While the public has been inundated with information for months about the monument to war criminal Pavle Đurišić, who is also wanted by the police, at the foot of Ljubovići on Zabjelo, citizens have been disrespectfully trampling the spot where fascists shot 30 Partisan patriots on June 25, 1943, for years.
For over a decade, drivers have not cared about leaving their vehicles in an illegal parking lot, right next to the eternal resting place of a hero.
Suppressed by illegal parking, surrounded by pine trees and hidden from view, the memorial under Ljubović has been a silent observer of the negligence of Podgorica's authorities and citizens for decades.
This monument, as "Vijesti" reporters in the field have learned, is not the only one that is not being taken care of as much as it should be.
Last week, the "Vijesti" team visited some of the monuments in the city and the surrounding area of Podgorica with a history and geography professor and a councilor. Dragutin Vučinić, who recently asked the city authorities how they treat cultural and historical landmarks and how much money they allocate for their preservation.
He was then told, as well as the editorial office two days ago, by the "Museums and Galleries" institution that there are more than 200 monuments, busts, memorial pyramids and plaques on the territory of Podgorica... The largest number, they said, is dedicated to figures and events from the Second World War, and they warn that "we must invest effort in greater education about the significance and values of the monuments of our past."
The execution site under Ljubović is "eating" negligence
The negligence of both the authorities and citizens sends a bad message, believes Vučinić, and emphasizes that the monument under Ljubović has been in disrepair for more than a decade. The problem, he explains, is that there is no clearly fenced-off access to it.
"Patriots were shot at this place - people who were forcibly detained. They were also shot for their participation in and sympathy for the People's Liberation Movement (NOP). After the partisan movement was launched, from mid-1942 to 1944, mass and repressive shootings of the Montenegrin population were carried out. Specifically, 30 patriots were killed at this place and all of them were prepared for internment," explains Vučinić.
He emphasizes that the memorial to the Partisans under Ljubović is one of a series in the capital, and that in addition to it, "we have similar ones in Konik, Vreli Ribničke, Pobrežje..."
He claims that there are more than 230 monuments in the territory of Podgorica, "of which some 108 are in the area of the city itself and the wider center."
"Many similar monuments that were built with the same intention in the city are a somewhat forgotten part of history. We try to forget everything that happened to us, that was difficult and that represents black spots in our history. That is not good, because there must be people who will take care of it. Until 1999, we had committees in the city for the preservation of monumental heritage. However, they were quickly abolished. Apart from the Council for Proposing Names of Settlements, Streets and Squares of the Capital City Assembly, we do not have any professional body that would take care of this. Of course, there is also the Secretariat for Culture, as well as 'Museums and Galleries'," said Vučinić, emphasizing that "we should have committees intended for the preservation of monuments again."
He emphasizes that the authorities must take care of the monument under Ljubović, and that we must not leave it to the edge of time:
"Nor should it be allowed to slowly crown itself, to fade away, and then disappear. A society that has a culture of remembering bright examples from its past must certainly have a better view of its future."
"Let the light remind you of what darkness is"
After the monument under Ljubović, the team headed to Velje Brdo to visit a feature with a specific appearance that many call Viljuška.
Dedicated to the patriots hanged by the Germans in 1943, the monument is located along the road, the old road from Podgorica to Danilovgrad.
Erected on Podgorica's Liberation Day, December 19, 1961, this historical symbol is the work of Milorad Miša Vukotić.
"Look at the sun over this hill, may the light remind you of the darkness," is inscribed on the sides. The names of the nine victims are carved on the pedestal.
Instead of a well-maintained memorial, reporters found impassable terrain and a monument "sinking" into wild vegetation. There is no well-maintained path, nor any decent access.
Both Vučinić and a local resident of Velje Brdo say that Viljuška is in poor condition. Dejan Boljević.
"One part was made of natural concrete in a brutalist style... On the other side, there was a part of the monument, where there was a row of poles. There were nine of them, with iron hooks. On these hooks, patriots from this place were hung - seven adult men and two boys," explains Vučinić.
He pointed out that monuments that do not have the status of cultural property are "taken care of by municipalities, in this case the Capital City."
"Due to limited budget funds, and due to the large number of monuments in the territory of Podgorica, we are in a situation where they are not preserved. Negligence, even on the part of the population itself, is also problematic. With the exception of local veterans' organizations that cherish this tradition, mostly their descendants who pay attention sometimes, others rarely do so," said Vučinić.
He added that the budget funds for culture in the City are not sufficient and appealed for them to be increased.
"Less money has been allocated from the budget for culture in this city compared to last year. Places like this deserve attention. Without a culture of remembrance and a human relationship towards the bright examples of our past, there is no path to a better future," he said.
Although the monument is not in the best condition, Boljević says that in the "last few years, something has been done about it."
"They came to clean, because nothing had been done for years. Associations from Piper came and organized a cleanup around Viljuška last year. We, the locals, sometimes clean and tidy up. All of that with our own money. The public is not aware of the significance and importance of the monument. We locals need to know about Viljuška. I think that few immigrants know," Boljević pointed out.
He also said that many monuments in the territory of Podgorica are only heard about when it "suits politicians", and that citizens "are not even interested in them".
