Serbia: Loznica locals organise mass protest against opening of lithium mine

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Hundreds of people protested in front of the City Assembly of west Serbian town Loznica against the Anglo-Australian metal and mining company Rio Tinto. Rio Tinto is set to start explorations and the eventual opening of lithium mine near the Jadar and Drina rivers in west Serbia, on Thursday.

The City Assembly was set to pass a law on Thursday which would allow the world’s second largest metal and mining corporation for exploration in the fertile Jadar and Drina riverbeds.

Protesters could be seen holding up signs and banners that read statements like ‘We won’t give you our land and rivers,’ and ‘Water is more valuable than lithium.’

Since Rio Tinto announced its plans to come to Serbia for mining in 2020, the company has met resistance coming from locals and multiple environmental organisations, as well as mining experts claiming that the explorations would have large affects on the environment and could destroy the flora and fauna around the rivers.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said earlier this month that a public referendum might decide on Rio Tinto presence in Serbia if citizens keep protesting.

“Rio Tinto announced yesterday that even if there is a referendum on their opening of the mine, the law is on their side and they could open it anyway. That is outrageous and we are here today to oppose it. We have to know who is ruling over whom. It looks like now Rio Tinto has all the power in our state​, that Rio Tinto, not the Serbian government, is ruling Serbia,” remarked protester Momcilo Alimpic.

Serbia is reportedly the second largest lithium depository site.

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SOT, Zvezdan Kalmar, Coalition for sustainable mining in Serbia representative (Serbian): “The Government of the Republic of Serbia, along with the colonial corporation Rio Tinto is trying to trick the people and break the law by allowing the opening of the mine without damage impact assessment, without ore reserves assessment, without mine sustainability assessment. We are now facing a schizophrenic situation where the Serbian Government is working against its laws and is trying to legalise the decision from over a year ago when it started negotiations with Rio Tinto. That’s why we called for Serbian people to gather here today in front of the City Assembly of Loznica so together we can send a message to the local and state Assembly, to the Government of Serbia, that whatever they decide against the interest of Serbian people. They would have to compensate and pay with their own property for all the ecological, material and legal damages made by the further legalisation of this project.”

SOT, Mladen Jovanovic, Protester (Serbian): “I came here as a citizen of the nearby city of Sabac to join the protest in defending our rivers, forests and mountains. There is no political motives in this protest whatsoever. We are here simply to show support to the people of Loznica and Jadar basin.”

SOT, Momcilo Alimpic, Protester (Serbian): “Rio Tinto announced yesterday that even if there is a referendum on their opening of the mine, the law is on their side and they could open it anyway. That is outrageous and we are here today to oppose it. We have to know who is ruling over whom. It looks like now Rio Tinto has all the power in our state​, that Rio Tinto, not the Serbian government, is ruling Serbia.”

#Serbia #Loznica #LithiumMine

Video ID: 20210729-022

Video on Demand: https://ruptly.tv/videos/20210729-022
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