Facing the past and insisting on justice for the victims of crimes like those in Štrpci are the grounds for establishing trust and preserving peace in the future. This was the conclusion of the forum “The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent” held last night at the “Vojislav Bulatović Strunjo” Culture Center in Bijelo Polje.
President of the Municipality of Bijelo Polje, Petar Smolović, opened the forum emphasizing that the coexistence in the city has always given a special sensibility which he considers his greatest intangible heritage.
Commenting on the daring act of Tomo Buzov, to whom the film of the same name was dedicated, and shown at last night’s event, Smolović said that the question arises as to whether we are indirectly or directly participating in the crime by simply observing and doing nothing.
Also, on behalf of the municipality of Bijelo Polje, Smolović welcomed the joint initiative of the Civic Alliance and the Culture Center in Bijelo Polje, to institutionalize the commemoration of the anniversary of the crime in Štrpci, in the broader context of human rights, by implementing various programs to reward those who affirm the anti-war policy.
Milan Radović, the Program Director of Civic Alliance, addressed the public by pointing out that talking about crimes is a moral obligation towards the victims and their families and the key to building peace and trust in the future.
“Our collective responsibility is to protect justice, cherish truth and preserve memory because there is no lasting peace or progress without these values”, Radović said.
After the introductory speeches, a panel opened with a discussion about the significance of the film “The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent” in promoting the culture of memory. The participants of the panel were Demir Ličina, President of the Association “Štrpci – Against Forgetting” and actress Julija Milačić Petrović Njegoš.
Speaking about the situation of the families of passengers abducted from the train from the station in Štrpci, Ličina first described the decades-long agony that they all go through in the fight for justice. He said that today, more than 30 years after the crime, justice cannot be talked about nor can it be satisfied in any way. However, according to him, the essence is to find an adequate way so that the descendants of the victims are no longer exposed to injustice.
Commenting on the importance of artistic expression in the process of dealing with the past and encouraging dialogue, Milačić Petrović Njegoš said that today a large part of the Montenegrin intellect is withdrawn and is not exposed to the necessary extent, which is why we are slowly but surely sliding towards something that is not good.
She reminded that Montenegro did not support the production of this film, which, as she stated, was a shame for our country, since it was a valuable work for generations to come.
The director of the film, Nebojša Slijepčević, also addressed those present with a video message, expressing his immense gratitude to all those who recognized the importance of the topic to which the film is dedicated, with the hope that he would soon have the opportunity to personally visit Bijelo Polje and talk to the members of the victims’ families.
