Romanian police remove anti-fracking protesters

Hundreds of Romanian riot police have forcibly removed dozens of shale gas protesters from their makeshift camp in Pungesti village, paving the way for the American company Chevron to resume controversial exploration activities in the area.

Some 100 residents from the northeastern village complained of police brutality Thursday after being forced out of their camping site in fields targeted for shale gas drilling.

For more than two months of peaceful protests, the villagers who were believed to be sitting on large reserves of the valuable natural resource set up a camp next to the fields targeted for drilling, spending their nights in makeshift tents and cooking on open fires.

“We want the mayor to leave and Chevron to leave. We need courageous men, not to use force, just to show them we are united and we are not afraid,” said Alexandru Focsa, 45, a farmer who has been camping since October.

During the protest, Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta tried to convince anti-fracking protests around the country by saying that “the actions of the gendarmes were 100% according to the law and I congratulate them for this.”

Meanwhile, Chevron spokesperson said, “The company is committed to building constructive and positive relationships with the communities where we operate and we will continue our dialogue with the public, local communities and authorities on our projects.”

Local environmentalists have expressed concern over the use of hydraulic fracturing technique, commonly known as fracking, in gas and oil exploration.

The technique involves pumping water and chemicals at high pressure into deep rock formations to free oil and gas.

Environmentalists say the process could contaminate ground water supplies. However, Chevron has permits to explore for shale gas in Pungesti, two other villages, and on Romania’s Black Sea coast.