We are waiting for the police at the same place

The fact that the police detained them yesterday will not prevent the further struggle of Botun residents against the construction of collectors near their houses, they announced yesterday.

"We are not against the construction of the collector, but against it being built in a part of the settlement where between 250 and 300 families live. We are not stopping the works, but defending our rights, and a compromise requires only the good will of the competent authorities from the Capital City. Instead, they send the police to assist the Podgorica company 'Vodovod i Kanalizacija'. We didn't allow the works to start and we won't even if this is Moscow and not Podgorica", said one of the locals in a statement to "Vijesta" Jagoš Bećirović.

Yesterday morning, the police detained several residents of Botun who were protesting against the construction of the collector.

The Police Directorate announced that police officers, in accordance with the law, "provided assistance in execution to Vodovod i kanalizacija doo Podgorica".

"Since physical resistance was justifiably expected in the process of carrying out the execution, and a certain number of people gathered on the spot, with the intention of not allowing the execution, that was the reason for the police's actions in relation to the mentioned persons. After establishing the identity and meeting the state prosecutor's office, all persons left the premises of the police without further detention", the police announced.

The parties in power, as well as some environmental activists, condemned yesterday's act of the police and appeal to the authorities to urgently find a new location for the construction of the collector, which has been the basic request of the residents of Botun since the project was announced.

One of the leaders of the Democratic Front, Milan Knežević, considers the "intervention of the Police Administration and Ivan Vuković".

Democratic Montenegro assessed that it was an "unprecedented scandal".

"...How abnormal and unfair this situation is, is best illustrated by the fact that on the one hand we have Veselin Veljović who attacks the police, and on the other Ivan Vuković who attacks and demands the arrest of the residents of Botun who are protesting because they believe they are threatened. Such practices, typical of the former DPS government, will never again be part of the Montenegrin system," the party announced.

The civil movement URA invited the Minister of Ecology and Spatial Planning Ratko Mitrović and the mayor of Podgorica that, taking into account the complexity of the overall situation, as well as the fact that it is an inherited situation, previously defined by the current city administration and the former government, and understanding the "more than justified fears" of the residents of Botun, show responsibility and start discussions about finding the ideal solution.

The URE said that such issues cannot be solved by force, and that there is always room for finding a quality solution "if there is a smidgen of goodwill".

"The Ministry and the capital must sit down and study possible alternative locations, close to the previously selected ones, which will not require huge financial expenditures, and which will avoid degrading the quality of life of the citizens of Botun... If the location were to be changed, the Government would have to take a decisive role by compensating for the missing financial resources. It is the only way, devoid of populism and empty promises, that can lead to a solution in a civilized way for the benefit of all", announced URE.

That party called on the Capital City to temporarily stop the work until the study is completed, in order to avoid new police interventions and protests by disgruntled citizens.

Sladjana Kaluđerović, president of the SNP committee in Golubovci, announced that among those detained was Slavko Vukcevic, councilor of that party in the previous mandate.

Prava Montenegro said that the residents of Botun were arrested this morning, only because they were fighting for their rights: "This arrest is an example of disrespect for both the Constitution and the people who are fighting against the imposition of the arbitrariness of the mayor of Podgorica."

Persecution of locals - a thing seen before

The Coalition for Sustainable Development (KOR) is asking to fulfill the demands of the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina to relocate the location of the collector.

"The right to a healthy environment, the right to protest and peaceful public assembly are guaranteed by the Constitution... This persecution of local residents is incredibly reminiscent of the persecution of environmental activists carried out by the Democratic Party of Socialists for decades after us, and this practice must be stopped," they announced. from KOR.

They point out that local communities must be consulted before making any important decision that affects or may affect their lives, because the planned collector "will not be near the house of the current mayor of Podgorica", nor any of the officials who make decisions, but near the houses and properties of the residents of Botun .

"Accordingly, it is time for the locals to ask, and for the police officers and decision-makers to finally understand that they are being paid by the citizens, everyone, including those who were stuffed into the police car this morning."