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Novi Pazar Activists Block Polish Firm's Access on Rogozna Mountain
๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡ธ Serbia /Environment & Climate

Novi Pazar Activists Block Polish Firm's Access on Rogozna Mountain

From N1 Serbia · (3h ago) Serbian Critical tone

Translated from Serbian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Residents and activists from Novi Pazar successfully blocked access for a Polish company, Geopartner, on Rogozna mountain.
  • The company was hired by Zlatna Reka for exploration activities.
  • This action follows earlier attempts by locals to obstruct access, demonstrating their determination to protect the area.

The pristine nature of Rogozna mountain near Novi Pazar has become a focal point for local resistance against foreign exploration activities. Residents and activists, united under the banner of the "Ne damo Rogoznu" (We won't give up Rogozna) initiative, have successfully halted the progress of the Polish company Geopartner. This company, contracted by Zlatna Reka for research and exploration, found its access routes blocked by determined locals.

Eyewitness accounts and social media footage depict a standoff where three Polish-registered vehicles, later joined by a Zlatna Reka vehicle, were prevented from proceeding. This was not an isolated incident; it was the culmination of a morning's effort by the locals who had previously blocked access points. Their strategy clearly involved anticipating the company's movements, as one participant noted, "They clearly thought they could tire us out with morning attempts, so that the Poles could pass unhindered. They don't know that we already knew last night when they arrived and where they spent the night."

From the perspective of N1 Serbia, this event underscores the growing environmental activism and local determination to protect natural resources in Serbia. While international companies may view such areas as ripe for exploration and resource extraction, local communities often see them as vital ecosystems that deserve preservation. The successful blockade, achieved through organized and persistent efforts, sends a strong message that local voices and environmental concerns will not be easily ignored. This grassroots action highlights a growing trend where citizens are taking a more active role in safeguarding their environment against potentially detrimental industrial activities, a narrative that resonates deeply within Serbia and the broader Balkan region.

Oฤigledno su pomislili da mogu da nas izmore prepodnevnim pokuลกajima, kako bi Poljaci mogli nesmetano da proฤ‘u. Ne znaju da smo mi veฤ‡ sinoฤ‡ znali kad su doลกli i gde su prenoฤ‡ili

โ€” Uฤesnik blokadeA participant in the blockade explains the locals' strategy and awareness of the company's movements.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by N1 Serbia in Serbian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.