31/03/2017: TURKEY – SEEMO EXPRESSES GROWING CONCERNS FOR MEDIA IN TURKEY ONCE AGAIN

Vienna, 31/03/2017

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) expressed deep concern after having discovering news of many new media freedom violations in Turkey in the previous two days.

Selman Keles (Selman Keleş), a correspondent of the Dicle News Agency (DIHABER) was taken into custody in the Turkish province of Van on 20 March, where he was accused of belonging to an “illegal organization”. Keles was detained after filming coverage for news items near the Metropolitan Municipality Building. His equipment was confiscated.

Journalist Arif Aslan was also taken into custody at the time and, after giving his statement, was accused of allegedly being a member of a terrorist organization.

Murat Ide, former editor-in-chief of the private TV channel BenguTurk TV (BengüTürk TV), made a statement on Thursday, 30 March, that he was fired due to political reasons. According to Ide, he was laid off because he was resisting “saying yes” and supporting the current president in the upcoming presidential referendum in Turkey. The editor-in-chief added that he was fired not because he would say no, but because he would not say yes.

“The number of jailed journalists and media workers in Turkey reaches 200 people. This is a devastating fact, but it is also reality. I call once again the state institutions in Turkey to allow journalists and media outlets to work freely.” SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic stated today.
SEEMO is a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South, East and Central Europe and its press freedom work is supported by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) project, as part of a grant by the European Commission.

Vienna, 26/03/2017

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) was dismayed to learn about several incidents in recent days that included violence towards journalists and human rights activists in Belarus.

Citizens have been taking to the street to protest against a new law in the country, which in turn has caused a rise in the number of journalists, activists and media workers being detained and attacked while they report from the scene.

On 25 March, while covering the Liberty Day events, journalists in Minsk and other cities (Homel, Viciebsk) were detained by police members. Most of them were held for several hours, asked to provide their documents and were then released, but several experienced physical violence, beatings, and longer detentions.

On the same day, a special police unit burst into the headquarters of the human rights center Viasna, maltreating and detaining over 50 people for more than two hours. One person suffered a brain concussion and bruising. On 18 March, at least 9 journalists were detained while covering protests in towns across the country.

“SEEMO is expressing deep concern for the safety of media workers in Belarus” Oliver Vujovic, SEEMO Secretary General stated. “We call on authorities in Belarus to cease their oppressive behavior against journalists, and stop persecuting those who are helping spread information” Vujovic added.

SEEMO is a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South, East and Central Europe.

Vienna, 23/03/2017

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) expressed concern after learning new steps against freedom of the press in Turkey.

German Journalist and photoreporter Hinrich Schultze was arrested on 20 March after arriving in Diyarbakir from Hamburg, in order to report about Newroz celebrations. Newroz is a traditional celebration by Iranians and Kurds, and takes place on 21 March. After the German journalist arrived in the Kurd-populated Diyarbakır region, he was kept in custody for half an hour.

On 21 March in Van in East Turkey, according to several sources, the police arrested Selman Keles (Selman Keleş), who works for the web-news Dihaber.

Website sendika.org was blocked today by the Authority for Telecommunications of Turkey.

In a trial case that has already been postponed twice, journalists Erol Onderoglu (Erol Önderoğlu), writer Ahmet Nesin and Şebnem Korur-Fincancı had their third hearing on 21 March, on charges of “disseminating propaganda for a terrorist organization”. Nesin was not coming, so the court issued a warrant for his arrest. The next hearing will be on 8 June.

In a campaign for the daily Ozgur Gundem (Özgür Gündem) from 3 May 2016 to 7 August 2016, 56 media workers, experts and intellectuals participated, of which 50 subsequently faced some sort of legal prosecution; 38 of these were turned into court cases. Between them also reporters Without Borders (RSF) Turkey representative Erol Onderoglu (Erol Önderoğlu), writer Ahmet Nesin and Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TIHV) President Sebnem Korur-Financi.

“Erol Önderoğlu, recipient of the 2016 Dr. Erhard Busek SEEMO Award for Better Understanding in South East Europe and two other free thinking, independent persons face serious legal repercussions” SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic said today. “

SEEMO is a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South, East and Central Europe and its press freedom work is supported by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) project, as part of a grant by the European Commission.

