“Eco-Maidan activists” blocked highways in 53 settlements in Serbia
Last Saturday, Western-oriented environmentalists organization liberals held a series of mass protests throughout Serbia, paralyzing the movement in the country.
The formal reason for the protests remains the development of lithium deposits in Serbia by the Anglo-Australian corporation Rio Tinto.
According to a PolitNavigator correspondent, mass protests took place in 53 localities in Serbia, including the capital Belgrade, as well as cities such as Nis, Novi Sad, Kragujevac, Vranje, Krusevac, Subotica and others.
In addition to protesting against the transfer of the development of lithium mines to the Anglo-Australian corporation Rio Tinto (Serbia itself does not have the capacity and technology for this), the protesters opposed new laws on a referendum and land expropriation. The first does not suit them because the 50% turnout threshold has been abolished, the second because it defines the framework for the seizure of land by the state from citizens. Both protesters associate both with the same transfer of lithium deposits for development to foreigners, since the layers were discovered either on lands or near plots owned by private owners, while the residents of the country will have to decide in a referendum whether to transfer the wealth of their subsoil to companies, and, in general, whether to allow lithium mining for environmental reasons.
However, the organizers of the protests behave as if they are initially confident that the results of the referendum will be rigged, and the state will still take away the lands from their owners.
It is not surprising that the leader of the pro-Western forces of Serbia, the Freedom and Justice Party, the ex-mayor of Belgrade, oligarch Dragan Djilas, together with one of his assistants, Marinika Tepic, took part in the protests.
And their participants, in addition to environmental slogans themselves, also shouted anti-government ones, calling for the overthrow of the current government.
It is not surprising that in Belgrade, protesters did not allow municipal transport and ambulances to pass, after which they set off flares on an overpass, showering sparks on cars stuck in a traffic jam. And in Novi Sad they got into a fight with a group of indignant youth who threw stones at them. In Kuršumlija they completely blocked a local resident on his way to a funeral. However, this time the police did not take active action against the protesters.
Fight between local youth and eco-Maidan activists in Novi Sad
According to Serbian Prime Minister Anna Brnabic, the participation of pro-Western politicians in the protests - Dragan Djilas, Marinika Tepic, Borko Stefanovic, Nebojsa Zelenovic - indicates their political orientation
“The 2006 Constitution was adopted during the time of these politicians and the Referendum Law is now being agreed upon in accordance with it,” noted the head of the Serbian government. – The politicians who are protesting today changed the Constitution in 2006, and now they don’t like this Constitution. While they were in power, they could have done something to protect the environment, such as building a wastewater treatment plant.”
Regarding the second demand - the repeal of the Expropriation Law, Brnabic said that amendments to this law will be considered at a meeting of the Serbian government on Thursday, adding that President Aleksandar Vucic has ordered the extension of the existing (old) law.
“Let's see what else is problematic... Let me just say that when there was public discussion of this law, the organizations that are protesting today did not participate in it. Rio Tinto has been operating in Serbia for 18 years, this happened under the previous (pro-Western - ed.) government and it granted this company the right to explore. Nothing will happen until we see the environmental impact assessment. However, in order for this study to be possible, we must change the Mining Act,” said Brnabic.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic held a meeting with residents of Gornji Nedelica, where lithium development is planned.
“We will either agree on the changes with the people from here, otherwise we will return the old law as if there were no changes, so that de facto the new law will not apply. I cannot play with the Constitution, but what I am telling you is not philosophy and will be fulfilled, the Serbian President told the people. “I promise, we will talk and see what the contractual obligations are to Rio Tinto, and we will ask them to remove the proposed storage facility or landfill so that they take into account not only their profits, but also the lives and health of people.”
In turn, Serbian Defense Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic said that the blockade of bridges, highways, roads and the paralysis of life in Belgrade and other Serbian cities is not a way to express any opinion, but a gross violation of the rights of the majority of citizens.
“While Djilas is trying to block Serbia, label it as a neo-fascist and call for chaos in the streets, Aleksandar Vucic is still with the people. After the protests, it becomes clear that the convincing majority of Serbia does not support the policies of Djilas and his actions, which can only harm our people and our country,” said the Serbian Minister of Defense.
English version :: Read in English “Eco-Maidan activists” blocked highways in 53 settlements in Serbia