Occupation of pig farm in Boxtel ended

Animal activists broke into a pigsty in Boxtel, South Brabant, on Monday 13 May. More than 100 people from the action group 'Activism On The Road' have occupied the stable since noon. At 22 p.m., the police and Mobile Unit (ME) took the activists out of the stable and removed them.

The police have arrested several dozen activists; they did not want to leave the site or identify themselves. The activists who did show their ID have not been arrested. The farmers who had come to the pig farm with tractors (for a counter-protest) left around 22 p.m. This also ended the 00-hour occupation.

In a press statement, the police say they deliberately did not intervene earlier, because they were looking for a solution acceptable to everyone. "Without endangering the welfare of the farmer, the animals and the activists," the statement reads. The Public Prosecution Service has now announced that it will prosecute all protesters.

Farmers came en masse in protest against the activists; For example, dozens of farmers traveled to the barn in Boxtel to support the victimized farmer and to put extra pressure on the activists. On Twitter it can be seen, among other things, that the cars of the activists have rolled upside down. There were also a number of playful actions, for example, there was plenty of barbecue at the stable.

fierce criticism
Several people strongly criticized the burglary on Twitter. That is how MP Jaco Geurts (CDA) calls it completely unacceptable. Linda Jansen, chairman of the Producers Organization Pig Farming (POV), also uses such terms and also speaks of a disrespectful action. Under #Boxtel, animal activists, farmers and citizens are having a fierce discussion with each other.

Minister Carola Schouten (Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality) also disapproves of the action via her social media: "This is one of the companies that provides us with our daily food. They should be able to do this without having to continuously look over their shoulder and be intimidated. to become. This is unacceptable."

'Danger to public health'
Wim Bens, the chairman of ZLTO, denounces the action and calls it a danger to public health. According to him, the barn burglaries are causing great concern among the member pig farmers of the interest group. Marc Calon, the chairman of LTO Nederland, says to De Telegraaf that he finds it unacceptable that the police did not act quickly and adequately against the stable terror. "And then the police will negotiate? That's the world upside down!" Calon grumbles.

The agricultural and horticultural organization believes that the activists have no right to gain unsolicited access to stables. In addition, there is a risk that they carry all kinds of diseases with them. 

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