Reuters report on Zagreb protest draws sharp criticism from Croatian readers

A Reuters report about a major Zagreb protest has triggered a wave of criticism from Croatian users who said it reduced the gathering’s purpose to a delay in cleaning up waste.

The protest took place on Saturday in Ban Jelačić Square over waste problems in the Lika region and attracted attention from international media. In the Reuters account described by Večernji List, tens of thousands of people gathered because the government had not yet begun removing more than 30,000 tonnes of waste in Lika. Environmental groups say the waste threatens the environment and drinking water.

“

Reuters is spreading disinformation. The protest was about criminal acts at the very top of the state and in state institutions linked to the illegal import of hazardous waste from the EU.

Reuters also recalled that between 34,000 and 37,000 tonnes of waste had been found near Gospić, much of it imported from Italy, and that the government had promised to remediate the site. The report included messages from protest banners, statements from participants and the appearance of actor Rade Šerbedžija.

But commenters on Reuters’ Facebook post argued that the central issue was the way the waste entered and was deposited in Croatia. They referred to alleged criminal activity, the possible illegal import of hazardous waste from the European Union, pollution of soil and groundwater, and demands that state institutions be held responsible.

“

Why give false information? The protest was organized because of the illegal import of toxic waste from the EU, for which Croatia has no adequate remediation. There is a lot to write about, but if you are going to write, investigate what it is about.

One user wrote, “Reuters is spreading disinformation. The protest was about criminal acts at the very top of the state and in state institutions linked to the illegal import of hazardous waste from the EU.” Another urged Reuters to investigate the wider case rather than describe it mainly as a cleanup delay. A further comment said, “Inform yourself and write the truth, not what is handed to you by the politicians in power.”

The article said Prime Minister Andrej Plenković had visited Gospić several days before the protest and announced that a contractor had been selected for the first phase of waste removal. Judging by the reactions beneath the post, the wording that most angered Croatian readers was Reuters’ emphasis on the delayed remediation rather than the alleged circumstances surrounding the waste.

“

Inform yourself and write the truth, not what is handed to you by the politicians in power.