PEN Centre and FCJK Applaud Decision to Revoke Karadzic Award

The PEN Centre of Montenegro and the Faculty for Montenegrin Language and Literature (FCJK) have expressed their support for the Bijelo Polje Municipality’s decision to revoke the “Risto Ratkovic” award from Radovan Karadzic. This action, they state, removes a long-standing shame and sends a clear message that literature cannot serve as a shield for individuals responsible for crimes against humanity.

The decision to withdraw the award was met with some opposition from members of nominally civic parties, who argued that it could create divisions within society. However, representatives from the PEN Centre and FCJK firmly stated, “When it comes to genocide and war crimes, there is no middle ground.” They emphasized that failing to support the revocation of Karadzic’s award aligns one with a Greater Serbian ideology associated with the atrocities committed during the conflict.

The PEN Centre and FCJK highlighted that the current ruling coalition appears to serve this ideology, citing that one member of the jury who awarded Karadzic in 1993 is still involved in deciding the country’s top honors today. They expressed concern that this could lead to further opportunities for denial and late attempts to rectify past injustices, rather than fostering a society based on civilizational values.

In their statement, they underscored the importance of ensuring that those who have compromised themselves by relativizing war criminals should not be part of decision-making bodies related to awards and honors. They warned that a society unwilling to confront its past risks being trapped by it, calling upon government representatives to cease the ideological recycling of the 1990s.

“If the government continues to promote individuals who have compromised public memory, the citizens, civil society, and international partners will not remain silent. The consequences for reputation, political positions, and institutional legitimacy will be serious and lasting,” they concluded in their statement.

The revocation of the award marks a significant step in addressing the legacy of war crimes in Montenegro and signals a commitment to confronting difficult historical truths.