A group of non-governmental organizations and civic activists condemned the repeated glorification of the Chetnik movement in Podgorica on the occasion of the Orthodox holiday of Epiphany.
A statement from several NGOs and civic activists recalls that the gathering, among other things, sang the war song "Od Topola pa do Ravna Gora", which glorifies the notorious Chetnik commanders Pavle Đurišić and Momčilo Đujić, responsible for mass crimes against civilians and anti-fascists during World War II in Montenegro.
"Religious holidays must not be an opportunity to glorify violence and the ideology responsible for ethnic cleansing and other crimes - the true spirit of these holidays should be the promotion of respect and peace among people. Unfortunately, such outbursts are not isolated, but are part of a continuous pattern of public glorification of the Chetnik movement in Montenegro, which is repeated due to the lack of a clear and decisive reaction from the competent institutions. Public glorification of the Chetnik movement and their commanders constitutes hate speech and incitement to intolerance towards other communities, which also has criminal consequences. Such glorification particularly incites hatred towards the Bosniak population and members of the Islamic religion in Montenegro, all of which are punishable under Article 370, paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code, as well as in accordance with Articles 9a and 34a of the Law on the Prohibition of Discrimination and Article 19 of the Law on Public Order and Peace," the statement reads.
They add that over the past year they have witnessed the continued public glorification of Pavle Đurišić by certain religious leaders and political actors, without an adequate response from the competent prosecutorial authorities, which culminated in the erection of a memorial in August.
"The inaction of those in charge has sent a clear message that the public glorification of criminal ideology is permitted, creating an environment in which it is today freely expressed, including at gatherings attended by public office holders or heads of educational institutions. It is particularly dangerous to relativize these phenomena or justify them with 'joy'. The normalization of war songs that glorify criminals insults the descendants of the victims, and in the long term destroys social cohesion and interethnic relations in Montenegro. We demand that the State Prosecutor's Office urgently review its previous failure to oppose the glorification of Pavle Ðurišić and other Chetnik commanders and to professionally investigate this event as well," it states.
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The statement was signed by - Action for Human Rights, Spektra Association, Center for Women's and Peace Education ANIMA, Center for Investigative Journalism (CIN CG), Center for Democracy and Human Rights (CEDEM), Center for Development of Non-Governmental Organizations (CRNVO), Center for Women's Rights (CŽP), Montenegrin PEN Center, Montenegrin Philological Society, Montenegrin Committee of Lawyers for the Protection of Human Rights and Freedoms (CKM), Media Institute of Montenegro, Ipso Facto, Juventas, Prima, Safe Women's House, as well as civic activists Dina Bajramspahić, Paula Petričević, Milena Bešić, Vesna Rajković Nenadić.
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