Vienne Prefecture Bans Demonstrations Amid Fears of Violent Outbursts
The Vienne prefecture announced on Tuesday a ban on all demonstrations in the town of Saint-Sauvant and its surroundings. This decision comes as opponents of the contested irrigation reserves, known as 'bassines,' planned to gather on Friday.
Thousands of individuals are expected to attend the 'Water Village' gathering in Melle, located in the neighboring department of Deux-Sèvres, from Friday to Sunday. In this context, two demonstrations are planned for Friday in Saint-Sauvant (Vienne) at the site of a future 'basin' and Saturday in front of the agro-industrial terminal of the port of La Rochelle (Charente-Maritime). These demonstrations are notably called by the Earth Uprising movement and the Bassines non merci (BNM) collective.
Previous Violent Clashes Prompt Ban
The Vienne prefecture justified the ban by citing the violent outbursts during previous undeclared demonstrations organized by the same groups. These events saw attacks on property and people, including unacceptable assaults on the police. A notable instance occurred in March 2023, when a demonstration at the construction site of a contested reservoir in Sainte-Soline (Deux-Sèvres) resulted in violent clashes between radical activists and the police.
In response, the Deux-Sèvres prefecture has also prohibited any undeclared gatherings on its territory. The 'Water Village' event was declared by the commune of Melle, which hosts it and has sole jurisdiction to prohibit it.
Lack of Dialogue and Counter-Demonstrations
The prefectures of Deux-Sèvres, Vienne, and Charente-Maritime expressed disappointment that representatives of the organizing groups did not respond to their invitations for meetings regarding the upcoming demonstrations. The BNM collective accused the prefectures of refusing any dialogue outside of a staging aimed at justifying repressive measures. They promised to engage in exchanges with the competent prefectural services in the coming days.
In a related development, the Rural Coordination, which holds a majority in Vienne, called for self-defense from farmers and announced a 'peaceful and determined' counter-demonstration on Friday in Melle, to be held alongside the police. However, the Deux-Sèvres prefecture noted that no declaration had been filed by the agricultural union within the legal period of three clear days before the demonstration. Regardless, the prefectural decree prohibiting undeclared gatherings from Friday to Sunday applies to all organizers considering a protest gathering.
- The situation remains tense as both sides prepare for the planned demonstrations and counter-demonstrations. The authorities are on high alert to prevent any potential violent outbreaks and ensure public safety.
- The ongoing dispute over the 'bassines' irrigation reserves has highlighted the deep divisions between environmental activists and agricultural interests. The upcoming events in Vienne, Deux-Sèvres, and Charente-Maritime will be closely monitored by both local and national authorities.
