Montenegro Opposition Promises Peaceful Protest
Date
10/24/2015 12:23:14 PM
(MENAFN- The Journal Of Turkish Weekly) The strongest opposition alliance the Democratic Front will stage a new rally in the capital Podgorica on Saturday to demandthe resignation of Prime Minister Milo Djukanovicand early elections. Leaders of several opposition parties NGOs and student organisations that had not previously supported the Democratic Fronts protests – which began at the end of September - will also join the demonstrations on Saturday. The Front warned that the "whole of Montenegro will come” if Djukanovic’s government does not resign by Saturday. The organizers have provided free transportation across the country for citizens who want to come to Podgorica amid tight security measures in the capital and barricades placed around all important state institutions. The Alliance accuses the government of widespread corruption undemocratic practices and election fraud. "I urge other opposition leaders to work together with us and to join the peaceful non-violent democratic rally to perform constitutional and institutional pressure on the regime of Milo Djukanovic" one of the Front's leaders Milan Knezevic said on Friday. Although they expressed understanding for the "maximum accumulated discontent" of the citizens some opposition parties have not openly called on their activists to join the protest on Saturday. A 24-hour demonstration launched in Septemberdemanded the creation of an interim government to organise what they say would be Montenegro’s “first ever free and fair elections”. But the protest turned violent on October 17as police fired tear gas to disband hundreds of protesters. At least three opposition leaders and several MPs were injured and two journalists were arrested during the violence which erupted when protesters tried to march toward the parliament in Podgorica. A group of 125 prominent intellectuals independent journalists and civil society activists on Friday announced a "Protest Memorandum" which condemned the violent dispersal of the peaceful demonstration last weekend. "We appeal to citizens not to allow the destruction of constitutional order and to demand the formation of a national unity government" the memorandum reads.
Montenegro's opposition has pledged that anti-government demonstrations on Saturday will be peaceful
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.