As we suffocate in old wounds, hatreds and identities, it is not only the air that has become poisonous. Nature and other public goods are being destroyed. Doctors are leaving, young people are leaving, smart people are leaving
It is hard to breathe in Montenegro. And literally. Parallel to the pollution of the public space with nationalist and fascist heavy poisons, the air also became heavier and more poisonous.
Since we have been talking about the Law on Religion, Identities and a Weak State, measurements show that the excesses of harmful substances in the air in the capital are sometimes ten times higher than allowed. And not only in Podgorica. But it is hardly talked about. I guess the one who would die for the nation, the church or the state and doesn't think about life. The government is counting on that. That's why smoke bombs of identity are set off, so that we don't see from them that we are actually on the verge of naked life. Not a word from the institutions responsible for air quality. Maybe they are afraid that if they talk about it, they could be arrested for "spreading panic".
It's hard to breathe in the media as well. Since the beginning of the year, three journalists have been arrested for "spreading panic". After being the editor of FOS media Anđela Đikanović was detained for publishing incorrect information that ROSU members would be available to Montenegro on Christmas Day, referring to an unnamed source, this week Dražen Živković, editor of the Borba portal, and Gojko Raičević, editor of the IN4S portal, were arrested for publishing information that an explosion occurred in Villa Gorica in Podgorica. It turned out that there was no explosion, but what happened, as the police said, was a "minor electrical failure". However, even if an explosion had occurred in Villa Gorica, it would hardly have caused citizens to panic. Citizens are used to explosions. They are also used to being lied to. Especially the authorities. Like when after bogtepita which explosions in the multi-year showdown of criminal clans, the prime minister says that "the security situation is excellent". Arrests are what cause fear and panic. The government knows that. It's a demonstration exercise, a message that they can shut us all down. And that's not because we don't tell the truth, but because we don't celebrate their connection to reality. Publishing lies, raising tensions and inciting hatred in pro-regime media is not punishable. On the contrary.
Arrest also leads to classification. Those who will stand up against the force, and those who, hiding behind the story of unprofessional journalism, will side with the regime. Thus, the possibility to discuss the problems of the profession, fake news, propaganda, and other misfortunes of the profession within the profession is extinguished. To not only resist the authorities that are trying to stifle media freedom, but also to stifle true journalism from within. Because there is no conversation in a state of emergency, such as the one created by the government and its partners. Neither about journalism, nor about church communities. Not even about the air. Just the trenches.
Arrests will certainly continue. The government also announced this week that "as part of spreading falsehoods about Montenegro, false news was spread through social networks that the Internet in Montenegro is under surveillance and that access restrictions will follow."
"Competent services of Montenegro are taking measures for the eventual qualification of a criminal offense that is being prosecuted ex officio", concludes the FB page of the Government. In translation, the unknown author is threatened with arrest. Knocking on all doors behind which their truth is not heard is announced.
It's hard to breathe in Montenegro. It's hard to breathe in Serbia as well. And in Bosnia. And it will breathe hard until the region intersects with the nineties properly. There is not much time. As we suffocate in old wounds, hatreds and identities, it is not only the air that has become poisonous. Nature is being destroyed, as well as other public goods. Doctors are leaving, young people are leaving, smart people are leaving.
(Monitor)
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