Thousands Of Serbs Protest 'Anti-Environment' Laws; Vucic Vows To 'Solve Problems'
Thousands of demonstrators have protested around the country
with blockades in Belgrade and other cities to oppose new legislation on
property expropriation and referendums that they contend favor private
companies over citizens and the environment.
Main streets and a highway in the capital were blocked by
protesters.
Minor incidents and some skirmishes were reported as
demonstrations took place in Novi Sad, Zrenjanin, Sabac, Nis, Kragujevac,
Subotica, Uzice, and Raska.
The protests come as long-standing public opposition
mobilizes against plans for a huge Anglo-Australian lithium mine in western
Serbia and with reports trickling out of alleged neglect for environmental and
labor safeguards at a handful of major Chinese-run facilities in the country.
Serbia suffers from some of Europe's worst pollution, and
critics lay much of the blame on government corruption and lax regulatory
enforcement to encourage the flow of foreign investment into the Western
Balkans' biggest economy.
For the second Saturday in a row, activists took to the
streets over the authorities' recent moves to lower the referendum threshold
and allow for swift expropriation of private property if deemed in the public
interest.
A fight broke out in Novi Sad between protesters and a small
number of young men who threw stones at those gathered to block a main
boulevard.
There was no police presence at that event, in an echo of
similar standoffs last week where groups of counterprotesters were allowed to
manhandle demonstrators.
Ahead of the rallies, the Interior Ministry warned that the
blockades were illegal.
President Aleksandar Vucic had said there would be no action
against the protesters by lay enforcement "as long as they do not endanger
the lives and property of people and institutions."
Speaking during a trip to western Serbia on December 4,
Vucic said he had not yet signed the amendment to the law on expropriation,
which was passed by his Progressive Party (SNS) allies in parliament a week
ago.
The deadline for his signature is December 10.
Vucic said he disagreed with the changes to the
expropriation law as passed and pledged to seek changes, but he did not specify
what those changes would be.
The approved bill allows for private property to be taken,
with compensation, within five days if it is deemed to be in the national
interest.
Vucic said that is insufficient time for owners to challenge
such a finding.
Vucic already signed new legislation eliminating the
threshold for minimum participation in national referendums.
He has previously pledged to hold a referendum on
Anglo-Australian mining and mineral giant Rio Tinto's $2.4 billion plans for a
250-hectare underground mining complex near Loznica.
On November 27, thousands of protesters blocked traffic at
roads and bridges in Belgrade and other cities and towns.
Several demonstrators were detained.
Environmental groups and civil society organizations argue
recently adopted amendments to the Law on Expropriation and the Law on
Referendum will pave the way for foreign companies to circumvent popular
discontent over projects such Rio Tinto's.
Serbian authorities have rejected the accusations, saying
the new laws are needed because of infrastructure projects.
Rio Tinto has said it plans to present an environmental
impact study by the end of this year, and next year begin the four-year
construction of the mine to exploit a massive deposit of jadarite, a mineral
high in lithium and borates that was discovered in 2004.
Experts have warned the project could destroy farmland and
further pollute the waters of a country already racked by severe levels of air,
land, and water pollution.
Rio Tinto has vowed to respect all Serbian laws and denied
its project will endanger the environment.
Vucic said during a visit to the planned mine site in Gornje
Nedeljice, near Loznica, that he wanted to hear all of the citizenry's concerns
and promised he will ask Rio Tinto to protect public health.
"What is important is that we talk and try to solve
problems," Vucic said.
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