Joint press release by the group of non-governmental organizations and individuals working to promote the culture of human rights in MontenegroZajedničko saopštenje grupe nevladnih organizacija i pojedinaca koji rade na afirmaciji kulture ljudskih prava u Crnoj Gori
Podgorica, 12/09/ 2012
We express our solidarity with the director Danilo Marunović, actor Todor Vujošević and journalist Mirko Bosković, who were brutally attacked because of their support to LGBT rights and tolerance of diversity in Montenegro.
Montenegro is, by the Constitution, defined as a democracy, based on respect for human rights, including the right to prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Different sexual orientation, as well as different political opinions or different religion – someone can like or dislike. However, nowadays in Montenegro none should be assaulted because of that, nor should anyone publicly want someone to be assaulted because of that, nor should anyone due to his/her orientation or preferences be considered less valuable.
The Constitution prohibits operation of any organization that is focused on violations of guaranteed rights and freedoms, or that incite hatred and violence on any ground, including sexual orientation. The Law on prohibition of discrimination clearly prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as any form of harassment, insults and incitement to discrimination. Criminal Code specifically prohibits persecution of organizations or individuals for their commitment to the equality of people.
In their address to the public, anonymous organizers of the fans of the football team „Budućnost“ (The Future) did not demonstrate neither that their organization, „Varvari” (Barbarians), is willing to respect human rights of all people, nor that their action is not aimed at inciting hatred towards LGBT people. On the contrary, the „Barbarians“ in their reaction called LGBT people „supposedly vulnerable group of distorted individuals“ and insulted Zdravko Cimbaljevic, the first openly declared homosexual in Montenegro, by addressing him as „gospodinica“ (represents a portmanteau word that consists of mister and misses). Even though they say that „that the Barbarians are not violating the law, nor will ever violate it“, the Barbarians in this way are undoubtedly violating the law.
At the same time, one of the leaders of the „Barbarians“, named Aleksandar Ivanovic- Caka, in the daily “Pobjeda”, expressed the standpoint that „homosexuality is a disease, and the biggest threat to the Christianity“ and publicly praised the attackers of Marunović, Vujošević and Bosković, although anonymous leaders of the „Barbarians“ are convincing the public that attackers were not instructed by their bodies.
Podgorica is filled with graffiti calling for hatred and violence against sexual minorities, with the signature of „Barbarians“ or their sub-groups, and the organizers have not distanced themselves from such actions in any way, which also constitute a violation of the law.
Due to all of the above, the claim that the attack in Podgorica was not an act of the „Barbarians“ as an organized group, accompanied by the absence of their direct and unequivocal condemnation of the attack sounds like an unconvincing cover-up in front the prosecution authorities.
However, as the „Barbarians“ are a fan club of a town, which is also ours, and whose member cards have large number of people from Podgorica, expressing in that manner love for their city and club, and without any intention to threaten anyone, we refuse to believe that most of these people believe that any form of violence against those who think differently is justified. We hope that they will condemn the policy of association that tolerates violence and discrimination, and in this way restore the spirit and image of the Barbarians, who were, during the 80es, a symbol of the city, pioneers of the resistance towards provincialism and promoters of the urban spirit of Titograd (which was the name of Podgorica at that time).
We expect the authorities to act towards this organization in accordance with the Constitution and secure the prohibition and punishment of any advocacy and incitement to hatred and violence.
Statement signed by:
Human Rights Action, Tea Gorjanc Prelevic, Executive Director
Centre for Civic Education, Daliborka Uljarevic, Executive Director
LGBT Forum Progress, Zdravko Cimbaljevic, Executive Director
Juventas, Ivana Vujović, President of the Board
Women’s Rights Center, Maja Raicevic, Executive Director
Center for Monitoring CEMI, Zlatko Vujovic, President of the Board
Centre for Anti-discrimination EKVISTA, Milan Saranovic, Executive Director
Association of Youth with Disabilities, Marina Vujacic, Executive Director
Institute for Social Inclusion, Biljana Alkovic, Executive Director
Institute Alternativa, Stevo Muk, President of the Board
European Movement in Montenegro, Momcilo Radulovic, President
Anima – The Center for Women and Peace Education, Ljupka Kovacevic, Coordinator
Women’s Safe House, Ljiljana Raicevic, Executive Director
EXPEDITIO, Biljana Gligoric, Program Director
Centre for Development of NGOs, Ana Novakovic, Executive Director
Preporod, Jovan Bulajic, coordinator
CEDEM, Nenad Koprivica, Executive Director
4Life, Saša Mijovic, Executive Director
CAZAS, Mišo Pejkovic, Executive Director
Green Home, Jelena Marojevic, programme director
Prima, Aida Ivanovic, Executive Director
Aleksandar Saša Zekovic, member of the Council for Civil Control of the work of Police
Goran Djurovic, member of the Council of RTCG
Dragoljub Duško Vukovic, independent journalist
Podgorica, 12.09.2012.
Izražavamo solidarnost sa rediteljem Danilom Marunovićem, glumcem Todorom Vujoševićem i novinarem Mirkom Boškovićem, koji su brutalno napadnuti zbog zalaganja za prava LGBT osoba i toleranciju različitosti u Crnoj Gori.
Crna Gora je Ustavom predviđena kao demokratija, zasnovana na poštovanju ljudskih prava, među kojima je i pravo na zabranu diskriminacije po osnovu seksualne orijentacije i rodnog identiteta.