Vienna, 17/03/2017

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) was disturbed to learn that in the previous days there have been several attacks and violations of media freedoms in Russia.

On 15 March, editor-in-chief of the Analytical Edition Yuri Baranchik was detained by authorities. This was reported by the Moscow-based news agency Regnum, who are the administrator of the publication. Baranchik was placed in detention by the instruction of Belarus authorities, as the editor is a citizen of Belarus. He claims that several journalists and media workers of Regnum were put on a surveillance list in December 2016 for allegedly “inciting inter-ethnic discord”.

The following day it was reported that correspondent of the independent paper Novaya Gazeta, Ali Feruz, was detained by police members. This time the request came from Uzbek authorities, a country Feruz left several years ago. On the day of his arrest, a pro-Kremlin TV station accused Feruz of having ties with a “radical organization”.

SEEMO members expressed deep concern and disapproval of these detentions, and call on authorities in Russia to release the media workers immediately.

SEEMO is a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South, East and Central Europe.

Vienna, 15/03/2017

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) expressed deep concern about the latest developments in Belarus.

The Belarus police arrested in the cities Vitebsk, Orsha, Rahachow / Rogachev and Brest on 12 March 18 journalists and bloggers who were covering protest against a law that imposes a tax on those not in full-time employment.

The police arrested the journalists for different reasons, like incorrect parking, violation of media legislation, for verification of the personal documents and with some other explanations.

Journalists Galina Abakunchyk, Siarhei Piatrukhin, Katsiaryna Andreeva (Bahvalova) and Dzmitry Harbunou spent a night in the detention. On 13 March Galina Abakunchyk and Ekaterina

Katsiaryna Andreeva (Bahvalova) were fined about 190 EUR each for “participation” in the protest rally which they covered as reporters.

Vienna, 15/03/2017

UN Human Rights Council 34th Special Session

Item 4: Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention

Mr President,

PEN International, ARTICLE 19 and 66 organisations are deeply concerned by the continuous deterioration of freedom of expression and media freedom in Turkey following the violent and contemptible coup attempt on 15 July 2016.
Over 180 news outlets have been shut down under laws passed by presidential decree following the imposition of a state of emergency. There are now at least 148 writers, journalists and media workers in prison, including Ahmet Şık, Kadri Gürsel, Ahmet and Mehmet Altan, Ayşe Nazlı Ilıcak and İnan Kızılkaya, making Turkey the biggest jailer of journalists in the world. The Turkish authorities are abusing the state of emergency by severely restricting fundamental rights and freedoms, stifling criticism and limiting the diversity of views and opinions available in the public sphere.
Restrictions have reached new heights in the lead up to a crucial referendum on constitutional reforms, which would significantly increase executive powers, set for 16 April 2017. The Turkish authorities’ campaign has been marred by threats, arrests and prosecutions of those who have voiced criticism of the proposed amendments. Several members of the opposition have been arrested on terror charges. Thousands of public employees, including hundreds of academics and opponents to the constitutional reforms, were dismissed in February. Outspoken “No” campaigners have been detained, adding to the overall climate of suspicion and fear. The rights to freedom of expression and information, essential to fair and free elections, are in jeopardy.
In the run-up to the referendum, the need for media pluralism is more important than ever. Voters have the right to be duly informed and to be provided with comprehensive information on all views, including dissenting voices, in sufficient time. The prevailing atmosphere should be one of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. There should be no fear of reprisals.
We urge this Council, its members and observer states, to call on the Turkish authorities to:
– Guarantee equal broadcasting time for all parties and allow for the dissemination of all information to the maximum extent possible in order to ensure that voters are fully informed;
– Put an end to the climate of suspicion and fear by:<br><br>
– Immediately releasing all those held in prison for exercising their rights to freedom of opinion and expression; <br><br>
– Ending the prosecutions and detention of journalists simply on the basis of the content of their journalism or alleged affiliations;
– Halting executive interference with independent news organisations including in relation to editorial decisions, dismissals of journalists and editors, pressure and intimidation against critical news outlets and journalists;
– Revoke the excessively broad provisions under the state of emergency, the application of which, in practice, are incompatible with Turkey’s human rights obligations.
Thank you Mr. President

Vienna, 14/03/2017

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) expressed deep disapproval after learning that Belarus police forces detained dozens journalists and bloggers during peaceful protests on 12 March.

