I do not know if there has been a more attacked and threatened institution in Montenegro in the past five years than the Faculty of Montenegrin Language and Literature (FCJK), whose work is constantly challenged, simply because it has a critical perception of the government and defends the national interests of Montenegro, its civic order, the Euro-Atlantic agenda, and the survival of the Montenegrin nation, said Boban Batrićević, President of the FCJK Board of Directors.
"I am deeply concerned by the move of the Government of Montenegro not to allow the enrollment of a new student generation at the Faculty of Montenegrin Language and Literature. This is an extremely strange and questionable decision that raises several questions: Does the Government want to close down the Faculty of Montenegrin Language and Literature? Does the Government favor the University of Montenegro over the FCJK, since it adopted the decision to enroll a new generation of UCG without discussion? Are certain elements in the Government, such as the ZBCG, the Democrats and the SNP, otherwise recognized as deniers of the Montenegrin language and Montenegrin national literature, implementing an agenda to liquidate state institutions with a Montenegrin prefix? Until when will students and employees at the FCJK suffer pressure and demonization from the Government? How does the Government, which calls itself the "front-runner" in EU integration, intend to progress in that process when it stifles academic freedoms?", stated Batrićević in a statement submitted to the media.
He said that he was asking this as someone who has for years represented an institution that, as he claims, has been a constant target of attacks by the authorities and pro-government media.
"Finally, I want to say, we will not capitulate - we cannot do it because of the history that we study and protect from oblivion, because of the memory of the Christmas Uprising, the heroes of Neretva and Sutjeska, all those people who in the nineties of the last century protected the image of Montenegro through the anti-rare movement, in the end, we cannot because of those who made this country independent in 2006, and above all because of those who see themselves as students of FCJK. We will defend our rights by all democratic means and win. Because we are fighting against the evil that you serve," concluded Batrićević.
Rondović: Has the Government achieved social peace and economic security with this decision?
Instead of dealing with current issues that burden citizens on a daily basis, such as road works in the middle of the tourist season, road blockades, and rising prices for basic necessities, the Government today made a decision to limit the work of a higher education institution that nurtures the language, preserves the culture of this country, and affirms its identity, according to a statement from the non-academic staff of the Faculty of Montenegrin Language and Literature (FCJK), signed by Ivana Rondović, coordinator for international cooperation and head of the Student Service, who also spoke out about the Government's decision.
"We will not present sensational news if we say that Montenegro today has enough current topics that burden citizens on a daily basis: road works in the middle of the tourist season, blockades due to civil discontent, rising prices of basic foodstuffs...
While it was expected that the Government of Montenegro would take a serious approach to resolving these vital issues, at today's meeting - without prior discussion - a decision was made to suspend the enrollment of students at the Faculty of Montenegrin Language and Literature at state expense.
"Is it better now? Has this achieved social peace and economic security? Have the roads suddenly become more passable and the standard of living of citizens increased?" she asks.
Of course not, adds Rondović.
"But we have probably become the first country in the world to administratively restrict the work of a higher education institution that bears its name, nurtures its language, preserves its culture, and affirms its identity.
Therefore, we call on the Government of Montenegro to get serious, to reconsider and urgently cancel the decision made under point 7 of today's meeting, and to approve the enrollment of a new generation of students at FCJK.
"With such a decision, it would show that it respects its own institutions, that it supports education in Montenegrin, as the official language, and that it is not ready to renounce the fundamental values of the modern Montenegrin state," the statement concludes.
Lopičić: We will remain true to our mission
Regarding the news that the Government has not adopted a decision on the enrollment of a new generation of students at the Faculty of Montenegrin Language and Literature, the President of the Student Parliament of the Faculty of Montenegrin Language and Literature, Sofija Lopičić, also spoke out. She said that they are sorry to have to state that this action did not surprise them, considering recent events in which, as they claim, freedom of speech has been systematically stifled.
"There were enough of them, even too many, which caused the absence of shock and disbelief. Instead of focusing on improving security, education and regulating numerous other problems that Montenegrin citizens face every day, our 'liberators' chose to focus their energy and power on shutting down a scientific and higher education institution. An institution that, it is important to remember, has as its mission the study and affirmation of the Montenegrin language, literature and culture, and has been implementing this for years through its publishing activities, scientific research work, training of personnel, organizing international conferences, etc.," states the statement that Lopičić submitted to the media.
Although their (in)actions have told us enough, we would like to ask the Government a few questions, she added.
"Why are you making decisions that aim to destroy an institution that stands for civilizational values, knowledge and progress of our country? What path are you leading Montenegro on if you suppress freedom of speech, truth and justice, and affirm their opposites? For whom, in fact, and in whose interests are you leading this country?
"In the end, despite the constant attacks that this institution, its students and all its employees have experienced since its founding - we are here. We remain faithful to our mission, and will remain so despite all efforts to eradicate everything that freedom, knowledge and resistance to authoritarianism entail. We must fight for these values," concluded Lopičić.
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