The Malo Brdo Legalize-ME citizens' group called on the Minister of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property, Slaven Radunović, to invite them to, as they say, "look at things together and act realistically when deciding on the price of land, as well as utilities within the current legalization of illegal buildings."
In a letter to Radunović, which Vijesti has access to, they proposed that all the facilities be legalized for 100 euros, and that they were ready to protest.
In a letter sent to the Government of Montenegro and Radunović, they also said that they would go out to protest.
"The Government of Montenegro and Minister Slavena Radunović,
"Given that you have started legalizing buildings and land at the state level, we are addressing you as a group of citizens of the Malo Brdo settlement in Podgorica. We welcome the process of legalization and land purchase and do not oppose it, but not in the way you have imagined without a prior assessment of the situation on the ground, without consultation with the locals, without a program for socially vulnerable households, etc.," the letter from the Malo Brdo Legalize-ME Citizens' Group states.
They added that their emergency housing facilities were built with salaries and loans that most of them are still repaying.
"20–30 years ago, we brought and built the entire infrastructure ourselves, at our own expense: we dug roads, paved them, brought water and electricity, and the hardest part was turning the rocky hillside into land for construction and living. Only those of us who did it know that. Now, when after 20–30 years of hardship and sacrifice, we have managed to survive, you plan to charge us for utilities and land at the current prices and land category and zone. What exactly are we paying for utilities, those of us who brought and built everything ourselves? I would like to point out that we are not against paying for the land, we just have to be realistic, because according to the figures you have planned, we cannot pay it off even in 50 years, and if we take into account the financial and social status of 90% of the locals for whom this was the only way to survive, to create a roof over their heads. We have suffered pressure from various authorities for years, but they have never imposed such a "tribute" on us, and you obviously intend to do so," the letter reads.
The Malo Brdo Citizens' Group Legalize-ME said that the law is more than illegal and grossly discriminatory for this category of population.
"We do not receive ministerial and parliamentary salaries, but most of us live on minimum wages. Minister Radunović, we suggest that you look to the countries of the region and the way they have resolved legalization, so that, for the symbolic figure of 100 euros, all facilities are legalized. A concrete example is Serbia. And that you change this discriminatory law. We demand that you reconsider the facts, invite us to look at things together and act realistically when deciding on the price of land, as well as utilities. This concerns a large number of residents, citizens of Montenegro, who are deeply affected by this. We repeat, a large number of families for whom this is all they have and which they have honestly and bloodily acquired over the last 20-30 years," said the citizens' group Malo brdo Legalize-ME.
They also state that they think "everyone is ready to defend their roof over their head, because that's all they have to lose."
"We hope that you will find a little more understanding, and we will fight in every legal and legitimate way, go out to protests for our existence, to preserve what we have created for ourselves and our families. Let us just remind you that in the election campaign, before coming to power, you told the citizens of such settlements a completely different story and promised a much more modest way of legalization. When I say you, I mean the opposition at the time, or the current government. Think again and let's be human," reads a letter from the Malo brdo Legalize-ME citizens' group addressed to the Government and Radunović.
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