After the Government of Serbia adopted the Decree on establishing the Spatial Plan of the Special Purpose Area for the Implementation of the Project for the Exploitation and Processing of Jadarite Minerals "Jadar" a dozen protests were held throughout Serbia.
After Loznica, where it all started on June 28, the largest protest was held in Valjevo. On July 22, citizens gathered in the town square to raise their voices against Rio Tinto and the exploitation of lithium in Serbia.
After Valjevo, there were protests in Loznica, Bogatić, Krupnje, Koceljeva, Arilje, Grocka and Negotin.
On the occasion of these protests, the Archive of Public Meetings announced itself, which evaluated the attendance of protests held in cities in Serbia.
According to their estimates, on June 28, 3200 to 3500 citizens gathered in Loznica. About 2500 people attended the protest in Valjevo, and last night in Bogatic, according to this estimate, there were about 1000 demonstrators. Last night, a protest was held in Krupanj, where about 400 citizens were present.
In Arilje, at the protest held on July 27, there were 350 people, and in Koceljeva two days earlier, 280 citizens.
The fewest demonstrators at the protests came out in Negotina, about 180, and in Grocka, where about 100 citizens protested.
The Archive of Public Meetings points out that estimates for these places were made by counting photos and videos on social networks of activist groups and movements, as well as media reports about these events.
"Both in terms of absolute and relative size, the first protest in Loznica was the most massive, but it should be remembered that the largest share of participants from other places was also present at that protest." The protest in Bogatić, probably the largest in the history of that place, to which a truly impressive share of the local population responded, should be highlighted," the announcement reads.
It is added that the protests in Krupanje, Koceljeva, Arilje and Valjevo were extremely massive.
"When comparing relative size, it should be kept in mind that the largest protest in the history of Belgrade, the one on October 5, 2000, had about 120.000 participants. Also, it should be noted that six of the eight protests shown here had a higher relative attendance than the most massive protests against violence in Belgrade last year," it added.
It is estimated that such a high attendance in places in the vicinity of which the exploration of lithium deposits was announced shows that there has been a huge disturbance of the local population.
"Although there were also participants from other cities at these protests, a considerable majority were locals, so, judging by the number of inhabitants, it is undoubtedly an extremely high level of mobilization of the local community, which probably has no equal among the previous protest movements in Serbia." This is something that all interested domestic and foreign political actors should take into account," the statement concludes.
The series of protests continues today in several cities, in the evening it will take place in Šabac, Arandjelovac, Kraljevo and Ljig.
The government responds by announcing a referendum
After the announced and held protests, the highest representatives of the government said that, if necessary, a referendum on the topic of lithium mining in Serbia would be organized.
The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, spoke first. He told reporters in Paris on July 26 that he first wanted to receive an analysis of domestic experts regarding environmental protection.
"If everything is done well, if everything goes according to plan, no problem." At the end of next year, we can ask for a statement from the citizens, and I can tell you in advance, they can choose. Will you be in Loznica, will you be in western Serbia, or will you be in all of Serbia? And I tell you again, wherever and whatever they choose, we will defeat them," said Vučić.
Photo: Rio TintoProject "Jadar"
And then the Minister of Finance, Siniša Mali, repeated that announcement, stating that it is necessary to use what nature has given to Serbia, but under the condition that the strictest environmental standards are respected.
"They keep saying (from the opposition) that the people are against it." Well, gentlemen, you had a chance in the elections, so we heard what the people had to say about you. Now let's see what the people have to say about, let's say, the lithium project," Mali told TV Prva and added that everyone will be talked to and it will be seen whether that investment will happen.
Mali stated that opposition members would like to decide on lithium as individuals.
"Otherwise, it's all expert to expert, what would my late grandmother say, if I don't use another expression, regarding lithium, ecology and everything else," Mali said.
The president of the Freedom and Justice Party, Dragan Đilas, also announced on this occasion, demanding the calling of extraordinary parliamentary elections (of course with the ever-changing election conditions) because, he says, the citizens were deceived, since when they voted in December they did not know that those they voted for would run again "Jadar" project. The SSP boycotted the local and repeated extraordinary elections in Belgrade on June 2.
