The prosecutor is still "digging" at the archaeological site

The procedure regarding the complaint filed by the locals of Bijedić against the construction of a quarry on a well-known archeological site that is six and a half thousand years old in that Bijelo Polje town is in the investigation phase, according to the answer to "News" from the Basic State Prosecutor's Office (ODT) in Bijelo Polje.

"The acting prosecutor ordered the officers of the Police Administration to collect information and other evidence, after which a decision will be made on the eventual initiation of criminal or misdemeanor proceedings," according to the ODT.

The locals of Bijedići previously filed a criminal complaint against the investor of the quarry in Bijedići Sućra Šul Omerović and the company "Elas", due to the devastation of an archaeological site from the Neolithic.

They announced the blockade of the main road and the building of the Municipality of Bijelo Polje, if the Ministry of Capital Investments does not terminate the contract with the company that started the construction of the quarry as soon as possible...

As the archaeologist confirmed to "Vijesta" earlier Predrag Lutovac, the company "Elas" cut through the archaeological site by carrying out works, after which the Administration for the Protection of Cultural Properties passed a decision prohibiting and stopping work on the site until the end of the research.

Representative of the civic initiative "Protect Bijedić" Krsto Tvrdisic, said that the plot of land over which the company "Elas" passed with machines and built the road, was not at all the one for which he received the concession for the quarry.

The Basic State Prosecutor's Office in Bijelo Polje initiated investigative proceedings in the case of a criminal complaint filed by the residents of Bijedić against the company 'Elas', which during the construction of the access road to the quarry cut through the archaeological site"...

In the report of the Mining Inspection, which "Vijesti" had access to, it is stated that in May, an inspection was carried out at the company "Elas", based on the submitted initiative for inspection, reminding that "the concession for detailed geological research and exploitation kamena" on the exploitation area Ober in Bijedići, doo "Elas" received during 2022.

"By going to the site, it was determined that the company 'Elas' did not enter the part of the exploration exploitation field intended for trial exploitation, for which it has the consent of the competent authority, but that it also started with the construction of a forest road through plot 541/1, in KO Pećarska, which is intended as a forest. An excavator was found on a part of the forest road, which was not in operation and which did not have a loading bucket on it. In view of the fact that the construction of the test-exploitation floor is projected at a distance of 150-200 meters from the place where the company stopped with the construction of the forest road, there can be no question here of the execution of the works, but of the competence of the forestry inspection, and according to the authorities of the Law on Forests", states the mining inspector in his report Drasko Markovic, adding that the citizens' initiative was forwarded to the forestry inspection for further action, which is responsible for that problem.

From the Center for Conservation and Archaeology, they said that the research work started on June 25, was interrupted due to other research obligations, but continued on August 3, stating that it is rare for a Neolithic site to be explored in Montenegro, due to of which the location of Trnje in Bijedići is of particular importance.

"So far, three research probes have been placed on about 40 square meters," said the assistant director of the Center for Conservation and Archeology and head of the archeology sector. Mile Baković, reminding that during the construction of the road for the needs of the quarry, the archaeological site was devastated, which is why the research was initiated".

The locals stated in a statement to the News that they were outraged after learning that the company "Elas" financed the research, even though it had already destroyed part of the site.

On June 25, work on the research began, but was then interrupted due to commitments on other research. They continued on August 3. From the Center for Conservation and Archaeology, they said that it is rare for a Neolithic site to be explored in Montenegro, which is why the location of Trnje in Bijedići is of special importance.

Baković said that the research is being carried out by the Center for Archaeological Research, that it is true that the company "Elas" finances the research, which is in accordance with Article 88 of the Law on the Protection of Cultural Property, but that he does not yet know the amount of money involved.

After the claims of the locals that the "Elasa" machines were working even after the work was banned, Baković explained:

"The 'Elas' machines only worked for one day for our research needs and the machines have not been working since the ban was passed, but all work is done by the Center for Conservation and Archeology of Montenegro."

Tvdišić reminded that the concessionaire, despite the warning, made a way through the archaeological site, transported huge amounts of material from plots that are not under the concession.

"The locals of Bijedić are outraged at the institutions that brought them to this situation. None of the work related to granting the concession was done properly and transparently. No public hearings were held, and if there were, the locals were not aware of it. An ecological study on environmental impact assessment has not been done. The locals will not agree to further devastation and they will not agree to displacement from this area", said Tvrdišić, adding that the locals are forced to continue with the blockades.