(en) France, Organisation Communiste Libertarie - Courant Alternatif CA #227 - THE FIGHT NO TAV ARRIVES IN LYON (fr)

The fight against TVG between Turin and Lyon (TAV Italian for "Treno Alta Velocit?"), 
began some twenty years of the Italian side in an Alpine valley has now become famous for
the battle: the valley Susa (Susa Valley in Italian). Mobilization in France has remained
low and very timely for years. But want more strong to invest in this fight on our side of 
the Alps has led to several days of action culminating in a Franco-Italian event Monday, 3 
December in Lyon. ---- Completion of the TGV Lyon-Turin was decided in the early 1990s in
Europe, with a number of other high-speed lines (LGV) in order to realize the 
interconnection of major European cities. The Lyon-Turin at the time was part of an HSL 
project connecting Lisbon to Kiev, as saying that the railway network "speed" of Europe 
scheduled at this time was rather ambitious ...

Following the various crises of recent years, most of these major projects have apparently 
been abandoned or put to sleep, but the TGV between Lyon and Turin is still current and 
preliminary work is underway or been made.

ITALY: 20 YEARS OF STRUGGLE

In Italy, an opposition to the railway line forms at the outset. Combining information, 
actions, discussions and sabotage, it remained "minority" for many years before developing 
into a popular movement established in various localities of Val Susa. At the turn of 
1990-2000, was particularly harsh repression against the no-tav, with fixtures police and
murder by the state of two anarchists in prison. But all this brutality failed to destroy
the struggle, and it grew to become massive and still determined. People will be rooting 
through the construction, for people in struggle, the now famous "presidio", these 
buildings self serving as a meeting place, meeting, discussion with all those involved in
the fight against the TAV. The struggle continued unabated. In December 2005 was held a 
great victory of the movement that succeeded in retaking the presidio Venaus the cops kept 
after expelling the occupiers. For many years, the Italian State and public contractors 
working on the site trying to conduct surveys and preliminary work, but the movement did 
everything to prevent it, including confronting police who regularly occupy the land. In 
addition, the ongoing repression by both police brutality, mass arrests in the valley or 
in the demonstrations, often by heavy charges brought before the courts. Today, more than
50 people are in custody and awaiting trial.

ROUGH START IN FRANCE In France, things were much quieter for power. Environmentalists 
state at the outset promote the Lyon-Turin aspects of "environmental", citing the 
possibility of freight transport (including road-rail) night when the TGV do not 
circulate. In fact, in the 90s it comes to a strong trade development between France and 
Italy, and the track is then seen as more "green" and safer than highway that would carry
additional growing trucks. This could potentially profitable that even the LGV was 
reluctant SNCF (there are too few travelers between Lyon and Turin, and will probably run
at TGV loss on a track very expensive). However, actions of solidarity for the struggle in 
the Val Susa took place, particularly against repression: for example the occupation of 
the Italian Consulate in Lyon in 1999 in support of those arrested. Nevertheless, do not 
take the fight in the Rh?ne-Alpes. In January 2006, a demonstration against the TAV is 
organized French side, Chamb?ry. It is a success because bystanders are more than 5000. 
But there are 90% of Italians among them ...

However in recent years a renewed interest in this struggle manifests itself on the other
side of the Alps. Especially during the big demonstration in February 2012 which includes
75,000 people in the valley, with a significant French presence. Solidarity actions took 
place shortly after, in support of the movement and particularly in relation to fellow 
victim of what can only be called an attempted murder: he was electrocuted and fell from a 
power pole after a person has given power knowing full well that there was someone perched 
on the tower ...

MOBILIZATION END 2012 IN LYON

December 3, 2012, the Chair Italian Mario Monti came to Lyon to meet Fran?ois Hollande to
discuss including TGV Lyon-Turin and reaffirm the commitment of both countries to build 
high-speed line. For several months, opposition began to develop in the region, supported
by various collectives and individuals. For Franco-Italian summit, a week of activities, 
concerts and debates was organized on Monday 3 ending with a demonstration in the city 
center of Lyon. Many people had expected to come from the Val Susa to participate in this
event, but as we will see very massive repression was to prevent the maximum mobilization.

For the meeting between Monti and Holland, in the prefecture of Lyon, the surrounding 
neighborhood was closed and said "red zone" occupied by all kinds of livestock in uniform
(police, gendarmes, RAID, GIPN). A rally was declared a few weeks in advance on the site 
where a demonstration was eventually leave, but this place is located in the red zone, he
had to find another place. The rally has been called up Brotteaux, the seat of the old 
station of the same name and is located near the train station Part-Dieu (gare largest 
province). This place, neither too close nor too far, allowing both to gather many people, 
chat with passersby, and possibly from procession to walk a bit. But the huge police 
presence would not allow it.

