The EU delegation in Bosnia and Herzegovina has been asked to condemn the SLAPP lawsuit filed by a Belgian company against local activists over the environmental impact of a hydroelectric power plant on the Kasindruska River.
The Kasindolska River is located about 20 km south of Sarajevo, and BUK doo, a Bosnian company whose shareholder is Green Invest (a Belgian-based company), operates one small hydroelectric power station on the river and two more. planning to build.
Since the construction of the hydroelectric power station in 2017, two Bosnian activists have accused the river and surrounding environment of violations of existing permits, including unmanaged deforestation in protected areas and soil erosion caused by the hydroelectric power station. has publicly spoken out against its potential negative impact on Construction of access roads.
In response, Green Invest/BUK doo filed three defamation lawsuits, seeking €7,500 in damages and threatening further legal action against the activists.
“We believe these lawsuits are strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs), which are increasingly being used by politicians and corporations to intimidate environmental activists and censor criticism.” Two young women were targeted by Green Invest/BUK doo for standing up for their community and the river.The lawsuit is a clear attempt to silence them and dissuade others from speaking out. It’s a great attempt,” said Lejla Kusturica of the activist environmental group ACT. BiH.
An open letter signed by 140 organizations and groups from BiH, Europe and the US was sent on Tuesday to Belgium’s diplomatic representatives, representatives of BiH’s EU delegation, and other relevant international bodies expressing strong concerns about Green Invest. expressed. And the activities of BUK doo.
According to the letter, Green Invest/BUK doo’s plant has been operating without the necessary permits “for some time” and “making great profits at the expense of the river and the communities living next to it.” violates EU environmental law. .
Emmanuel Berryer, co-founder and CEO of Green Invest, told EUACTIV that Green Invest will not only invest in the project in Republika Srpska for economic reasons, but that the project “will meet all the criteria for sustainable development.” We meet the demand,” he said, adding that he was doing small-scale hydroelectric power generation. Properly managed projects under “good understanding with the public” are an essential component of “a country’s sustainable supply and energy security.”
Regarding the defamation lawsuit, Berryer said: He listens to the voices of local residents, responds to their concerns and tries to make the project a success. ”
But Ulrich Eichelmann, CEO of Riverwatch and coordinator of the Save the Blue Heart of Europe campaign, disagrees.
“The SLAPP lawsuit is part of a growing trend in the region where public officials and powerful corporations are exploiting the judicial system to intimidate and silence human rights defenders and shield them from public scrutiny. unduly restricts public participation and severely aches public participation,” he said of the incident.
Hydropower, especially small-scale hydropower plants, is widely considered unsustainable, especially in the Balkans in the context of climate change. They are also known for their large-scale evacuation of communities. They cause significant damage to the local environment during construction, during operation, and when ultimately abandoned.
The letter called on BiH’s EU delegation to “urge the company and its subsidiary, BUK doo, to immediately drop the case” and instead choose to “engage constructively with activists and affected communities”. I encourage you to
(Sophia Leeson | EURACTIV.com)
