12/09/2014: KOSOVO – SEEMO CONCERNED WITH THE SITUATION IN RTK

Vienna, 12/09/2014

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), is concerned with the current situation in Kosovo’s public broadcaster, RTK.

Recurring conflicts between the Management and the independent Trade Union of RTK have allegedly been caused by financial deterioration, organizational and program issues, and editorial censorship of journalists.

Trade Union members claim that besides constant pressure on professional journalists, another big problem remains the uncontrolled employment, with no employment procedures or financial coverage.

“SEEMO calls the on Management of RTK to execute their activities transparently, and give explanations for previous decisions, questioned by the Trade Union” SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic stated. “The lack of transparency inside a public broadcaster means that no transparency can be expected on the outside. It is of the utmost importance that RTK protects its journalists and provides them with a safe working atmosphere” he added.

Vienna, 09/12/2014

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists from South East and Central Europe, condemns the attack on several journalists who were reporting from the northwestern province of Kocaeli from an environmental meeting.

The journalists were allegedly assaulted by the police, in order to prevent them from photographing and filming. Their cameras were taken by police members, and there are claims that allegedly one police officer attempted to injure Kocaeli newspaper reporter Erhan Altıparmak.

„We are alarmed by all these new cases in Turkey where human rights are seriously disrespected, and media freedom is violated. We insist that Turkish authorities investigate this case of violance against journalists. Pressures that journalists in Turkey face seems to be increasing every day, and that is a matter of great concern to us“ SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic said today.

Vienna, 10/09/2014

The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), is expressing its full support for the investigation of attacks on journalists in Serbia.

Milos Djorelijevski, a BETA news agency journalist, was physically attacked on 29 July 2009, during protests in Belgrade, Serbia. The attack occured during clashes between protesters and the police, despite the fact that Djorelijevski showed his journalistic accreditation.

Commenting on the matter, SEEMO Secretary General, Oliver Vujovic said „There seems to be no progress in the investigation, which is a great concern to us. The Journalists’ Association of Serbia has called out authorities to find the perpetrators of this attack, and we express our full suppport. Cases like these must be solved, since such violations make press work extremely dangerous. A safe, open media environment is crucial in a democratic society, and we urge Serbian authorities to react immediately“ he added.

Vienna, 08/09/2014

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), is concerned regarding the recent Zagreb Municipal Civil Court ruling, ordering the commercial broadcaster RTL to pay 50,000 HRK to the mayor of Zagreb, Milan Bandic, as compensation.

“RTL Daily” aired an interview with PM Zoran Mihajlovic on 20 May 2013, in which he makes remarks about the mayor. Bandic then pressed charges against RTL for false allegations, saying they violated his reputation, dignity and honor.

SEEMO and its members fully support the requests of the Croatian Journalist Association (HND), demanding that the provision on punishable defamation should be withdrawn from the Penal Code.

Media legislation should not be used as a disciplinary tool for censoring and silencing journalists and media outlets. Statements made by public officials should be published freely, instead of used as a weapon in the courtroom. Croatia as the newest EU member must try to adhere to democratic principles and show greater support for media freedom.

Vienna, 01/09/2014

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists from South East Europe, is concerned to learn about the threats made to Visar Duriqi, a Kosovo journalist.

Duriqi covers in his stories religious extremism, referring to how Muslims are sent from Kosovo to Syria. This caused an outrage in the radical Muslim community, and Duriqi was accused of apostasy by the Muslim Youth Forum in August 2014.

The communiqué this network posted caused a wave of hate speech and death threats towards the journalist. According to radical Muslims, apostasy is punishable by death.

SEEMO urges authorities in Pristina to find the persons responsible for the threats as soon as possible, and provide Duriqi with police protection. „These threats should not be taken lightly, since they are coming in such a large number and from different sources. Kosovo must create a healthier environment for free speech and secure the protection of journalists.“ SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic stated.

Vienna, 13/08/2014

The Vienna-based South East Europe Organisation (SEEMO), condemns the attack on Croatian journalist Domagoj Magretic in Zagreb.

The journalist was left with injuries after he was attacked by an unknown man around in the night.

The police are searching for the perpetrator, while Magretic stated that because of his articles, he had received threats several times during the last year.