A VERY LARGE AND PUNISHMENT VERY CLOSED

The first Italian from participating in protests were expected on Saturday, two days 
before the event, including leading a debate on the struggle of women in the No-Tav. But 
as of Thursday evening, and CRS riot police had set up border controls have been 
strengthened during the weekend. Shengen agreements were suspended for several days 
between France and Italy, to allow the French government to repress a maximum of Italians
on their arrival in France (under the pretext of having been involved for example a No-TAV 
demonstration ...). So much of the Italian ne es s expected during the weekend could not 
come to France, and prevented from participating in or facilitating discussions planned. 
French cops, besides their own file of "undesirables" were obviously used a list of 
activists provided by the Italian Government to repress individuals at the border, proof 
of good cooperation policies of the two countries (which was co- Monti welcomed by Holland 
and over the top!)

The city of Lyon, the State services not idle during the weekend preceding the 
demonstration, while safety devices are in place, activists are monitoring and / or 
control, and squats that will Italian host-do-s are placed under heavy police surveillance 
(taking photos, discussions cops, "census" of people, etc). The day of the event people 
will drive even adopted by the GIPN and civilians rebadged a "RAID!"

Following these difficulties, we begin to expect the worst for the day Monday. And it was
with good reason. The dozen cars Italians reached early in the morning on the border with
France to arrive at around noon rally scheduled. But the cops and police cars have blocked 
for many hours to carefully monitor and search their occupants. A bus will be suppressed 
even at the border. In the end, the Italians arrived around 15:30, so we thought to share
with them a bowl of hot soup for lunch. Meanwhile the square was filled with people from 
the late morning, and cops and police had begun to implement an inordinate encirclement. 
With the arrival of Italian cars in the middle of the afternoon, the net tightens and no 
one can enter or leave the gathering place. This does not preclude taking the words, 
slogans, songs, etc., but any attempt to move in procession or shake the gates balance by
batons and tear gas jets. A helicopter rotates continuously over the gathering, and many 
police in the streets around the area to check the place. The spectrum of the prison 
Bellecour comes to all the spirits [1], and individuals remain trapped in limbo. But here
it is apparently not the power to stop or control a maximum of people, but rather to 
prevent taking initiative and completely block the protesters in the square. Indeed, the 
Italians are well back home at one time or another, even if the police intended to place 
in the police in case of mass arrests, it would be very difficult to pick a thousand 
people present . The police therefore pushed the Italians to ride in cars and buses to 
leave the place, while preventing other protestors sneak enjoying the movement during 
loading those who slip between two cars leaving the place. The Italians then try to stay 
there in solidarity with the French, but the cops are pressuring drivers for they exude. A 
bus will even temporarily led by a French policeman time to leave the place! The cars are
driving a little further, and searched in search of French who try to break this open-air
prison. The cars are then escorted by dozens of vans and motorcycle in the city and on the 
highway, until L'Isle d'Abeau about thirty kilometers from Lyon. Other protesters begin to 
emerge around 19h in small groups, with or without identity check. Randomly exits close 
sometimes brutally without one knows why, except perhaps to prevent a junction with small
groups begin to form outside in support "imprisoned" . At 21h everyone is out and the 
device is largely collapsed, and there were two arrests. Others were arrested for simply 
being (re) set out in the trap and in the late evening after an identity check.

A MIXED REVIEW But repression is not limited to the gathering, since thirty arrests had 
taken place in the morning. In particular, a large twenty individuals out of a squat are 
surrounded by a dozen police vehicles to be arrested and taken to different police 
stations. All these people will spend the day, some come out the next day or even the next 
day! But thanks to their collective determination, the majority of those arrested emerge 
without giving their identity and refusing all fichages (photo, fingerprints and DNA). So
the conclusion seems to be that all police deployment (total 1300 servants of the State 
for a thousand demonstrators) was to make a show of brute force and prevent it can happen
anything during the day. In the end only one person is left with a summons for assault on
officer (most likely to "cover" the cops who beat her violently). The No-TAV are rather 
satisfied with the mobilization unprecedented in Lyon against the project, but we did not
find against the parade total lock operated by the police. That said, this method of 
confinement begins to elicit reactions from various collectives and individuals in the 
following which is from the "prison Bellecour" movement pensions in Lyon, and reflection 
continues to do longer trapped next time.

Meanwhile, in Italy, repression does not weaken fifty people, sometimes in detention for 
months, should go to trial in February after many adjournments. It should be noted that 
the trial will take place in Turin in a special room called the "bunker" in the prison de
la Valette. This "bunker" was opened for major lawsuits against armed formations (Red 
Brigades, Prima Linea, etc). Doing in this room No-TAV trial, the Italian state wants to 
assimilate the movement a kind of extremism "terrorist." This does not bode well for the 
future ...

No-TAV among other

1] See the article "Prison Bellecour" CA No. 224 of November 2012