Montenegrins protest poverty, corruption

English.news.cn   2012-03-19   

          

BELGRADE, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Some 10,000 people from across Montenegro on Sunday gathered in Podgorica's Republic Square, protesting against poverty and corruption, according to news reaching here.

Under the banner "It is time", the demonstrators called for a freeze on services provided by state utilities, such as electricity and telephone, and demanded an investigation into allegedly corrupt practices surrounding the privatization of state property, reported the Montenegrin daily 'Vijesti'.

"The protest will send a message to lawmakers to listen to the people," said Dragan Jakovljevic, president of the regional council of the Association of Independent Unions, saying that the population was facing "an uncertain future through debt bondage for us and our descendants."

After declaring independence, Montenegro experienced significant direct foreign investment until 2008. However, since then a number of large infrastructure projects, such as the construction of the Belgrade-Bar highway, have been suspended or postponed.

Last month the viability of the country's largest single contributor to GDP and exporter, the Podgorica Aluminum Plant (KAP), was called into question, with the government potentially responsible for covering over 150 million euros in loan guarantees, according to media reports.

At the time, Minister of Economy Vladimir Kavaric said this could "lead to the collapse of the financial system."

Editor: yan

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