The Sterrebos in Born must be evacuated. The police, the municipality of Sittard-Geleen and the Public Prosecution Service have given orders for this. The activists of Save the Sterrebos are pulled from the trees by the police. Follow the latest developments in this live blog.
11:20 am – Third activist arrested
A third activist has been removed from the trees of the Sterrebos. He was placed on a stretcher by the police and taken from the forest.
The first person has been taken out of the oak. This is not gentle. The person did not resist but was beaten and dropped into the aerial platform. #sterrebos #RedhetSterrebos pic.twitter.com/ezkiQC5IOe
— RedHetSterrebos (@RedHetSterrebos) February 8, 2022
11:15 am – Save the Sterrebos: ‘What we wanted to protect is now being cut down’
11:12 am – Party for the Animals: ‘Hood with hoods!’
According to Christine Teunissen, the Netherlands risks a fine from the European Union for breaching the Habitats Directive.
The @PartijvdAnimals want the hood of it #Star forest is now suspended and calls the minister to the House. The Netherlands risks a fine from the EU for breaching the Habitats Directive. Hood with hoods! Signed up for Question Time @RedHetSterrebos https://t.co/JnNZyRyOkn
— Christine Teunissen (@Ct_teunissen) February 8, 2022
11:09 am – Campaigner Ed: ‘We will stay here as long as possible’
11:01 am – Started with hood Sterrebos
A correspondent on site reports that the felling of the forest has started. VDL Nedcar wants to expand the site in order to be able to work for various clients. They may be cutting down the trees to make way for fire brigade aerial platforms, but no one can confirm that at the moment.
10:57 am – Police move from poplar forest to ‘real’ Sterrebos
The police and fire brigade have moved. The five remaining activists are at a different location, where the police will now take action.
10:50 AM – Organization addresses Rivian
Save the Sterrebos has turned to Rivian, an American car brand, on social media. They could just become a new customer of VDL Nedcar. “Rivian, this is your last chance: if you care about the Starforest, tell Nedcar not to work with them if they’re cutting the woods. NOW!’
10:47 – Save the Sterrebos: five more activists in the trees
The organization Save the Sterrebos announces that there are not four, as stated earlier, but five activists in the trees.
10:42 am – Greenpeace and Milieudefensie react with disappointment
Andy Palmen, director of Greenpeace and Donald Pols, director of Milieudefensie, say they are disappointed. ‘We call on Mayor Hans Verheijen of Sittard-Geleen to guarantee the safety of climbers as much as possible. It was only after much public outcry last week that the mayor allowed the activists to be given food and drink. Despite the bad weather, he didn’t allow them to get extra protective tarps and clothing.’
According to the organizations, the security team and the spokesperson for the activists are not allowed to be present during the eviction: ‘This creates unnecessary stress and potentially a dangerous situation. Verheijen has succeeded well in radiating law and order, in his role as mayor who also ensures the safety of activists who stand up for a better world, he has failed miserably. It would be to his credit if he still gave the security team and the police spokesperson access to the eviction.’
10:39 am – Police spokesman: ‘We are going to get the people out of the forest’
Police are not yet able to say how long the action will last. “We want to get every person out of the trees in a careful way, that will also take time.” The activists are arrested, but will also receive a medical check. “If someone needs medical support, he or she goes to the hospital.”
10:34 AM – Mobile unit also present
In addition to the fire brigade, the mobile unit is also present. It is their job to make the eviction as smooth as possible.
10:24 AM – ‘We’re Not Giving Up’
The eviction of the activists from Sterrebos seems to be difficult. The organization says that they will not give up just like that: ‘From the tree house in the oak you can see that the police are preparing to catch these four bats as well. That can still be difficult. We don’t just give up!’ The remaining activists hide high in the trees.
10:19 AM – Two activists arrested
Save the Sterrebos says when asked that two people have been arrested (so far). There are still four activists in the trees.
10:08 am – Police start to clean up
According to a correspondent, the police are slowly starting to clean up. It is not yet clear whether this means that the eviction has been successful or has ended. The press must remain at a distance for the time being.
09:52 am – One activist arrested
A correspondent says that an activist voluntarily climbed out of a tree. The police have arrested him.
09:42 am – Activists high in the trees
A new video shows that the activists are now high in the trees. The fire brigade does not seem to be able to reach them yet.
and this is what it looks like from above! #RedHetSterrebos pic.twitter.com/BpeytAeqms
— RedHetSterrebos (@RedHetSterrebos) February 8, 2022
09:40 – Action group speaks out about police deployment
Save the Sterrebos, the action group that stands up for the preservation of the forest, seems to find the efforts of the many agents excessive.
Do they have enough cars and people with them? #eviction #RedHetSterrebos pic.twitter.com/eTPWV0lFq2
— RedHetSterrebos (@RedHetSterrebos) February 8, 2022
09:30 am – A lot of police force around the Sterrebos area
It can also be seen that some officers have rope to climb into the trees.
09:24 – Six more activists in the trees
Currently, six activists remain in the trees. The police and fire brigade are trying to get them out.
09:14 am – There is a lot of police in and around the Sterrebos
09:09 – Campaigner Maarten thanks people for support
Maarten, member of Red het Sterrebos, has been staying in one of the trees since the beginning of the occupation.
A message from Maarten who has been in a tree since Friday 28 January to #Star forest to protect against the hood. #thanks #RedHetSterrebos Hold on! A bat is not that easy to catch! pic.twitter.com/bEz2B84CQe
— RedHetSterrebos (@RedHetSterrebos) February 8, 2022
08:40 am – Save the Sterrebos: ‘A terrible pity’
The action group Save the Sterrebos calls it a “terrible pity” that the police are switching to evacuation of the forest: “The forest can now be cut down and VDL shows that they have not listened to us. The few saplings that are being moved can never be an entire forest and habitat,” said a spokesperson.
On social media, the action group calls on people to show their support.
08:35 am – Police demolish ‘home’ of activist Maarten
The police are now climbing up Maarten’s house and have already demolished the house and banner. #RedHetSterrebos pic.twitter.com/zRZ7CMvc2Q
— RedHetSterrebos (@RedHetSterrebos) February 8, 2022
08:27 am – The entire area around the Sterrebos has been cordoned off
08:18 am – Police arrive at the Sterrebos
07:22 – Municipality of Sittard-Geleen: police are going to clear Sterrebos
The police started clearing the occupied forest next to VDL Nedcar on Tuesday morning. The activists are being pulled from the trees. The area in the vicinity of the forest has been cordoned off. The national road N276 between Sittard and Susteren is closed due to the eviction.
The activists have been occupying the forest since Friday, January 28, in an attempt to prevent the forest from being cut down. VDL wants to cut down the forest to enable the expansion of the Nedcar car factory.
Also read: Sterrebos demonstration ended: police clear area