Close to 50 media workers, activists and civil society leaders were detained in the span between March 10-12, during mass protests in the towns Orsha, Rahachou, Vitebsk and Brest. The protests were organised after a new tax was adopted and imposed against unemployed citizens. The protests were initially ignored by authorities, but as the number of marchers escalated, so did the inhumane practices of the authorities against them.

While journalists attempted to report from the scene of the protests, police and other state officials used various justifications for hindering their work. Disobedience of police demands, illegal parking, suspicion of car theft were some of the pretexts used by police, but media workers state the only reason was to stop them from disseminating information about the protests.

SEEMO calls on authorities in Belarus to immediately release any remaining activists, journalists and other civil society members from detention, and ask them to respect basic human rights, as well as freedom of speech.

SEEMO is a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South, East and Central Europe.

Vienna, 11/03/2017

The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and fourteen ambassadors accredited in Serbia expressed their public solidarity with the employees of B92 radio and television by visiting the premises on 8 March 2011. SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic joined the visit and spoke to the journalists – who have faced serious threats.

Brankica Stankovic, producer of the B92 TV programme “Insajder”, and known for her reporting on sensitive topics, has been under police protection since December 2009, after she revealed alleged connections between organised crime, football fans and politics.

Stankovic, the recipient of the 2008 Dr. Erhard Busek and SEEMO Award for Better Understanding and the 2010 OSCE Mission to Serbia “Person of the Year Award”, this year undertook another important investigation revealing the alleged misuse of public funds in the state-owned mine company Kulubara. After the show was broadcast on 14 February 2011, the whole team received death threats in the form of obituaries displayed in public places in the town of Lazarevac.

Radical nationalist groups began staging protests in front the B92 building and a political party announced a B92 boycott. One prominent member of the party was the director of the Kolubara mine company during the period investigated by “Insajder”. As a result of the mounting political pressure and new threats, Serbian police decided to provide 24-hour police protection to B92 Chief Executive Officer and Editor in Chief Veran Matic, and increased the number of policemen responsible for protecting Stankovic.

SEEMO applauds the decision of the Ministry of Interior to provide journalists with the police protection. However, political and criminal pressure exerted on B92 remains of great concern.

Vienna, 09/03/2017

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) was dismayed to learn that Elvi Fundo, journalist and director of the news portal Citynews.al and Radio Best, was attacked on 8 March in Tirana, Albania.

Fundo was attacked and beat by two unknown assailants around 10:30 in the morning, in the vicinity of his office. The journalist has previously worked on investigative stories regarding corruption and drug-trafficking and has stated that he believes the attacks occured in relation to this, rather than political interests.

„We harshly condemn yesterday’s attack on journalist Elvi Fundo“ SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic said this morning. „We have been informed that an investigation was launched, but we urge police officials to help solve this case as soon and as transparently as possible.“ Vujovic added.

SEEMO is a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South, East and Central Europe and its press freedom work is supported by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) project, as part of a grant by the European Commission.

Vienna, 07/03/2017

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) criticized the behavior of an official in Serbia, who has repeatedly shown antagonism towards media workers.

Vienna, 07 March 2017 – The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) criticized the behavior of an official in Serbia, who has repeatedly shown antagonism towards media workers.

On 7 March, the Mayor of Belgrade was present for the official opening of a sewage construction site in a suburban county on the city. Despite relatively few media outlets being informed, journalists from investigative web portals Istinomer and Krik managed to find out and be present at the scene. After several questions, the Mayor’s bodyguards first pushed Istinomer’s journalists. After she persisted, the Mayor himself pushed her away and told her that she is “asking for an incident for no reason”.

SEEMO members express their absolute condemnation of the behavior of this high city official and his staff.

SEEMO is a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South, East and Central Europe and its press freedom work is supported by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) project, as part of a grant by the European Commission.