SEVENTH DAY: RESIDENTS OF KUTI DEFEND PROPERTY OF SERB RETURNEES

MOSTAR, FEBRUARY 4 /SRNA/ - Residents of the village of Kuti near Mostar have been standing for the seventh day on the access road to their village, defending private property belonging to Serb returnees, across which foreign investors are attempting to bring in deminers to clear mines on Zukulja Hill in their village in order to open a quarry there.

"We had information that today a City of Mostar inspector Dalila Spahić would also go to the field to clear the way for the deminers and the investor. The city inspection is putting pressure on the residents. Their job is to protect citizens, not to carry hammers and chainsaws and open the road for a quarry that could kill us," the residents told SRNA.

They state that for days no one from the city authorities has come to see or ask what is happening.

"There is nobody to see what is happening here. The mayor has been aware of the situation for four and a half years. He received us once, but has never come to see what our problems are," the residents of Kuti emphasized.

Last week, workers from the BiH Mine Action Centre /BHMAC/, at the request of the investor, were supposed to allow deminers to begin work, but residents prevented their passage along the local road, which is partly private property, as it passes through private land and was opened for use by local residents.

Local resident Krsto Lozo said they have been keeping watch on the road for seven days and will remain there as long as necessary.

"We will not allow them to pass and destroy us! We will persevere in this fight. The road is now blocked. This is private land. The fight continues. There is no surrender!" Lozo said.

For years, the residents of Kuti, mostly Serb returnees along with their Bosniak and Croat neighbours, have been trying to prevent what they claim is the illegal opening of a quarry, fearing the area could become another Donja Jablanica.

They are using the fact that the road to the quarry crosses their land, which is why they have been physically blocking the investor's trucks for years. Unfortunately, they also have to struggle with city services that, at all costs, are trying to clear the road for the private quarry of foreign investors.