In the ZAD of Notre-Dame-des-Landes, the “struggle continues” despite the defeat – The World

Le Monde | 27/06/2016 at 4:50 • Updated 27/06/2016 at 6:44 | By Rémi Barroux

After initially applauded the announcement of the results of the referendum on the proposed transfer of Nantes-Atlantique airport in the municipality of Notre-Dame-des-Landes (Loire-Atlantique) – the “no” carried a majority of votes in the municipalities around their “zone defense” (ZAD) – the occupiers have realized that the battle was lost

in this hotbed of resistance, the Cow Rit, a barn for months beat. the heart of the ZAD, hundreds of activists, associations, farmers, simple people from the neighborhood, listened results fall one after the other on Sunday June 26 evening. After 23 hours, the final result was known, with the victory of “yes” to transfer 55.17%

Read also:. Referendum for Notre-Dame-des-Landes: “Yes” prevails at 55.17%

But zadistes and their supporters were already moved on: the festival and a concert at the shabby, where stands a building site for a new meeting room, a geodesic dome [a sphere whose structure is self-supporting] with sheet metal plates. After a few glasses bus listening to the results after booed municipalities who voted in favor of the airport project, some have returned home, others going to party.

” vigilant “

This means that the defeat has hardly reached the opponents. Expecting the yes vote, the zadistes and associations, including the Association of inter-citizen populations affected by the airport project (ACIPA), the backbone of the fight, had already written the day their message read to present the many support.

“the struggle continues tonight. We know that the attacks of the government and pro-airport will be strengthened. On our side, we will not ceasing to live, cultivate and protect this farmland “, told Fresneau Dominique, vice president of ACIPA. Announcing a vigorous defense of the area, he called with representatives of many organizations ZAD to “vigilant in the weeks and months ahead,” .

Around the great hall of the Cow Rit, different groups in the area were there, Bellevue bakers with their loaves of bread, the team of canning green Noë, Willem, the breeder of Saint-Jean-du-Tertre focused on harvesting hay for his animals.

for them, no change was envisaged. “The airport site, the intervention of the police, this is not for tomorrow” , prognosticated one of “Camille”, the generic name of women and men speaking on behalf of the collective.

“There will be no airport”

the urgency displayed occupants is to pailler a squash field, to manufacture doors for the new greenhouse at the Wardine, to arrange the reception area to the Rolandière or finish the climbing wall at the Gree: plain continue on building sites different places of the ZAD. With no intention of leaving, despite government injunctions.

Welcoming the victory of the “yes” and the high turnout, the Prime Minister, Manuel Valls warned Sunday night that the illegal occupants of land should “from” by the beginning of the work in the fall

Read also:. Notre-Dame-des-Landes: Manuel Valls warns squatters they “must go”

“Tomorrow morning I will milk the cows as usual, this is not Valls or the prefect who will do it” , calmly stated Sylvain Fresneau, whose operation faces the Cow Rit. A historic farmers deported since March 25.

The cry of his cousin, Dominique, “there will be no airport in Notre-Dame-des-Landes» , remained the credo of assistance from that election night. Yes that has prevailed does not change for them the situation.

has been given appointment to all support committees and associations on the weekend of 9 and 10 July, on ZAD for summer days that every year allow opponents to mobilize their camp. With Sunday’s result, they do not doubt to see solidarity strengthened.