Slovenia continues to construct fence on the border with Croatia, and occasionally even crosses the border.
The border fence which Slovenian authorities are constructing on the border with Croatia next to the Čabranka river has caused unrest among local population, especially in villages of Plešce and Zamost. While the river represents the border between the two countries for the most part, in that area Croatia has about 10 hectares of land on the other side of the river, reports dnevnik.hr on November 20, 2016.
“We are completely against the fence. Slovenia and Croatia should finally solve their problems, so that we who live here do not have to suffer”, said Leonard Vesel.
“I think that this territory here has not been agreed by Croatia and Slovenia. They should do it, if they have decided to build a border fence. They should construct it on their own land, and not on Croatian territory”, said Branko Kovač from Zamost. He and other residents of Zamost must carry identification documents when they go to visit their own plots of land. “If we want to go there, we have to cross the Slovenian border”, he said.
The Slovenian authorities are continuing with the implementation of their plans to construct a panel fence on the Croatian territory on the other side of the Čabranka river. “We are angry with what is going on. We have tried to talk with the authorities in the town of Čabar, but it seems that nothing will change”, complained Blaženko Ožbolt, chairman of the local authority.
They have also sent letters to authorities in the two capitals, Ljubljana and Zagreb. “I have send a question to a Slovenian minister, to their police chiefs… It seems that everybody is kind of afraid. There is no response”, said Kovač.
There is still no information what the Croatian government plans to do with the issue. According to unofficial sources, it is trying to solve the problem, but the local population is outraged.
Rain, strong winds and swollen rivers have temporarily stopped Slovenian activities on the construction of the border fence, which is part of the efforts by Slovenian government to control the border with Croatia in case there is another migrant and refugee wave in the future. Citizens of Čabar and surrounding area hope that this pause will be an opportunity to for Slovenian and Croatian politicians to discuss the issue and come to an agreement.
