Botun residents tell authorities they will not back down under pressure: „Grab some popcorn and enjoy your defeat“
Vjera Ljuljđuraj Tamara Klikovac
Residents of Botun and Zeta said they will not abandon blockades and protests against the construction of a wastewater treatment plant until the machinery is removed and government representatives come to Botun for talks, stressing that they are ready to radicalize their actions if their demands continue to be ignored.
A group of Zeta residents blocked a roundabout in Podgorica leading toward Nikšić and Cetinje today from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., protesting the construction of the wastewater treatment plant in Botun. They had previously gathered in Botun at 2:00 p.m.
Botun resident Bojan Terzić said they would not give up the blockades until government representatives meet with them and an agreement is reached.
He stated that an informal meeting was held last night, but did not provide further details.
- Every future meeting will take place here. An irresponsible government bears responsibility for this situation. The smartest thing for them would be to withdraw - he emphasized.
Terzić said that certain individuals are exerting pressure on them, but stressed that there is nothing that would make them back down.
- Our message to the authorities is: remove the machinery and come to Botun to talk. Let the people of Zeta live and build the collector in your own municipality. You will face daily blockades - you asked for it, now watch it. Grab some popcorn and enjoy your defeat. You will not subdue Zeta until the machinery is removed - the Botun resident said.
Another Botun resident, Peđa Stojanović, claims that pressure is being exerted on them by the director of the Water Utility Aleksandar Nišavić. He announced a radicalization of the protests.
- We expect someone to finally hear us. Prime Minister Spajić should come for a conversation - Stojanović believes.
He has a message for the Mayor of Podgorica Saša Mujović - they will not give up.
Boris Ćetković from Botun also said that strong pressure has been placed on residents of Botun in recent days.
- They pressured me personally from the Water Utility; they searched my house 15 days ago, brought me a bill from 2017… They will never defeat us because we are defending our children and grandchildren, while they are defending their positions, paperwork, and corruption - Ćetković said.
The residents initially gathered at the roundabout leading toward the airport and then headed toward Podgorica in a vehicle convoy.
They took the bypass and passed through Donja and Gornja Gorica to reach today’s protest location.
Police monitored the gathering, and some citizens complained that they were unable to pass through in their vehicles.
Knežević: There will be thousands of blockades…
The leader of the Democatric People's Party Milan Knežević and the President of the Municipality of Zeta Mihailo Asanović also attended today’s blockade.
Knežević said there would be „thousands“ of blockades if people from the city's administration do not come to their senses and invite residents to talks.
- Citizens are not to blame for what is happening today at the roundabout, Saša Mujović is. We are forced to protest and defend our right to a healthy environment. These people do not want to be here today, just as they did not want to be here on previous occasions, but they are compelled to fight for the future of their descendants - he stressed.
At the site designated for the plant, Knežević said, there is only one machine.
- That machine has less capacity than I do, I can dig more today than it can - Knežević said.
He added that he believes all of Montenegro stands with the residents of Botun.
- We might even go for coffee with the mayor, who persistently avoids the people of Zeta - the DPP leader added.
He believes that Mujović should be excluded from negotiations with Botun residents and that talks should be held with the mayor’s chief of staff Vesna Radulović.
- I think Mujović should step aside from the negotiations, because dialogue with him is almost impossible. Either Radulović or Prime Minister Spajić should get involved in the talks - Knežević said.
Yesterday, residents of Botun blocked roundabouts in Zabjelo and Donja Gorica, expressing dissatisfaction with the construction of the wastewater treatment plant in their area. On that occasion, they said they would not move a milimeter.
They called on Prime Minister Milojko Spajić to come to talks in Botun, otherwise threatening to „paralyze the state“.
Construction of the wastewater treatment plant officially began on December 30 of last year, despite opposition from Botun residents. At the construction site it was calm today.
The site is secured by police, and the team of news agency „Media Biro“ recorded that construction work is currently being carried out by a single excavator. Cameras, as well as financial and construction information boards, have been previously installed at the site.
According to the construction board, the deadline for completion of the plant is May 31, 2028. It states that the investors are the Capital City and the Water Utility, that the technical documentation was prepared by the company „Nik Kom“, and that the revision was conducted by the Commission for the Review of Project Documentation, with Goran Sekulić as the lead reviewer.
The board also states that the contractor is Kuzu–Alkatraš from Turkey, while professional supervision will be carried out by the German company Fichtner GmbH & Co KG.