Slovenian army removes Croatian razor wire

An army operation began Friday to dismantle a razor-wire barrier erected on the Slovenia-Croatia border after more than 1 million migrants fled violence or poverty in 2015.

Before loading the coils of wire into a truck, about a dozen soldiers used cutters to assist untangle the wire from the vegetation along the border. The almost 200-kilometer (120-mile) border fence, which is made out of razor wire and metal panels, is expected to be dismantled in about five months.

Slovenia’s newly elected liberal government, which took power in April, decided to remove the fence. Even though officials have stated that the border will be monitored in other ways, it is vital to prevent any mishaps or injuries that migrants may encounter while trying to reach Western Europe.

“Migrations have not and will not disappear, but this wire was a disproportionate measure,” as said by visiting Interior Minister Tatjana Bobnar. When it comes to migration, “Time has shown that no fence can prevent migration, but has caused many tragedies and people were dying” whilst attempting to cross the bordering Kolpa or Kupa river.

“The removed wire will be replaced by changing work methods and tactics, including additional border staff and enhanced international cooperation,” said senior police official Bostjan.

The so-called Balkan route is used by migrants from the Middle East, Africa, and Asia to enter Slovenia from Croatia. It is not uncommon for migrants to be abused by people smugglers and sleep on the streets for lengthy periods of time while they travel through treacherous waterways for months, or even years.

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Critics from right-wing groups opposed to migration have criticized the Slovenian government’s decision to remove the fence. Migrant crossings in 2022’s first half have increased compared to the previous year, and right-wing groups argue that removing wires now would be

It has previously been stated by Interior Minister Bobnar that the border fence is only a temporary precaution, “it is inadmissible for it to become a permanent element of Slovenia’s border policy.”

First, the army will remove 30 miles of the razor wire, according to the official STA news agency, while the remaining 143 miles of the fence will be pulled down by a contractor who has yet to be chosen.

While seeking safety and a better life in the West, migrants frequently encounter violent pushbacks from border police in many of the nations they pass through.