No To Dictatorship

A VREME source said the authorities in Podgorica are refusing to support Milosevic in his desperate attempt to hang on to power by using measure such as an imposition of a state of emergency. The source said that Milosevic and Bulatovic were in contact during the turbulent events of December 24 in Belgrade and added that Milosevic had to think well about what he would do next.

Montenegrin parliament Speaker Svetozar Marovic received a delegation of the Student Protest ‘96 in Podgorica to lend them full support. "Power is lost or won at elections and power has to be handed to the people who won it at elections. That is the basis of democracy. We are asking for respect of democratic rules in the country because that is a condition for us to return to the world," Marovic told the delegation.

Reports of that meeting with the students were given prime time spots on the Montenegrin state media news along with pictures from the Belgrade demonstrations: spilled blood, stick fighting, tear gas, police baton charges.

Montenegro’s National Accord opposition coalition sent Zajedno a letter suggesting they set up a democratic axis with the primary job of opposing the Milosevic-Bulatovic totalitarian axis. The letter also suggested Bulatovic should be offered to join the democratic block in federal parliament leaving Milosevic alone with Seselj which could cause the fall of the federal government and early elections with a weak Milosevic and reborn Bulatovic. National Accord warned that the Podgorica authorities are Milosevic’s ally but added that they should be given a chance. Draskovic, Djindjic and Pesic are not seen as conspirators in foreign hands by Montenegro’s officials and state media and Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic said openly that there would be no compromise with advocates of regressive ideas and ideologies who are preventing our return to the international community "regardless of whether they are the authorities or the opposition in either federal unit".

Montenegro seems to have changed its attitude towards the Milosevic regime. the question now is whether the ruling DPS will change sides in federal parliament and deal a coup de grace to Milosevic. "the beginning of the end of a dictatorial regime has begun but that end may not be tomorrow," said National Accord leader Novak Kilibarda.