The state's repression of those who pasted the Montenegrin flag over the tricolor in the XNUMXs was not even close to what it is today, when the opposite seems to be the case, said Boris Raonic, program director of the Civic Alliance.
Commenting on the events of the night before last in the Podgorica settlement of Zlatica, Raonic pointed out that the repression is carried out by "the same political elite that called today's flag all sorts of names, and inherited the one they are now persecuting".
In Zlatica, there was a conflict between the citizens who were guarding the tricolor drawn on the footbridge and the police who assisted the Municipal Police to paint over it. On that occasion, ten people were arrested, and seven were detained for up to 72 hours on suspicion of having committed criminal acts - assault on an official in the performance of official duties and destruction and damage to other people's property...
The conflict, in which the police used tear gas and the citizens used oysters, came a day after Prime Minister Duško Marković said that "the propaganda that Montenegro will be Serbian, along with vulgar posters and paint in our cities, will not sway Montenegro that the Government and institutions protecting the Constitution and by changing the law preserve state and national interests".
Also in Bijelo Polje on Saturday evening, several people were detained because of the tricolors that appeared in several locations, including members of the Municipal Committee of the Democratic People's Party (DNP) Balša Bulatović and Goran Bubanja, as well as a member of the Main Committee of that party, Radovan Rakočević. They were released to their homes after an informative interview with the police.
Yesterday, the Capital City did not answer the questions of "Vijesti" according to which criteria the Communal Police decides which graffiti on public areas will be erased and why it reacted quickly in the case of the "tricolor" on Zlatica, even though there are others on the footbridge where it was painted. graffiti, as well as on other public areas in the city.
Observing from a principled level, Raonic emphasizes that the Law on State Symbols, in Article 28, envisages the protection of historical symbols, not their persecution:
"On the other hand, I don't even see an approximate reaction to numerous graffiti that celebrate Chetniks and criminals from the wars in the former Yugoslavia, or against the LGBT and Roma minority."
He assessed that, at the political level, the sudden determination of the state is counterproductive and that he is surprised that, as experienced politicians, they are not aware of this.
"We should insist on dialogue, not repression. Just the experience of a century ago, when Montenegro tragically disappeared, I guess should be enough of a lesson, where a state that does not have strong institutions leads, young educated forces do not have access to the privileged elite, when the master does not recognize the new reality, and in the neighborhood we have hegemonic ideas. ..”.
Sociologist Andrija Đukanović told "Vijesti" that people's opinions cannot be changed by force, but only cause even greater revolt and hatred.
He pointed out that it is completely legitimate for all those who feel that their rights are threatened to protest.
"It is also legitimate for someone to want to live in a different state system, to think that it would be better and more beautiful for him in another state. Accordingly, he has the right to send messages, among other things, through drawing graffiti. As long as he expresses it in a peaceful way and without endangering others, it is acceptable".
He assessed that it is a fact that a large number of people do not perceive this country as their own.
"There are various reasons for that, but it cannot be dealt with by arrests and force."
Đukanović says that it is possible that the lack of democratic processes created the resistance of some citizens towards the state.
"Perhaps the repression went too far. People are arrested for posting on social networks, drawing graffiti... I think that is not justified. I understand that there may be a fear of the authorities from more and more mass protests by citizens, but bans and force are not the way to stop discontent".
The Podgorica DPS announced yesterday that since that evening in Zlatica, "we have a third act on the stage, which is nationalist, violent and hooligan activity in an attempt to destroy institutions and attack officials".
"The state and capital city services have the necessary capacities to, despite the extremist attacks of the political and parapolitical opposition, apply the law, ensure security, public and communal order. For each, possibly new incident, we know who must bear responsibility".
The Democratic Front announced yesterday that the police "attacked people who calmly and dignifiedly defended the tricolor and historical symbols of Montenegro without any reason":
"No misdemeanor or criminal offense was committed by the people who defend and celebrate the tricolor, because it is the symbol of at least half of Montenegro...".
The United Montenegro (UCG) condemned the behavior of the police in Zlatica, stating that they arrested Milivoj Brković, the secretary of the Committee of the Capital City of the UCG, early yesterday morning.
Zoran Lakušić, a member of the Presidency of the Democratic People's Party (DNP), announced that "the municipal police, with the assistance of the Special Unit of the MUP, attacked the youth of Podgorica and the tricolor, which was the official flag of Montenegro for a whole century, and under which King Nikola was crowned." .
He pointed out that the tricolor is defined by the Law on State Symbols and Statehood Day as a historical symbol of the Kingdom of Montenegro and enjoys protection.
In the joint statement of the Council for Citizen Control of Police Work and the Ministry of Internal Affairs yesterday, it was pointed out that the behavior of police officers so far is in accordance with legal norms and standards and that there is evident tolerance and restraint in the exercise of authority.
As a sign of protest against the adoption of the Law on Freedom of Religion, processions are held throughout Montenegro with the participation of thousands of people...
Amfilochius: The policemen are not to blame, but the commanders
Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the coast said that the blame for the reaction does not lie with the policemen, "because they have to do it to feed the family, but with those who ordered it".
"Therefore, I am asking those who manage our police force not to treat their children like that. Such behavior is a shame before the world. What children paint on the walls, nothing to anyone, and they painted the tricolor of King Nikola. I hope in God that they will reason with those who are now in power not to behave like that, and not to renew in the people the spirit of blasphemy and fratricide, on which much has been created since 1945, and everything that has been created has failed and robbed”.
The Rector of the Cetinje Seminary, Gojko Perović, asked the people who paint the walls of Podgorica with the tricolor to avoid conflict with the police - because the police are their brothers.
"The church does not call for painting the walls, but it has nothing against it either."
The capital submits reports against NN persons
The capital will, "due to jeopardizing the safety of colleagues", file criminal charges against unknown persons to the competent state authorities.
The PG bureau announced that during the riots in Zlatica, three employees of the Municipal Police and the Housing Agency were injured, and that two employees of the company Čistoća also received minor injuries.
"In an attempt to protect the property that belongs to all the citizens of the capital, our colleagues were first exposed to the pressure of a certain number of gathered citizens, and then attacked with stones and various pyrotechnics".
The Capital City announced that in cooperation with members of the police, they will continue to work to protect property "which, using the current political circumstances, has been openly attacked by a number of irresponsible individuals in recent days."
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