The islanders of Culatra promise to put themselves “between the machines and the houses”, when the demolition process of the approximately 50 houses that Polis Ria Formosa has taken administrative ownership begins, since this “is the only and last place where we fight remains”, announced the SOS Ria Formosa/Je Suis Ilhéu movement.
Anti-demolition activists promise to resist by all means in their power, as their "serene struggle, but in constant peaceful protest, seems not to have led us where we would like."
In a press release signed by Vanessa Morgado, the movement announced that “it will not assume any responsibility if the Sociedade Polis Litoral Ria Formosa decides to move forward with heavy machinery for the destruction of houses in the nucleus of the Farole Hangares on Ilha da Culatra» and if there are any problems.
«Will it be beautiful? No, it won't, it's going to be very ugly, it's going to be a lot of suffering, but we can't stop calling everyone for this last battle. Are there going to be consequences? Probably, but we didn't choose this path. Putting good people between machines and their homes is to condemn a people to extinction,” says SOS Ria Formosa.
Anti-demolition activists have already given a first glimpse of what could happen, in the days when Polis technicians traveled to Culatra to take office. The islanders placed themselves next to the houses to try to prevent the administrative act and the marking of the houses, although without success. The same "tactic" they promise will be used when the machines arrive.
Although the exact date when the demolitions will begin is not known, the islanders anticipate that nothing good will come out of this process, which will be “bad for the state, for the contractors, for the poor maritime police who know us for experience that we have had on the islands for many decades and that will have to fulfill their service in spite of themselves».
“We wanted to be calmly thinking about the future of the islands, about what we can improve here and there, thinking about taking care of our homes and making the necessary investments for their conservation without the constant threat of future demolitions. Unfortunately, because of what we've already described here, we can't do it, they don't want to give us rest», add the islanders.
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