French wine activists torch supermarkets April 20, 2007
Maggie Rosen
Wine industry activists have again attacked retailers in the south of France.
Fire engines were called to several supermarkets in Herault region where fires had been set in the early hours of April 20, reports AFP.
The attacks appear to be the work of CRAV (comite regional d'action viticole), a group of wine sector protestors known for its aggressive tactics.
An electrical transformer in the parking lot of a Carrefour in Nimes was blown up, while an incendiary device blew out the windows and damaged the metal security grille of an Intermarche store in Magdalas. In Capestang, rubbish bins at Lidl were set on fire and an office was firebombed.
Nobody was hurt, but two suspects were taken into custody and questioned by the police. One is the president of the wine co-operative of L'Occitane, who was detected by radar while en route from Beziers to Agde. It is unknown whether any arrests have been made.
Separately, CRAV graffiti was found scrawled on the walls of Atac, Lidl, Aldi and other markets that were not set alight. In one case, the phrase 'on creve' – 'we're dying' - was also found on a wall.
CRAV has been active for nearly 30 years, and has been responsible for destroying both municipal and private property - bombing grocery stores and a winery, and hijacking a tanker of Spanish wine. In 2002, members detonated explosives on the Tarascon-Carcassone train line.
The group calls for more protection of the French wine industry, including restrictive tariffs on imports, subsidies and other measures to stop the erosion of France's share of the global wine market.
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Maybe they ought to torch their third-rate vineyards instead; then cut their yields, improve their skills in vineyard and cellar, and produce some decent wine at reasonable prices, instead of howling for protection.
Lewis C Taishoff
I agree with these protesters. The Aussies have turned wine into a coca cola product and a pure industrial product is the result. Culture and heritage need to be protected throughout Europe. Europe only has to look across the Channel to see a little slice of America devoid of culture and a responsible society. Good on France for doing what Britain should have done, unfortunately we elected Maggie Thatcher, and there endth the lesson!
Jayson Bryant
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Maybe they ought to torch their third-rate vineyards instead; then cut their yields, improve their skills in vineyard and cellar, and produce some decent wine at reasonable prices, instead of howling for protection.
