“Two weeks ago, threats began against activists, scientists, and citizens of the Republic of Serbia. Our government watched all this, passively observing attacks on its own citizens. The Rio Tinto corporation watched too. They were silent as if watered. The authorities watched as innocent citizens of their own country were attacked and were dead silent. Belgrade, is this normal?” asked Aleksandar Matković, a scientist who received multiple death threats due to his analysis of the economic effects of the Jadar project, in his speech to the protesters.
As we’ve previously written on Mašina, Aleksandar Matković, a research associate at the Institute of Economic Sciences in Belgrade, received several death threats after an article was published in Danas in which Matković analyzed why mining is not economically beneficial for Serbia.
On September 1st, a protest in front of the RTS building in Belgrade drew several thousand people. The group Arhiv javnih skupova estimated around 4,000 demonstrators.
The protest, organized by Eko Straža, was held in support of several activists from this civic organization who had been detained over the past two weeks, as well as dozens of other activists who had been detained in the context of mass protests against lithium mining in Serbia and for their activities on social media.
Authorities Invite Scientists to ‘Join the Project’
While the authorities are carrying out repression, they are also investing in the illusion of organizing public debate and involving experts in decision-making about the Jadar project.
“[The President of the Republic of Serbia] Vučić has invited scientists to join, but not in a discussion; he said we should join the project. This actually directs the discussion about the project in a way that suits him,” Aleksandar Matković commented for Mašina. “The goal is to pull us into some bodies and then say: ‘Look, we’ve involved scientists; some said yes, some said no, but we’ve decided it’s okay, and we’ve done our study.’”
According to Matković, the aim of this tactic is to create an appearance of objectivity.
“If experts were truly consulted, it would have been consulted 20 years ago when it was time to decide whether this mine should be built or if we should even invest in this project. But no, we first created the project, then signed contracts, then made payments, and now we’re asking scientists about it. So my question is—what kind of discussion is this if it’s his discussion? What kind of scientific discussion is it when everything is already decided?” Matković stated.
Matković: We Must Support Each Other
According to Matković, his case demonstrates that scientists who present independent views and analyses can expect public support. He pointed out that after threats were made against him, Rio Tinto attempted to downplay the situation by claiming that their employees had also received threats.
“I haven’t threatened anyone, and no scientist has threatened anyone, yet scientists—despite not threatening anyone—began to receive messages and face pressure. The issue is not whether scientists will receive support; we must support them because we need to support each other, regardless of where we come from,” Matković concluded.
The List (Always) Exists
In recent weeks, the organization “Kopaćemo” (’We will mine’) has announced its existence, which is suspected to be a GONGO (government-organized NGO). “Kopaćemo” allegedly opposes the spread of misinformation about the Jadar project and lobbies publicly for its implementation. Beyond that, “Kopaćemo” publicly creates lists of disfavored citizens, labeling them as eco-terrorists, thus jeopardizing their safety.
These lists of undesirable Serbian citizens conveniently align with lists of undesirable citizens from neighboring countries, which Minister of Police Aleksandar Vulin admitted to creating. These lists were the basis for the detention and mistreatment of singer Severina Vučković at the Serbian border. As Vulin stated in a release on the official website of his party, the Socialist Movement:
“I created the lists as the Minister of Police and Director of BIA, according to the law and my conscience, and I regret that I did not focus on them more because I see how much scum has been unjustly forgotten. Aleksandar Vučić was neither asked about this nor should he have been.”
I.K.
