A video of a group of farmers using a controversial method to evict squatters in France went viral, and the bloke who filmed it has opened up on what happened.
The internet wasn’t too sure how to feel after seeing what a farm in Hautes-Vosges, France, did to numerous caravans that had been parked up ‘illegally’.
While there are issues like this in the UK, it’s not likely that people would go off and dish out their own plan to evict. However, it seems these French farmers are not like us.
Instead of holding peace talks to come to an arrangement or waiting for the police, it appeared that they had their own smelly method up their sleeves.
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The clip, which was reportedly shot earlier this summer, shows tractors driving up the field towards the caravans.
Then they spray a brown substance all over the place as people run like there’s no tomorrow.
While you might be forgiven for thinking it’s soil…it’s not.
The farmers were spraying liquid manure (slurry) from the tanks attached to the vehicles. Even though it seems a bit of a step to take for the first interaction between squatters and farmers, Loic Madre, the photographer who filmed and uploaded the incident, told The Daily Mail what really went down.
Madre claimed the squatters were there illegally and had not asked permission to use their field- which was gearing up for harvest in a few weeks.
He said the grass they were parked on was supposed to be used as animal feed, stating: “It was difficult to negotiate with the travellers; they refused to listen. The farmers received no support from the local authorities or the police.
“So they handled it on their own! As you can see in the images.”
Local media reports further claimed the farmers let loose with the slurry after 'not receiving any help from the police' to 'get rid of an illegal gypsy camp'.
“As a result, there were several problems and complaints, but in the end, the travellers were forced to leave after a few days,” the photographer said. “The meadow was badly damaged, but they left.”
While the trick seemingly worked, people on social media were a little divided on the tactic, however.
Some users on X said it was ‘so satisfying’ to see as they ‘love’ the farmers for putting their foot down.
Meanwhile, others said the French authorities should have better solutions to illegal parking of squatters on farmer’s fields, which could have prevented this incident from ever occurring.
Topics: Europe, Viral, Social Media
Britt Jones