ROAD TO STONE QUARRY BEING CUT THROUGH LAND OF SERB RETURNESS IN KUTI SETTLEMENT

MOSTAR, SEPTEMBER 22 /SRNA/ – Residents of the Kuti settlement near Mostar, mostly Serb returnees who have been fighting city authorities for five years to prevent the opening of a stone quarry above their homes, were once again taken aback this morning when excavators arrived to cut a road through their property to the quarry.

The residents told SRNA that a road is being forcibly cleared through Serb-owned land in order to open the stone quarry, that they are powerless, and that they fear they face the tragic fate of Donja Jablanica. They point out that their own money is being used for private investors and a quarry which, as they say, will "kill them tomorrow". For a year now, attempts have been made to clear a road on this site, one that is formally considered public but has not been used for more than 50 years. The residents claim that the width of that former road is no more than a meter and a half, and that everything else falls within their private property – a fact confirmed several times by surveyors. They state that the official decision inspectors brought to the site today says the works are for the removal of illegal dumps, which they say is not true. Resident Bojan Lozo emphasized that the struggle of the people of Kuti continues and that they will not allow a stone quarry to be opened above their homes. The president of the Kuti Association Aner Omanović stressed that this is a case of collusion between the investors and certain individuals within the City Administration. The residents note that, as before, they will use all legal means available and will file criminal charges against anyone who tries to trace a road to the quarry through their land.