The President of the Municipal Board of the Socialist People's Party (SNP) Zeta, Branko Noković, strongly condemned the police intervention in Botun this morning and, as he said, the unacceptable treatment of citizens who are peacefully and with dignity defending the decision made in the referendum.
"The arrest of citizens who protect the democratically expressed will represents a deeply wrong attitude of the state towards its own citizens. From the very beginning, I have publicly and clearly stood by the residents of Botuni and their struggle. As a personal witness to the events of this morning, I can responsibly say that the citizens acted peacefully, with dignity and without any provocation. The citizens of Botuni clearly and democratically said 'No' to the construction of the collector. That decision is binding and must be respected. Instead of dialogue and seeking solutions, we are witnessing police intervention and the detention of citizens, with the responsibility of those who made the decision to use force against the people," Noković said in a press release.
He emphasized that this is not a matter of politics, but of respecting the will of citizens, human rights, and basic democratic principles.
"If the decision of the citizens of Botun can be overturned this morning, the same thing can happen to any of us tomorrow. That is why I give full and public support to the residents of Botun and their peaceful and dignified resistance. Those responsible for this morning's actions and the arrest of citizens defending their rights must be held accountable," Noković concludes.
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