally passionate activists. These newcomers, from surrounding towns like Lavaur, had to quickly learn the basics of life and survival in the trees.
A dialogue at the foot of the trees
Despite the tense context, a form of dialogue was established between activists and the police. The opponents, far from the clichés of violence often conveyed, even offered coffee to the construction workers, highlighting an unexpected form of brotherhood in this conflict.
Towards a new phase of resistance?
While the construction site is moving forward inexorably, the opponents are not giving up. They are actively seeking new methods to make their voices heard, hoping to influence the course of a project which, in their eyes, threatens the environment and natural heritage of their region.
In this struggle, where every branch counts, the determination of the activists perched in the trees of Lacroisille reminds us that major infrastructure projects are never without opposition. Their fight, although perhaps doomed to failure in the face of the administrative machine and inevitable progress, remains a poignant testimony to the attachment of citizens to their environment and their heritage.
My name is Ethan, I am 30 years old, and I am the founder of LeJourGuinée. After studying journalism, I quickly decided to go freelance to be able to write as I wanted and talk about my true passions. With LeJourGuinée, I aim to create an information hub where French and international news are treated seriously and with insight. My goal is to enlighten my readers’ daily lives and encourage a deeper understanding of current issues.
