Some ruling parties support the head of state's initiative Jakov Milatović for the adoption of a law on the rehabilitation and compensation of political prisoners on Goli Otok, some of them announce that a decision has yet to be made, while others remain silent. On the other hand, the opposition says that they see Milatović's proposal as an attempt at his "political rehabilitation" and that they are not interested in commenting on his proposals.
Yesterday, the President of Montenegro submitted an initiative to the Parliament (he does not have the right to propose laws) to adopt a law on the rehabilitation of the Goloto residents, saying that with this act "we are beginning an important process of facing the past and correcting historical injustices."
He called on all parliamentarians, regardless of their political differences, to support the idea.
Milatović's former party, the ruling Europe Now Movement (PES), unofficially told "Vijesti" that, given that the initiative has only just arrived at the Parliament, they are not sufficiently familiar with its content, but that their parliamentary group will take a position on the document in the coming days.
“FULFILLING A MORAL DEBT”
The Democrats said they strongly support the rehabilitation of all innocent victims and politically persecuted on Goli Otok, Sveti Grgur and other prisons from that system, "where people were tortured just because they thought differently, spoke freely and dreamed of a more just society."
"... We advocate that every injustice be given a name, every victim dignity, and every descendant the truth. Because only on the truth can we build a society in which Goli Otok will never happen again," the MP and general secretary of the ruling party told "Vijesti". Boris Bogdanovic.
The Socialist People's Party (SNP) said they welcomed Milatović's initiative, believing that it was high time for Montenegro to "fulfill its moral debt to those whose human rights were brutally violated...".
"... We believe that it is of utmost importance that the state invests additional efforts so that victims of serious human rights violations from the past, who were unjustly convicted and imprisoned in camps, receive satisfaction and that their suffering is not forgotten," the minister's party told Vijesti. Vladimir Joković.
Their coalition partner in the state government, the Democratic People's Party (DNP) Milan Knežević, does not yet have a position on the head of state's initiative, but a source from the newspaper from that party said that they assume they will support it and that they think there is no reason not to.
Ruling Force MP Ilir Chapuni, told "Vijesti" that the party and the coalition it represents (the Albanian Alliance) will consider the president's proposal.
"I am familiar with the Goli Otok ordeal and I had the opportunity to listen to the confessions of victims I knew. This case of organized persecution certainly deserves our attention, but, unfortunately, it is not isolated or lonely," he said.
Čapuni stated that there was “organized persecution of the Albanian people” in the former Yugoslavia.
"For example, in 1981, a systematic persecution was carried out in Ulcinj against high school teachers who did not represent any other ideological views, but only defended the basic human rights of Albanians in Montenegro - the right for their children to learn the Albanian language and their history," he said.
According to him, they all deserve rehabilitation, a public apology and compensation for the suffering they endured "in the casemates of Yugoslavia - from Foča and Spuž to Požarevac, and for being left without a job."
“A GAME OF AWAKENING PAINFUL EMOTIONS”
The strongest opposition party, the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), unofficially told "Vijesti" that they "would not comment on President Milatović", or rather that they "are not interested in commenting on it (the initiative) at all."
The European Union (EU) told the newspaper that they see the proposal only as an attempt by Milatović to remain "politically alive after voluntarily returning under the umbrella (of the head of parliament)." Andrije Mandić in renewed alliance with the Prime Minister (Milojko) With spaghetti".
ES states that Milatović came up with "a classic Balkan game - awakening difficult and painful emotions from the past, given that the topics he is allowed to deal with in that society are very limited."
"So, this is essentially some kind of initiative by President Milatović towards the Speaker of the Parliament, for the rehabilitation of the President of the State Milatović, imprisoned by the head of the parliamentary majority Mandić and his enforcer Spajić. Since he is no longer the caliber of a progressive European president and no longer has the credibility and integrity to propose anything more, we ask him to at least stick to the article of the Constitution that prescribes his competences," the ES told "Vijesti".
The ruling New Serbian Democracy, Bosniak Party and Albanian Forum, the opposition Civic Movement URA and Croatian Civic Initiative, and a special caucus of deputies did not respond to the newspaper's questions.
The initiative of the President of Montenegro refers to those who, without a (fair) trial and valid evidence, either by administrative decisions or without them, were imprisoned and subjected to inhumane conditions on Goli Otok, Sveti Grgur and other prisons, due to alleged or presumed support for the Informburo Resolution of 1948.
The Informburo was the successor to the Comintern (Communist International), an organization of communist parties, and its resolution criticized the leadership of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia, headed by Josip Broz Tito, for, among other things, deviation from Marxist-Leninist policies...
This resulted in the severance of relations between Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union, after which the Yugoslav authorities began a crackdown on those they considered to be supporters of the Soviet leader. Joseph Vissarionovich StalinAccording to data from the former Federal Secretariat for Internal Affairs of the SFRY, there were 16.101 prisoners on Goli Otok and other prisons from that system, of which 3.390 were from Montenegro.
DRAFT LAW FROM 2006. PROPOSED FEE OF 10.000 EUROS
The Human Rights Action (HRA) welcomed the initiative yesterday, urging the government to immediately form a working group to draft the law, so that the few remaining living prisoners from Goli Otok "can receive the satisfaction they deserve, as well as the descendants of the deceased."
"We call on the Government to ensure that this year's International Day for the Right to the Truth about Serious Violations of Human Rights and the Dignity of Victims, which is celebrated on March 24th, is celebrated with at least a working group that can begin its work," the NGO said.
HRA explained to "Vijesti" that back in 2019, they proposed that rehabilitation consist of establishing the nullity of the decisions that led to the imprisonment of political prisoners, and that compensation for material and non-material damage be paid to them (the few who are still alive) or their heirs.
Milatović proposed that the Draft Law on the Annulment of Judgments, Decisions, Acts and Actions of State Bodies of the Republic of Montenegro and the FNRY pronounced against persons suspected of supporting the Informbiro Resolution of 1948, which was prepared in 2006 by the Citizens' Association "Goli otok", be used as the basis for drafting the law.
The draft proposed a compensation amount of 10.000 euros. The document states that the spouse has the right to compensation, and if there is no spouse, the children of the deceased, murdered or missing person.
How Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia compensated their concentration camp inmates
Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia have passed laws enabling former political prisoners to be rehabilitated and compensated for damages to them and their families.
In 2003, Slovenia offered the Goli Otok residents 6.300 euros for each year spent on Goli Otok, and Croatia and Serbia around seven euros per day spent on Goli Otok.
Pavićević: It would be beneath my honor to accept such gifts
One of the survivors of the Goli Otok concentration camp, Borislav Pavicevic, said in April last year in the show "Načisto" on Television "Vijesti" that it would be beneath his honor to accept financial compensation for the surviving prisoners or their families.
"... Because no one can buy my suffering, by paying, by compensation in any amount, my suffering and humiliation in prison. It cannot be bought with money. And in the end, if you work with money - then you are selling and buying ideology," he said.
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