A69 motorway: dozens of environmental activists evicted from a camp near the construction site, six individuals arrested

“The risk of a tragedy is extremely serious”

By midday, there was almost nothing left of the ZAD de la Cal’arbre, located about fifty meters from the A69 construction site, an AFP journalist noted. Four tree houses, a banner “ACAB" (All Cops are Bastards, “all cops are bastards"in English), bales of hay and tires on the ground are the last vestiges of the camp, where about ten oak trees still remain.

Several activists remain on site, some perched in the trees, others on the ground, and watch the bulldozers gather pieces of wood, debris and pieces of plastic. The opponents installed in the trees, baptized "squirrels" by the anti-A69, shout from tree to tree and wish each other "strength". The noise of the tractors covers their encouragement.

A naked activist in a tree shouts at the police: “You are pitiful, pathetic!”. “While the work of these machines continues, the risk of a tragedy is extremely serious and could cost the lives of several people on the ground or in the tree”, the ZADists warned in a press release.

Upcoming fellings

“The concreters' rampage is total two days before the felling period, but our determination is unwavering and we will resist with all our strength their devastating enterprise”, assures the ZAD A69, in reference to the administrative authorization to fell trees starting September 1st.

The construction of the A69 motorway is criticised by environmental protection groups and movements, which denounce the destruction of wetlands, agricultural land, trees, ecosystems and water tables. Last June, near the construction site, thousands of opponents took part in a banned gathering, punctuated by clashes with the police.

Last March, in what was still a ZAD called Crem’arbre, also in the commune of Saïx, three "squirrels" voluntarily came down from the trees where they had camped for nearly 40 days, claiming to have obtained guarantees on their preservation. They had been greeted downstairs by more than 200 opponents, under the watchful eye of several dozen police officers.

Several acts of vandalism in recent months

Since then, this former ZAD has been completely evacuated, floodlights have been installed high up to prevent people from crossing the gates and security guards are monitoring the area, noted an AFP journalist. Tree cutting could resume from September 1st.

In recent months, various damages have occurred on the construction site, including fires from construction equipment, without however delaying the work according to the motorway concessionaire Atosca.

For their part, opponents of the A69 denounce that tents of a camp were set on fire in mid-August. Facts for which the Castres prosecutor's office has opened an investigation. The construction site began in 2023 and the motorway should be open for service at the end of 2025.