Farmers who cut the road in Serpa identified by authorities

At least 22 farmers who participated in the closure of the road near the border of Vila Verde de Ficalho, municipality of Serpa (Beja), at the beginning of February, were identified by police authorities, a spokesperson for the protesters revealed today.

Speaking to the Lusa agency, António João Veríssimo, from the Baixo Alentejo Farmers’ Civic Movement, indicated that notifications from the GNR and PSP, in person and by registered letter, began arriving just over a week ago.

“These are the documents that were taken from the tractors that were at the protest on the national road that connects Vila Verde de Ficalho to Rosal de la Frontera [Espanha] and notified the owners to provide statements”, he added.

António João Veríssimo said he was aware that, so far, “22 farmers have been notified”, finding it strange why these were the ones notified when in the protest “around 300 machines would be there”.

Farmer Luís Pôla, one of those who was notified, told Lusa that he received a letter from the GNR addressed to his agricultural company, as owner of the tractor, for the person responsible to appear at the Serpa station.

At the GNR post, Luís Pôla said he was confronted by the military with a photograph showing his tractor and those of others on the road, limiting himself to confirming that the vehicle was his and that he himself was the driver.

“I took responsibility for what I did and no longer made any statements”, this farmer stressed, highlighting that he was informed by the GNR that he had been accused and was left with an identity and residence permit.

In statements to Lusa, António João Veríssimo, from the Baixo Alentejo Farmers’ Civic Movement, regretted that some protesters had been identified, stressing that the authorities must take into account the reasons for the protests.

“We tried through diplomatic channels and all avenues were exhausted, the associations turned their backs on us, the Ministry of Agriculture did not listen to us and everyone said that it was not possible to pay the missing aid”, he highlighted.

Considering that guardianship should be in place of the notified farmers, as they “failed to fulfill their commitment”, António João Veríssimo insisted that “the reason for this action and the despair in which the farmers found themselves” must be understood.

During the protests, he stressed, “there was no damage to property or riots, a security cordon was left and ambulances and elderly people passed by and everyone witnessed the diplomacy that existed between protesters and GNR”.

“And now, we are notified as if we were bandits”, added this farmer from Baixo Alentejo.

A group of farmers from several municipalities in the Beja district cut, between the early hours of February 1st and the evening of the following day, National Road 260, in the Vila Verde de Ficalho area, close to the border with Spain.

These protests in the sector took place across the country against the cuts in community aid that were announced by the Government and to demand the right to adequate food, fair conditions and the appreciation of the activity.

Radio Pax/Lusa