Village in France Bans Residents From Dying

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• published: 29 Mar 2008
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Anna Chan: And the mayor of a village in south west France issues a local decree banning his residents from dying within the village limits. Everyone dies. But not in Sarpourenx. If you die in this small village in the southwest of France, you will be heavily punished. Gerard Lalanne, the mayor, has issued a decree banning residents from dying within its limits. [Gerard Lalanne, Sarpourenx's Mayor]: "I have issued a decree in the village that you can't die here and if you do, you will be severely sanctioned. There will be no more burials in this graveyard." The village Sarpourenx has less than 300 residents and none have died since the new ruling came into force. Lalanne passed the decree after a French court in the nearby town of Pau refused to give him planning permission to build an extension to the village's graveyard. According to Lalanne, the graveyard is full and there is absolutely no space left for new burial plots. He told residents that this was no joke when some voiced concerns. [Gerard Lalanne, Sarpourenx's Mayor]: "Reaction has been mixed. Some are worried. They ask themselves what is going to happen to me if I die. But they still have confidence in me by voting for me in the recent elections." Marie-Paul Sarthou a local resident believes the mayor has a legitimate reason behind his action. Marie-Paul Sarthou, Sarpourenx Resident]: "I agree with the mayor's ruling because there is a lack of space in the graveyard. As for me, it doesn't matter I already have a family plot I can die when I want, but hopefully not too soon." Lalanne hopes his publicity stunt will encourage the court to take another look at his planning project before it is too late.