Različita seksualna orijentacija, baš kao i različito političko opredjeljenje ili različita vjeroispovjest, nekome može da se sviđa ili ne sviđa, ali zbog toga danas u Crnoj Gori niko ne smije da strada, niti da javno priželjkuje da neko zbog toga strada, niti se iko zbog takve orijentacije ili opredjeljenja smije smatrati manje vrijednim.
Ustavom je zabranjeno djelovanje organizacija koje je usmjereno na kršenje zajamčenih prava i sloboda ili izazivanje mržnje i netrpeljivosti po bilo kojem osnovu, pa tako i po osnovu seksualne orijentacije. Zakonom o zabrani diskriminacije jasno je zabranjena diskriminacija po osnovu seksualne orijentacije i rodnog identiteta, kao i svaki oblik uznemiravanja, vrijeđanja i podsticanja na diskriminaciju. Krivičnim zakonom je posebno zabranjeno proganjanje organizacija ili pojedinaca zbog njihovog zalaganja za ravnopravnost ljudi.
U svom obraćanju javnosti, anonimni organizatori navijača fudbalskog kluba «Budućnost» nisu pokazali da je njihova organizacija, ”Varvari”, spremna da poštuje ljudska prava svih ljudi, niti da njeno djelovanje nije usmjereno na izazivanje mržnje prema LGBT osobama. Naprotiv, ”Varvari” u svom reagovanju LGBT osobe nazivaju ”navodno ugroženom grupacijom izvitoperenih individua”, a Zdravka Cimbaljevića, prvog javno deklarisanog homoseksualca u Crnoj Gori, uvrijedljivo oslovljavaju sa ”gospodinica”. Iako kažu da ”kršenje zakona nije stav Varvara, niti će ikada biti”, Varvari na ovaj način nedvosmisleno krše zakon.
Istovremeno jedan od vođa ”Varvara”, izvjesni Aleksandar Ivanović – Čaka, u dnevnom listu Pobjeda, objavio je stav o tome da je ”homoseksualizam bolest i najveća prijetnja za hrišćanstvo” i javno pohvalio napadače na Marunovića, Vujoševića i Boškovića, iako anonimne vođe ”Varvara” javnost uvjeravaju da napadači nisu instruisani od strane njihovih organa.
Podgorica je preplavljena grafitima koji pozivaju na mržnju i nasilje prema seksualnim manjinama, sa potpisom ”Varvara” ili njihovih podgrupa, a da se njihovi organizatori ni na koji način nisu ogradili od takvih napisa, koji takođe predstavljaju kršenje zakona.
Zbog svega toga tvrdnja da iza napada u Podgorici ne stoje ”Varvari” kao organizovana grupa, bez direktne i nedvosmislene osude napada zvuči kao neuvjerljivo prikrivanje pred organima gonjenja.
Kako su ”Varvari” navijački klub grada koji je i naš, čije članske karte ima veliki broj Podgoričana koji na taj način izražavaju ljubav prema svome gradu i klubu, a nikako namjeru da bilo koga ugroze, odbijamo da vjerujemo da većina tih ljudi smatra da je bilo koji oblik nasilja prema onima koji drugačije misle opravdan. Nadamo se da će oni osuditi politiku udruženja koja toleriše nasilje i diskriminaciju i tako povratiti pravi duh Varvara koji su 80-tih godina bili simbol grada, pioniri otpora malograđanštini i promoteri urbanog duha tadašnjeg Titograda.
Očekujemo od nadležnih da prema ovoj organizaciji postupe u skladu s Ustavom i osiguraju zabranu i kažnjavanje svakog javnog zagovaranja i podsticanje mržnje i nasilja.
Saopštenje potpisuju:
Akcija za ljudska prava, Tea Gorjanc Prelević, izvršna direktorka
Centar za građansko obrazovanje, Daliborka Uljarević, izvršna direktorka
LGBT Forum Progres, Zdravko Cimbaljević, izvršni direktor
Juventas, Ivana Vujović, predsjednica UO
Centar za ženska prava, Maja Raičević, izvršna direktorka
Centar za monitoring – CEMI, Zlatko Vujović, predsjednik UO
Centar za antidiskriminaciju EKVISTA, Milan Šaranović, izvršni direktor
Udruženje mladih sa hendikepom, Marina Vujačić, izvršna direkorka
Institut za socijalnu inkluziju, Biljana Alković, izvršna direktorka
Institut Alternativa, Stevo Muk, predsjednik UO
Evropski pokret u Crnoj Gori, Momčilo Radulović, predsjednik
Anima – Centar za žensko i mirovno obrazovanje, Ljupka Kovačević, koordinatorka
Sigurna ženska kuća, Ljiljana Raičević, izvršna direktorka
EXPEDITIO, Biljana Gligorić, programska direktorka
Centar za razvoj NVO, Ana Novaković, izvršna direkorka
Preporod, Jovan Bulajić, koordinator
CEDEM, Nenad Koprivica, izvršni direktor
4Life, Saša Mijović, izvršni direktor
CAZAS, Mišo Pejković, izvršni direktor
Green Home, Jelena Marojević, programska direktorka
Prima, Aida Ivanović, izvršna direktorka
Aleksandar Saša Zeković, član Savjeta za građansku kontrolu rada policije
Goran Đurović, član Savjeta RTCG
Dragoljub Duško Vuković, nezavisni novinar
