Certain ruling parties are backing the proposal by the head of state, Jakov Milatović, for the enactment of legislation aimed at the rehabilitation and compensation of political prisoners from Goli Otok. While some parties suggest that a decision is forthcoming, others have chosen to remain silent. Conversely, the opposition perceives Milatović’s initiative as an effort for his own “political rehabilitation” and has expressed a lack of interest in commenting on his proposals.

Yesterday, the President of Montenegro presented an initiative to the Parliament (as he does not possess the authority to propose laws) for the drafting of legislation concerning the rehabilitation of Goli Otok residents, stating that this action marks “the commencement of an important process of confronting the past and rectifying historical wrongs.”

He urged all members of Parliament, irrespective of their political affiliations, to endorse this idea.

Milatović’s former party, the ruling Europe Now Movement (PES), unofficially informed “Vijesti” that as the initiative has only recently been received by Parliament, they are not fully briefed on its details. However, they indicated that their parliamentary group would formulate a position on the document in the upcoming days.

“FULFILLING A MORAL DEBT”

The Democrats have expressed strong support for the rehabilitation of all innocent victims and those politically persecuted at Goli Otok, Sveti Grgur, and other facilities within that system, stating that “individuals were tortured merely for thinking differently, speaking freely, and aspiring to a more equitable society.”

“… We advocate for naming every injustice, honoring every victim, and providing every descendant with the truth. Only upon this foundation can we construct a society in which Goli Otok will never recur,” declared Boris Bogdanovic, MP and general secretary of the ruling party, in his remarks to “Vijesti”.

The Socialist People’s Party (SNP) has welcomed Milatović’s initiative, asserting that it is high time for Montenegro to “fulfill its moral obligation to those whose human rights were severely violated…”.

“… We believe it is vital for the state to dedicate further efforts to ensure that victims of serious human rights abuses from the past, who were wrongfully convicted and imprisoned in camps, attain justice and their suffering is acknowledged,” remarked the ministerial party to “Vijesti”. Vladimir Joković.

Their coalition partner in the government, the Democratic People’s Party (DNP) led by Milan Knežević, has yet to formulate a stance on the head of state’s initiative. However, a source from the party indicated they expect to support it, believing there to be no reason to oppose it.

MP Ilir Chapuni from the ruling Force party stated to “Vijesti” that his party and the coalition it represents (the Albanian Alliance) will deliberate the president’s proposal.

“I am familiar with the Goli Otok ordeal and had the chance to hear the testimonies of victims I knew. This organized persecution surely merits our attention, but, regrettably, it is not an isolated incident,” he remarked.

Chapuni highlighted that there was “organized persecution of the Albanian population” during the former Yugoslavia.

“For instance, in 1981, systematic persecution was implemented in Ulcinj against high school teachers who simply defended the basic human rights of Albanians in Montenegro – the right for their children to learn the Albanian language and their history,” he stated.

He asserted that all such individuals deserve rehabilitation, a public apology, and compensation for their suffering “in the prison camps of Yugoslavia – from Foča and Spuž to Požarevac, and for being rendered unemployed.”

“A GAME OF AWAKENING PAINFUL EMOTIONS”

The primary opposition party, the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), informally told “Vijesti” that they “would not comment on President Milatović”, or more accurately, that they “are not interested in commenting on it (the initiative) at all.”

The European Union (EU) conveyed to the newspaper that they perceive the proposal merely as an attempt by Milatović to maintain “political relevance after voluntarily re-aligning under the umbrella (of the Speaker of Parliament).” Andrije Mandić in a renewed coalition with Prime Minister Milojko Spajić.

The EU remarked that Milatović is engaging in “a classic Balkan maneuver – stirring up troubling and painful recollections from the past, given that the spheres he is allowed to navigate in that society are rather limited.”

“Thus, this initiative is fundamentally some kind of effort by President Milatović to rehabilitate himself, as he is currently constrained by the parliamentary majority led by Mandić and his associate Spajić. As he no longer embodies the stature of a progressive European president and lacks the credibility and integrity to propose anything significant, we urge him to adhere to the constitutional framework that delineates his competencies,” the EU told “Vijesti”.

The ruling New Serbian Democracy, Bosniak Party, Albanian Forum, the opposition Civic Movement URA, and Croatian Civic Initiative, along with a special caucus of deputies, have not provided responses to the newspaper’s inquiries.

The President of Montenegro’s initiative pertains to individuals who were imprisoned and subjected to inhumane conditions on Goli Otok, Sveti Grgur, and other prisons, without a (fair) trial or valid evidence, often based on administrative decisions or a lack thereof, purportedly due to their presumed support for the Informburo Resolution of 1948.

The Informburo functioned as a successor to the Comintern (Communist International), an assembly of communist parties, and its resolution criticized the leadership of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia, under Josip Broz Tito, for deviations from Marxist-Leninist orthodoxy…

This led to the severance of relations between Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union, prompting Yugoslav authorities to initiate crackdowns against those they deemed supporters of Soviet leader Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin. According to records from the former Federal Secretariat for Internal Affairs of the SFRY, there were 16,101 prisoners in Goli Otok and other prisons of that classification, with 3,390 originating from Montenegro.

DRAFT LAW FROM 2006. PROPOSED COMPENSATION OF 10,000 EUROS

Human Rights Action (HRA) expressed support for the initiative yesterday, calling on the government to promptly establish a working group for drafting the law so that the few remaining living Goli Otok prisoners can obtain the justice they deserve, as well as the descendants of those who have passed.

“We urge the Government to ensure that this year’s International Day for the Right to Truth concerning Serious Violations of Human Rights and the Dignity of Victims is commemorated with at least a working group ready to commence its tasks,” the NGO stated.

HRA informed “Vijesti” that back in 2019, they suggested that rehabilitation should entail nullifying the decisions that led to the incarceration of political prisoners, as well as providing compensation for material and non-material damages to the surviving inmates (or their heirs).

Milatović proposed that the Draft Law concerning the Annulment of Judgments, Decisions, Acts, and Actions by the State Bodies of the Republic of Montenegro and the FNRY against individuals suspected of endorsing the Informbiro Resolution of 1948, initially prepared in 2006 by the Citizens’ Association “Goli otok”, serves as a foundation for drafting the new law.

The draft proposed a compensation amount of 10,000 euros. It stipulates that spouses are entitled to compensation, and in the absence of a spouse, the deceased’s children are entitled.

COMPENSATION FOR INMATES IN SERBIA, CROATIA, AND SLOVENIA

Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia have enacted laws allowing former political prisoners to receive rehabilitation and compensation for the damages incurred to them and their families.

In 2003, Slovenia offered Goli Otok inmates 6,300 euros for each year spent in confinement, while both Croatia and Serbia provided approximately seven euros per day for time spent at Goli Otok.

Pavićević: Accepting such compensation would undermine my honor

One of the survivors of the Goli Otok concentration camp, Borislav Pavicevic, remarked in April last year during the “Načisto” show on Television “Vijesti” that accepting financial compensation for survivors or their families would be beneath his honor.

“… Because no amount of money can buy my suffering or the humiliation I endured in prison. It cannot be purchased. Ultimately, if you are dealing with money – you are selling and buying an ideology,” he asserted.

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