Six hunters, anti-bear activists and farmers were on trial in Foix on Tuesday for violently disrupting a gathering of environmentalists in a village in Ariège in 2018, testifying to the tense coexistence between two visions of environmental protection in the Pyrenees .
Before the hearing before the criminal court, nearly 2,000 people gathered in the center of Foix in support of the defendants and
"for the defense of rurality"
, including the president of the National Federation of Hunters (FNC), Willy Schraen .
A mobilization perceived by the victims as yet another intimidation tactic.
At the helm, the defendants condemned the excesses of May 5, 2018, while explaining a context of anger and disarray in the rural world.
The president of the federation of hunters in Ariège, Jean-Luc Fernandez, pointed the finger at environmentalists who
“permanently attack (prefectural) hunting orders, water reservoir projects, the reopening of a mine or
defend
the presence of bears in the Pyrenees.
The prosecutor demanded against each of the defendants a fine of 500 euros, a two-month suspended prison sentence and a citizenship course.
He also demanded fines against their four organizations, the anti-bear association ASPAP, the FDSEA, the JA and the federation of hunters.
"Conflicts"
Too lenient requisitions, according to environmental activists.
The defense, for its part, pleaded for the release of the six rural leaders, who were being prosecuted for undeclared demonstration, obstruction of freedom of assembly.
The decision was reserved for November 29.
"The associations expect a lot from this trial, first of all to be able to walk around without being afraid"
, declared a lawyer for the civil parties, Alice Terrasse, denouncing
"this propensity to want to terrorize environmentalists to prevent them from speaking"
, as well as
"violence and threats against peaceful organizations".
On May 5, 2018, some 750 anti-bear activists, hunters and agricultural unionists, driving tractors, burst into La-Bastide-de-Sérou without permission to demonstrate and disturbed a meeting of environmental associations.
About 150 members of France nature environnement (FNE), Ferus (pro-ours) and other local associations drew up an inventory of environmental damage and discussed biodiversity, including the thorny question of bear, in the village hall of this village of a thousand inhabitants.
CRS had intervened after throwing stones and attacks against activists, whose meeting was considered a
"provocation"
by the demonstrators.
Read alsoNo “problem” bears observed so far in Ariège, reassures the OFB
“Overall, we have conflicts that are getting worse with hunters, certain agricultural unions, an anti-bear association, ASPAP (Association for the preservation of the heritage of Ariège-Pyrénées). We have points of divergence on the bear, agricultural methods, hunting, irrigation
,” said Hervé Hourcade, FNE lawyer.
Tuesday before the trial, farmers and hunters, mostly opposed to the presence of the bear, offered themselves a platform.
"Summoning us to court is relentlessness, an injustice
," said the president of Young Farmers (JA) of Ariège, Clémence Biard, one of the six defendants.
She denounced
“those who claim to be the saviors of the environment, endowed with brains atrophied by unfounded prejudices.
We are not going to let them dictate our practices and our actions.
