Wood processors from Pljevlja briefly blocked the road from Pljevlja - Đurđevića Tara, in the village of Kosanica, this afternoon, protesting the manner in which the Forestry Administration conducted a public call for forests to be used by selling wood in a rough condition.
The owners of wood processing companies from Pljevlja claim that the tender was discriminatory and eliminatory for wood processors from Pljevlja.
They also claim that their continued operations and the existence of around 500 employees are called into question.
"We have exhausted all possible means to prevent this from happening. Someone has created chaos here, whether on purpose or by accident. Whether it was something else on Wednesday, corruption, we do not know at this moment. A few years ago there was one a tender that was accessible to everyone. No one was dissatisfied, no one was damaged. Someone changed this tender behind the backs of all of us, behind the backs of the Chamber of Commerce we have tied our families. It is sad to see some officials or officials of the Forestry Administration and the Ministry, who do not defend the public interest but only the interest of some large wood processors," said Vukoman Marić, one of the wood processors.
He said that they are demanding equal conditions for everyone from the Forestry Administration and the Ministry.
"The large wood processors were created because they had very favorable conditions for the last fifteen years, because they received very favorable concessions at a price of 17 euros. During all that time, the small ones entered into uncertainty and fought for that raw material and paid at least 30 euros per cubic meter Marić said.
He said that he gave a statement to the police this morning because the director of the Forest and Hunting Management Directorate, Miloš Rajković, reported him for alleged threats.
"I have nothing to threaten Rajković, especially since he is a very cheap man. He is used as leverage to achieve the goals of others. I did not threaten him because I never threaten anyone," said Marić.
He called on Rajković and others who made this happen, to "come before these people and say what the problem is".
"I want to tell Prime Minister Milojko Spajić, President Jakov Milatović and President of the Assembly Andrija Mandić that they can watch this lawlessness from the sidelines and not react. What is the message for all young people who, like us, need to enter a business sometime and what can they expect Marić said.
His colleague Milorad Potpara said that eleven wood processors responded to the protest and that they are all unique.
"By the decision of individuals, primarily from the Forestry Administration, we were forced to protest in this way. We apologize to all our tourists for causing them enormous problems, but we were forced to take this step," said Potpara.
He said that wood processors from the north of Montenegro are about to collapse and disappear.
"This is the last moment for people who make decisions of this kind to come to their senses. We are asking Prime Minister (Milojko) Spajić, Minister (Vladimir) Joković and the President of the State to help resolve this. This must be resolved because 500 jobs will be lost. In a month, our company will stop working, and the workers will be out of a job. If we don't change, this tender will go down in history, and all our machines will be scrapped. "We have to solve this, and we have to save these Pljeval forests, because here is 70 percent of the forestry sector in Montenegro," said Potpara.
He also announced the radicalization of the protest if their demands are not met.
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