Centre for Civic Education (CCE) strongly supports the students from the informal group Kamo Śutra?, who have raised important social issues by highlighting the responsibility of institutions and their leaders in protecting citizens and their fundamental rights — the rights to truth and justice.
We are pleased that the students have taken the initiative to address pressing societal problems, which, unfortunately, were triggered by the tragedy in Cetinje. Moreover, the students’ demands reflect their understanding of the depth and complexity of the issues affecting our society, and we fully support their call for an appropriate systemic response.
CCE promotes youth activism and the development of critical thinking through its programnes. In this context, we commend the students for demonstrating a high level of civic awareness and courage through their actions as part of Kamo Śutra?, which has inspired many citizens to join and support them during protests.
CCE believes that their activism is not a threat to democracy, but rather an inspiration and a call for responsible action from all of us for the common good. Therefore, instead of targeting and attempting to discredit these young people through party channels and those who serve them — whether loyal media or individuals and groups doing so through social media — we should recognize their struggle as a sign of healthy awareness that deserves the support of civic Montenegro dedicated to the public interest.
CCE calls on the ruling parties to refrain from further attacks on those who want to freely express their critical views and induce change for the public good through peaceful gatherings. The real threat to democratic development comes from attempts to silence their voices and their freedom of thought, which is especially dangerous when it comes from those controlling the security apparatus.
We also call on the highest state officials to stand up for democratic principles, support the right to freely express opinions, assemble, and protest, and to condemn those who seek to suppress these principles through pressure, base attacks, and dangerous labeling from positions of power.
Furthermore, CCE calls on citizens to use their rights guaranteed by the Constitution and laws to advocate for what they believe is right and necessary in the democratic consolidation of Montenegrin society.
We know where we will be on Thursday, 16 January at 19:30 – in front of the Ministry of the Interior. In this way, we will show our support for the students, just as we have supported protests many times in the past years, when such actions pointed out objective problems and demanded accountability and solutions, as the student group Kamo Śutra? is doing now.
Ivana Matanović, Programme Associate