The Government Communication Office informs that members of the police and representatives of the Slovenian Army were out by the river during the whole night monitoring the situation. A meeting of representatives from the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning and the Environmental Agency took place today. Meanwhile the Ministry of the Interior is in constant contact with representatives of the affected local communities.

A part of the border fence is indeed flooded, but not damaged. Regardless, some sections of the fence, where the water flow is strongest, will be removed during the day. In the coming period the current temporary technical barriers will be replaced with a panel fence. The government office further explains that all the agreements and warnings regarding the possible flooding of the Kolpa River, considered even before the putting up of the technical barriers started, will be respected,.

Fishermen on their feet
The vice-president of the Črnomelj fishing club, Bojan Levai, warns that as river levels rise the wire fence will collect all the waste (for example garbage, fallen leaves) which was, until now, in the river-bed. There is also the danger that fish get caught up in the fence and hurt themselves. The fence has been disturbing the normal flow of fish ever since it was erected, as parts of the fence were put up in the water.

New calls for the removal of the fence
There are also new calls from those opposing the border wire fence for it to be immediately removed. Those that signed a petition against the fence explain that putting up such a fence is unacceptable, as it violates the basic human right of freedom of movement, which is also enshrined in the Constitution. It also violated the unlimited right of land ownership and the right to water as a public good. They continue to say that the measure is also inadequate, as such a fence cannot prevent refugees from crossing the border.

T. H., G. K.; translated by K. J.