Sainte-Soline clashes leave 200 injured over reservoir construction

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
26 Mar 2023 10:29
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In Sainte-Soline, France, local farmers opposed the decision to build a reservoir that would combine 16 smaller reservoirs, threatening smaller-scale farming.

A gendarmerie vehicle burns during a demonstration called by the collective "Bassines Non Merci" against the "basins" on the construction site of new water storage infrastructure for agricultural irrigation in western France, in Sainte-Soline, France March 25, 2023. (AP)

Violent clashes erupted between protestors and the French police in Sainte-Soline, leaving at least 200 people injured according to BFMTV.

At least four police vehicles were set on fire and Molotov cocktails were the weapon of choice for protestors who opposed the construction of a large reservoir for agricultural needs.

🚨💊🇫🇷LA GUERRE DES BOUTONS A SAINT - SOLINE⚡️🔥👀
Extremely intense clashes in Sainte-Soline in Deux-Sèvres where several thousand people from the far left are demonstrating against the mega-basins project.
👉The theater continues/France does not like to be bored🤡 pic.twitter.com/CCTkXuQ0yE
— France Résistance (@FranceRsistanc1) March 25, 2023

The French Interior Ministry also noted that over 35 police officers were also injured in the clashes.

"While the country is rising up to defend pensions, we will simultaneously stand up to defend water," said the organizers gathering under the banner of "Bassines non merci" ("No to reservoirs, thank you").

The construction of the reservoir, which would merge 16 smaller reservoirs, is opposed by local farmers who feel that it will only help large-scale agricultural output, while leaving smaller farms without water.

The violent scenes in Saite-Soline in western France came after days of violent protests nationwide over President Emmanuel Macron's pension reform that prompted the cancellation of a visit by King Charles III as per the French President's request.

A long procession set off late morning, comprising at least 6,000 people, according to local authorities, and around 25,000, according to the organizers.

France is undergoing turmoil as demonstrations and strikes erupted across the country over the government's pension reform law, which has been met with strong opposition and led to the shuttering of services, blocking roads, and widespread protests amid heavy security deployment and repeated violent clashes.