Vienna, 21/05/2012
The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), condemns the physical threats against two Kosovo journalists on May 16 in the ethnically divided city of Mitrovica, northern Kosovo. Protesters threatened to attack journalists Musa Mustafa of the Pristina-based daily Koha Ditore and Alidin Damati of the Kosova press agency but the police managed to avert the imminent aggression. According to SEEMO sources, journalists were obliged to flee and police intervened at the last minute. However, as journalists recounted, the police as well as international forces (KFOR) stationed in Kosovo, took a lenient attitude when the threats began.
“I urge the authorities to investigate this case of intimidation of journalists,” said Oliver Vujovic, SEEMO Secretary General. “Journalists should be allowed to do their work freely, and I call on both the police authorities and KFOR to protect journalists and enable them to do their work.”