Ends the raising campaign to pay bail of the M-501

Ecologistas en Acción - Madrid 24/07/2008

Ecologistas en Acción gives concluded the campaign raising 500,000 euros to stop construction of the M-501. The organization appreciates the support and cooperation received from thousands of citizens and regrets that the roller fait accompli has been imposed for the moment to legality and justice. Despite this, the pulse with the regional government, has been a success. Repayment of loans will begin next Monday July 28.

Ecologistas en Acción greatly appreciates the campaign Now we can stop the M-501. The campaign began last June 4 in order to seek the cooperation of citizens to raise 497,367 euros (82754906 ESP) guarantee that the High Court of Madrid imposed as a precondition to stop illegal construction of the motorway M -501. Previously, in February, the same court had declared void the agreement by which the Government approved the splitting of Aguirre also urged to restore land to its original state.

In just 48 days, Ecologistas en Acción has collected 263,337 euros (43,815,590 pesetas), ie more than half of the bond. This has involved the participation of thousands of anonymous people, but have also collaborated characters renowned as Federico Mayor and Rosa Regás, associations, political parties as musicians and Izquierda Unida.

Given that the deadline of the campaign was the July 27, who last Saturday has come into operation in the leg works and that the Court has denied a reduction in the amount of bail, Ecologistas en Acción, has decided terminate the collection. "We believe having achieved all of bail if the regional government had not accelerated works." Although the policy of fait accompli has been imposed for the moment to legality and justice, the battle against illegal road does not end here. Still pending is the pronouncement of the Supreme Court and then, when the judgement becomes final, should be executed, restoring the land to its original state.

Despite this, the pulse with the Madrid region has been a success. That an ecological organization formed by volunteers and voluntary, not just media, has brought in a check to one of the most powerful self-government of the state, is not trivial. The regional government has been forced to deploy their power and influence at all levels, including the European Commission reached an agreement with whom subsequently, to the strong criticism, the Commission itself was forced to undo. Despite this immense power, Ecologistas en Acción, has expired on all fronts legal, but has succumbed to the policy of fait accompli.

Undoubtedly, the behaviour of regional government in the case of the M-501 will go down in history as a serious breach of the rule of law. Besides shows once again the Government’s contempt waiting Aguirre to court decisions and the environment and opens a gap in the Spanish judicial system. The conclusion to be drawn from this is that justice applies only if there are great fortunes, unusual situation in other EU countries. Only Spain and United Kingdom have such draconian conditions.