WORLD NEWS FOR MONTENEGRO DIASPORA
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AUTHOR:M.J. GDNUS
Almost three years have passed since the terrible massacre in Cetinje, on August 12, 2022. Ten innocent lives were taken, and several more were wounded. And then, as today, we asked for only one thing - that it never happen again. That the institutions of this state, which we all pay for, do their job - stated in a statement by a group of citizens of the Royal Capital who block the main road near Kruševo Ždrijelo every day.
- We demanded that the parliament adopt the "Marko and Mašan Law", a law that would mean life, safety, order and responsibility. We demanded the strictest punishments for the perpetrators. Psychological examinations of anyone who raises a hand against anyone. Confiscation of weapons from the perpetrators. Justice for Mašan, Marko, Nataša, Milan, Rajko, Goran, Danica, Dimitrije, Mila and Aleksandra. Ten names. Ten destinies. Ten lives that had to be a lesson so that it never happens again.
But they didn't listen to us. They ignored us then - just as they ignore us today.
And the crime happened again. On January 1, 2025, 13 of our fellow citizens were killed. Thirteen. Blood on the streets of Cetinje again. Pain in every home again. The question again - why?
Why didn't you adopt the "Mark and Mašan Law", ask the citizens of the Royal Capital and state that they were looking for a law that would prevent violence from becoming normal, psychological expertise, confiscation of weapons and the strictest punishments for perpetrators.
- Why didn't you do anything to protect citizens? Today, no one can say they didn't know. Today, no one can say they weren't warned.
We ask the question publicly and clearly:
Would the crime of January 1, 2025 have happened if you had adopted the "Mark and Mašan Law"?
We are not asking you this to get an answer - because we know it. No.
Instead of a law that would protect us, whose implementation would have Jovan and Vukan, Mirko, Dragana, Branislav, Jošo, Radivoje, Zorica, Radovan, Radmila, Dejan, Miloš and Marko among us today — you decided to pass a law against blockades. A law that serves you only to silence us. To force us to accept that we live in fear, without the right to a voice, without the right to a dignified life.
In the statement, they emphasize that the "Markov and Mašan" law should be a shield.
- And that's why we ask ourselves - if you are not murderers, are you complicit? Complicit because you knew, but you did not prevent it. You could have adopted the "Markov and Mašan law" but you did not even consider it. Did you have more important things to do? Are you protecting anyone?
The "Markov and Mašan law" was supposed to be a shield. And the rest is empty promises. On dead letters on paper. On political platitudes. On ignoring. On insulting and labeling those who protested.
Is it necessary to count the bodies in the streets again, so that someone from this arrogant government asks whether it is normal for murders to become an everyday occurrence in a country that continues to call for European values without a shred of shame?
Is it normal for the state of Montenegro in the 21st century to pass laws that prohibit protests, stifle human freedoms, instigate a reign of terror and try to force us to be silent and accept a life in fear?
Do we have to wait for another massacre for someone to finally understand that we will not accept murders becoming part of our everyday life in a country that hypocritically dreams of European standards?
We do not agree to this and we send a clear message - we will resist. For ourselves. For our children. For all those who are no longer among us simply because the institutions of this country have failed.
In a statement, this group of citizens states that they understand the citizens in the car columns, as well as their anger and disapproval.
- We know that citizens are angry about the blockade at Kruševo Ždrijelo. We know that it is difficult to stand in lines for hours. But please – do not be angry with us. We stand here for you too. We stand here so that it never happens again. Be angry with those who did nothing. With those who today are more concerned about how to punish us than how to protect you and us.
Our demand is simple and humane: Responsibility.
Responsibility of those who failed to protect citizens. Resignations or dismissals of all those from the security sector who, through their inaction, incompetence or intent, brought this to pass. We are not seeking revenge. We are seeking the return of justice to this country.
Today, the government is trying to intimidate us with draconian fines – up to 10,000 euros – for freedom of speech, for protest, for blockade, for crying out that no one else will suffer. We are telling them:
You cannot silence us. You cannot scare us. If you think that the law is stronger than justice – you are wrong. Because when justice comes, it does not ask for a law written against the people, but exclusively in the interest of those in power.
We are not standing at the blockades for ourselves. We are standing for all citizens. Let us never see black scarves around the city again. Let us never count the dead again. Let no child ever bear the names Marko and Mašan, and Jovan and Vukan in remembrance – but in life!
This is not a fight for the past. This is a fight for the future. For our children. For our right to life.
We are saying clearly and loudly, without fear:
WE ARE NOT ALONE. WE WILL NOT STOP. WE WILL NOT GET TIRED. WE WILL NOT AGREE TO SILENCE, state the citizens of Cetinje who are protesting at Kruševo Ždrijelo!
