Parallel demonstrations were held in Zadar, Croatia, and at the source of the Una River on August 12, as residents of nearby towns and villages protest the construction of a small hydroelectric plant. Despite previous protests that led to a review of construction permits and legal actions against the builder, attempts to resume work have been ongoing. These efforts have been blocked by activists from groups like Udruga Una and Moj Srb, who are joined by supporters from across Croatia.
On Monday, activists met with regional officials seeking concrete reassurances, but according to Božica Keča, a resident of Donja Suvaja where the protests are centered, no solid commitments were made. Speaking at the Zadar protest, Keča expressed frustration: “We will protest until we receive confirmation that the works have been completely stopped. No one consulted us, those who live here and cherish the natural beauty. We want to see the excavators leave, and we only accept actions that restore the area to its original state.”
The damage already done may be irreversible. “Cultural monuments, such as water mills, have been destroyed, and stones removed and discarded. They can only try to patch up the devastation,” Keča added.
Read more: Resistance flows as Una River communities confront hydroelectric threat
One protester described the excavations as an “ecocide on a global level,” stressing that the impact extends beyond Croatia, affecting the river downstream in Bosnia. “The Una River belongs to all of us and must be protected,” he said.
If no concrete action is taken by relevant authorities in the coming weeks, protesters plan to escalate their efforts in Zagreb. “They changed the course of the river, uprooted trees, destroyed nature—it will never be the same. In that mill, which is a cultural asset, they destroyed the stone and exported it—that’s a crime!” said Zoran Torbica from the platform Moj Srb. “If this issue isn’t resolved by autumn, we will move our protests to Zagreb. We will not allow this work to continue.”