“I condemn the attack on Magretic and I hope the Croatian police will find the perpetrators and bring them to justice, “ SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujović said. “An incident of this kind must be resolved as soon as possible, for the sake of human rights and media freedom in Croatia” he added.

Vienna, 13/08/2014

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), is urging the authorities in Montenegro to react immediately to threats the journalist Jelena Jovanovic has been receiving from an anonymous profile page on Facebook.

The journalist of daily Vijesti has been receiving threats in her inbox since 9 August this year from an unknown person.

Jovanovic and her colleagues believe the threats began because of an article she recently wrote regarding a protected witness testimony, in the murder case of the editor-in-chief of daily Dan Dusko Jovanovic who was killed in 2004.

The police in Danilovgrad and Podgorica were notified of the threats, but have said that Facebook is an American company and in order to obtain the IP address of the attacker, they must contact Interpol. The messages also contained references to the protected witness, so it is possible that another person is in danger.

Considering previous cases, SEEMO and its members are supporting the daily Vijesti and insist on the immediate investigation of this case.

There have been numerous physical and verbal attacks, as well as threats and blackmail of journalists in Montenegro, and this daily paper has been a target of attacks for years.

”I hope that the country’s authorities will bring the attacker to justice,” SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic said. “Journalists have a right to work without fear of attack or pressure or threats of any kind”.

Vienna, 10/08/2014

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), condemns the language Turkish Prime Minister Erdoğan used when referring to journalist Amberin Zaman, Economist Turkey Correspondent and working for Turkish daily Taraf. All happened after a television debate whrere Zaman asked a question to the opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu.

The question caused a hateful backlash from Erdoğan, who mentioned the journalist in an election rally in the city of Malatya. The Prime Minister said: “A militant in the guise of a journalist, a shameless woman. Know your place!” he continued, “they gave you a pen and you are writing a column in a newspaper, and you insult a society that is 99 percent Muslim”.

SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic stated his concern over such incidents in Turkey that put the professional work of journalists in danger, adding that he is, along with Zaman, waiting for the apology of the prime minister.

„Amerin Zaman had been fired from Haberturk daily newspaper for her critical articles regarding the government last year, and it is unacceptable that she is now facing new threats due to her work“ Vujovic said.

„I am urging authorities in Turkey, and the Prime Minister to stop with such undemocratic practices, as well as hate speech directed towards women. All journalists are equal and they have the right to be treated without discrimination, especially when it is coming from such a high position. This is a bad example for the general public“ he added.

Vienna, 05/08/2014

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), once again is asking for an professional investigation by the authorities over the physical attack on Davor Pasalic, an editor of the Serbian news agency Fonet.

A month earlier Pasalic was attacked and brutally beaten near his home in Belgrade by three young men, who tried first to extort money from him, but then insulted him on the basis of his nationality. It was strange that the group had the information that he is not a Serb, as most people in Belgrade did not know this.

After the beating, Pasalic tried to walk to his home a few hundred meters away, but before entering his building, but was attacked again.

He was later diagnosed with serious head injuries, bruises and cuts on his body, as well as two broken teeth. Pasalic stated that he is unaware of any reasons why such an attack would happen, nor had received any threats prior to the beating that happened on 3 July 2014.

SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic is calling on Serbian police authorities to investigate this case and find the attackers immediately. An immediate reaction is necessary, so that other possible attacks on media freedom can be prevented.“

Vienna, 21/07/2014

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists from South East Europe, is concerned to hear about the physical attack Zivko Perisic, a Beta News Agency journalist.

The motive behind this attack was an article Perisic wrote in January this year, about a fellow citizen who was stealing electricity. The news was followed by a quote from a local businessperson who confirmed that the person was being prosecuted for this crime.

The journalist was threatened, insulted , and attacked physically in the town of Gornji Milanovac,.

Perišić immediately reported the attack to the police, the judiciary in Gornji Milanovac, and notified journalist associations.

SEEMO is alarmed at the number of cases and different types of pressure Serbian journalists have been under for the last several months on local level, and calls on authorities to react and punish the perpetrator according to law. This would be a step forward in democratizing the society and protecting media freedom.