Montenegro: Call to Commemorate Roma Eviction Site
In April 1995, Roma settlements in Danilovgrad, Montenegro, located at "Božova glavica," were completely removed, erasing all traces of the Roma community's presence there. Following this eviction, the Police Academy was constructed on the site of the former settlements. Notably, no memorial or marker was erected to acknowledge the historical events that transpired at this location.
Dragoljub Zeković has urged the state to rectify this oversight. He argues that an appropriate, even minimal, expression of remembrance is crucial. Zeković believes such a commemoration would serve the educational interests of both current and future police officers, fostering a greater understanding of past events and their implications.
The call to commemorate the site of the 1995 Roma evictions in Danilovgrad highlights a recurring tension between national development and historical memory, particularly concerning marginalized communities. The construction of the Police Academy on the former settlement grounds presents a symbolic juxtaposition of state security infrastructure built over the erased presence of a minority group. This situation prompts reflection on how national narratives are constructed and whose histories are prioritized or omitted. Establishing a memorial could serve as a mechanism for acknowledging past injustices, potentially influencing the ethical training of future law enforcement personnel by embedding a broader societal perspective. The decision to erect or not erect such a marker reflects broader governance choices about reconciliation, historical accountability, and the integration of diverse community experiences into the public sphere.
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