The last demonstrators were taken from the site today – only two activists are currently still in a tunnel.
(Photo: dpa)
erkelenz On Sunday, the police completed the evacuation of the protest village of Lützerath at the Rhenish opencast lignite mine, except for two activists in a tunnel. “There are no other activists in the Lützerath area,” the police said.
Most of the buildings had already been demolished on Sunday – including the farm of farmer Eckardt Heukamp, the last farmer in Lützerath. After the complete demolition, the energy company RWE wants to excavate the coal underneath.
After clashes between demonstrators and police officers on the sidelines of a large anti-coal rally on Saturday, allegations of violence flew back and forth on Sunday. According to the police, around 1000 mostly masked “disturbers” tried to penetrate the closed-off area of Lützerath on the edge of the demo.
To repel them, the police used water cannons, batons and pepper spray. Twelve people were arrested or taken into custody.
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The energy company RWE said it was “appalled by the aggression and violence”. The state chairman of the police union (GdP), Michael Mertens, also spoke of massive attacks by some of the demonstrators on the police.
“The call spread from the stage, ‘Everyone can do what they want. Everyone decides for themselves how far they go. “It shouldn’t have existed,” criticized Mertens. “It was apparently understood by militant opponents of lignite as a license to use violence against the police.”
Unclear number of injured
The organizers of the demo and spokesman for the Lützerather activists, on the other hand, accused the police of excessive violence. A spokeswoman for the protesters’ medical service said a “high double-digit to triple-digit number” of participants were injured.
Among them were many seriously injured and some critically injured people. The police “systematically hit activists in the head.”
According to the police, however, only nine activists were taken to the hospital by ambulance. “Fortunately, no one was seriously injured,” police said.
During the demonstration on Saturday there were violent clashes between police and activists.
(Photo: Getty Images)
A video shows Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, German activist Luisa Neubauer and others being pushed aside by police officers in a field. Thunberg returned to the edge of the mine on Sunday and took part in a spontaneous demo.
The 20-year-old was the main speaker at the demo on Saturday, which police estimated was 15,000 people, and according to the organizers at least 35,000 people. “Lützerath is still there, and as long as the coal is still in the ground, this fight is not over,” said Thunberg to the cheers of the audience.
The climate activist came to Lützerath again on Sunday for a spontaneous demonstration.
(Photo: dpa)
It is incomprehensible to her that coal will still be mined and burned in 2023, although it is well known that the climate change caused by this is costing human lives in many parts of the world. “Germany, as one of the world’s biggest polluters, has an enormous responsibility,” Thunberg warned.
In an interview with the German Press Agency, the world-famous activist criticized the Greens for their support for the demolition of Lützerath. Corporations like RWE should actually be held accountable for how they treat people. “The fact that the Greens are making compromises with such companies shows where their priorities lie,” said Thunberg.
Leading Green politicians such as Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck and his NRW colleague Mona Neubaur justify the demolition of Lützerath and the excavation of the underlying coal with the fact that in return the coal phase-out, which was brought forward by eight years to 2030, was achieved.
Five neighboring villages would be spared. The original residents of Lützerath have all moved away. Courts have dismissed lawsuits against the eviction.
The police announced on Sunday that a total of 35 “tree structures” and almost 30 wooden structures in Lützerath had also been cleared. Almost 300 people were taken away from Lützerath, which resulted in four acts of resistance.
Since the eviction began, 154 investigations have been initiated. More than 70 police officers have been injured since the evacuation operation began. According to RWE, it is unclear when the two activists in the tunnel can be brought out. Other activists reported doing well.
More: The people in Lützerath want the right thing and do the wrong thing