"In Montenegro, we have a bad tradition of not treating monuments to those who died in wars correctly. I did not notice that the current and past Podgorica authorities came to visit this monument. In my opinion, this sends the wrong message. We should not exaggerate in making or building new monuments, but it is necessary to pay tribute to those who died. It would be good to arrange the area around this monument and, of course, fence it off," said Boljević.
Trijebac neglected and in the dark
The memorial at Trijepče "guards" the city, but the city does not guard it, say the interviewees of "Vijesti".
Although it is a very attractive viewpoint for tourists, the access and condition of the monument are not to be commended. There is an illegal landfill next to the road to the viewpoint, and a neglected concrete staircase leads to the monument block, while the access is overgrown with dry, tall grass and bushes on both sides.
A large concrete canopy towers over the memorial plaque, showing serious damage. The monument is clearly exposed to erosion and moisture, with its edges particularly critical.
The name Trijebač, Vučinić reveals, comes from the pagan word "Trijepč" (Trebješ) and denotes a place where, in ancient times, sacrifices were made to the gods.
Erected in 1967 and renovated in 2001, the monument, Vučinić points out, was built with funds collected by hundreds of Piper families "whose relatives died in World War II."
"A monument is a work of art Dragan Marković", who made it exceptionally beautiful. It is adorned with an obelisk, ten meters high and almost two meters wide. In the lower part of the pedestal is an equilateral triangle. Below is a plaque on which is inscribed the name of the monument to the fallen soldiers in the People's Liberation War from 1941 to 1945 and the victims of fascist terror from the Piper area," he said.
He explains that the memorial at Trijepče is also dedicated to local fighters who died in previous wars for the liberation of Montenegro.
He also emphasizes that he is particularly concerned that the "reinforcement is giving way", which the "Vijesti" team has also seen for themselves.
"The monument is ready for complete restoration. The problem is that this complex also extends onto private property. The peak is also interesting for telecommunications operators, who have placed several of their repeaters here, from all sides," says Vučinić.
He also raises the issue of the fact that the monument was in "darkness" on the last National Day - July 13th.
A local resident from Piper also believes that the memorial was not illuminated, sending a bad message. Đuro VučinićHe told the "Vijesti" team that locals have repeatedly tried to influence the city council to take better care of the monument at Trijepče. He also claims that he submitted an initiative to have it permanently illuminated, but was not approved by the authorities.
"A powerful spotlight has been installed on the hill, which never works, especially not when it should. That was the case last July 13th. The lighting of the obelisk should be installed on the monument itself... The monument on Trijepče has special significance, because there is no family from the Piper region whose ancestor is not inscribed on the memorial plaques. After all, its name itself says it all," he believes.
Kanna's olive branch
Among monuments overgrown with grass and oblivion, and plaques that have lost their letters and meaning, the "Vijesti" crew and Vučinić headed towards a place that defies that.
Hidden behind the Cetinje highway, lies one of the largest monumental complexes in the country, a work of art. Svetlana-Kana Radević - Gunpowder. It is dedicated to the patriots from the Lješanska nahija who died in the Balkan, First and Second World Wars.
The names of 459 people who died in Lješće are engraved on it. This monument is one of five Montenegrin ones located on the wider map of the Balkan Peninsula.
However, it was not always in good, preserved condition. Thanks to the efforts of locals and civil activists and regular cleaning campaigns, Barutana today represents a rare example of care for a cultural asset.
Vučinić also confirmed this, describing it as an "extraordinary and successful" project.
"If we looked at this monument from the air, we would see that it resembles an olive branch. Although it is a monument to the people of Lješće who died in the war, it represents a symbol of peace. Because what kind of monument would it be if it did not instruct and give the next generations a message that there should be no war, and that every conflict should stop. She (Kana) used a stone from the surrounding area that is reminiscent of our village boundaries that divide the property...", said Vučinić.
He added that, although many say that it is a symbol of the sun and the torch that Perseus stole from the gods, this "torch" resembles hands raised to the sky. These hands, Vučinić believes, are praying for peace and prosperity.
"When you look at this monument from the air, it resembles the South American remains of the Incas who made large plans in the Atacama Desert, which can be seen from space. This olive branch is also a message to a higher being that people must strive for peace," said Vučinić.
The monument at Ravni laz is guarded by locals
The monument on Ravni laz in Piperi confirms that not all historical landmarks on the territory of Podgorica have been neglected and left to the ravages of time.
Once neglected, but now in very good condition, this memorial is a testament to the care of the locals for important historical legacies.
It was there, on July 8, 1941, that the Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia (KPJ) for Montenegro, Boka and Sandžak raised an uprising against the occupying forces.
A local woman Jelena Zvizdojevic She explained to reporters from "Vijesti" that the monument is maintained by the Milutinović and Pavićević families. She said that they have been taking care of the monument since they were little, and that not a single summer season goes by without mowing and cleaning around the monument. But they are not alone in this, because:
"The Capital City also puts everything around the monument in order once or twice a year."
The best preserved monuments in the inner city center
According to the conservation advisor at "Museums and Galleries" Magdalena Radunović, recognition and preservation of monuments and memorials is a professional obligation of all those involved in cultural valorization.
"Belonging to public space, memorials, with their appearance and symbolic meaning, manifest the culture of society and are a reflection of the time in which they were created, and their preservation and nurturing are a reflection of the present time and we must invest effort in greater education about the significance and values of the monuments of our past. The best preserved memorials are those placed in the inner city core, which are in visible and well-lit places," said Radunović.
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