02/02/2007: CROATIA – GORDAN MALIĆ, A JOURNALIST AT THE WEEKLY MAGAZINE GLOBUS – CROATIA

Vienna, 02/02/2007

To:

Ivo Sanader
Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia

Ivica Kirin
Minister of Interior Affairs of the Republic of Croatia

Your Excellencies,

The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South East Europe and an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), is deeply concerned by the repeated burglaries at the house of Gordan Malić, a journalist at the weekly magazine Globus. Based on Information provided to SEEMO, the first burglary took place in December 2006 and was followed by a second burglary on 31 January 2007. In 2001 and 2004, Malić received murder threats. He also received 24-hour police protection in 2001. SEEMO has strong reason to believe that these burglaries are related to the threats, which Gordan Malić received a few years ago for his investigative reporting.

We would also like to remind you that, in February 2005, SEEMO issued a protest supporting Malić. On 18 February 2005, SEEMO was informed by a group of five Croatian journalists, including Malić, that the Counter-Intelligence Agency (POA) had recently accused them of meeting with representatives of foreign secret services.

We would also like to remind you that, on numerous occasions in 2006, SEEMO has been informed about threats to other investigative journalists in Croatia. SEEMO is deeply concerned about the safety of Croatian journalists and asks Your Excellencies to do everything in your power to urgently investigate these cases, and to take all necessary steps to protect Malić’s life. Finally, SEEMO would like to remind Your Excellencies that a safe working environment for journalists is a fundamental principle of every democratic society. It is also in the interests of democratic development in Croatia that journalists are allowed to investigate stories free of any pressure. We thank you for your attention.

Yours sincerely,

Oliver Vujovic

SEEMO Secretary General

Vienna, 20 January 2007

Hrant Dink, born 1954 and the founder and editor-in-chief of the Armenian-Turkish bilingual weekly Agos, was assassinated on 19 January 2007 outside the Agos weekly’s offices in Istanbul. The South East Europe Media Organisation is alarmed about the killing of the journalist and is asking the authorities in Turkey to start a fast investigation.

Vienna, 19/12/2006

The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists from South East Europe, and an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), is deeply concerned about the recent developments in connection with the local radio station Antena C, and the local TV station Euro TV, both run by the Chisinau Municipal Council.

According to information provided to SEEMO, on 14 December, the Chisinau Municipal Council decided to put Antena C and Euro TV up for tender and to dismiss the directors of both institutions. The two broadcasters are being privatized as outlined in the new broadcasting code. In reaction to this decision, journalists at both stations began an organized protest on 15 December.

SEEMO urges all those involved in the process of reorganization to find an equitable solution that ensures the normal functioning of both media. It is important for every country to have local electronic media that provide citizens with access to comprehensive and impartial information. SEEMO is especially concerned about the interruption of the broadcasting signal of Antena C on 16 December, during a radio debate about current developments at the station.

“I agree with the Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova, Ambassador Louis O’Neill, that it is curious that such a technical problem arose during a debate about problems at the radio station Antena C”, said Oliver Vujovic, SEEMO Secretary General. Vujovic added that he is very worried about the recent developments in the Chisinau local electronic media. “I would like everyone to remember that free and independent media are crucial to the democratic development in any country. A plurality of voices is an essential element of every society”.

SEEMO also calls on the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova to ensure that the new members of Teleradio Moldova ‘s Supervisory Board will be selected transparently, based on professional experience.

Vienna, 24/11/2006

The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South East Europe and an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), is deeply concerned about recent death threats against a journalist from Bosnia-Herzegovina:

According to information before SEEMO, Mubarak Asani, a journalist for the Sarajevo-based public broadcaster BHT 1 TV, received anonymous death threats via telephone after the broadcasting of an investigative report in the weekly political programme “Javna tajna” (Public Secret) on 2 November 2006. The report revealed details about an illegal prostitution ring in the city of Sarajevo involving politicians and other public persons in Bosnia-Herzegovina, although the names of the politicians were not disclosed.

After the programme was broadcast, Asani received over a hundred anonymous threatening phone calls, as well as a bribe offer to make public the names of the politicians involved.

Speaking about the incident, Oliver Vujovic, SEEMO Secretary General said, “SEEMO strongly condemns such threats against journalists, as well as all activities which restrict the work of journalists.”

Vienna, 19/10/2006

To:

Vladimir Voronin
President of the Republic of Moldova

Vasile Tarlev
Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova

Vitalie Parlog
Minister of Justice of the Republic of Moldova

Chisinau, Moldova

Your Excellencies,

The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists from South East Europe, and an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), is alarmed at the recent pressures on journalists from a Chisinau-based weekly.

According to information before SEEMO, after publishing a series of articles related to crimes and corruption in the legal system of the Republic of Moldova, journalists working for the Chisinau-based weekly newspaper Ziarul de Garda have faced ongoing pressure from the representatives of different state institutions as well as other unidentified persons.

SEEMO has also been informed that these persons have attempted to interfere in the editorial policy of the weekly by entering into doubtful agreements or by attempting to bribe its reporters.

SEEMO condemns these attempts to influence the paper’s reporting and to intimidate journalists. With this in mind, we would ask Your Excellencies to use your influence on Moldovan officials and institutions to encourage them to investigate these accusations and to halt these illegal practices.

SEEMO would also like to remind Your Excellency that an open media environment allowing for the free flow of information, as well as the existence of critical media, is a fundamental principle of any democratic society.

We thank you for your attention.

Yours sincerely,

Oliver Vujovic

SEEMO Secretary General

Vienna, 10/05/2006

To:

Ivo Sanader

Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia

Ivica Kirin

Minister of Interior Affairs of the Republic of Croatia

Zagreb, Croatia

Your Excellencies,

The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South East Europe and an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), is deeply concerned about recent death threats against Croatian journalists.

According to information before SEEMO, on 9 May 2006, Drago Hedl, the editor of the Croatian weekly, Feral Tribune, received a death threat. Hedl said the threat was directed at him because of a series of articles he published in the weekly on the torture and killings of Serbian civilians in Osijek. This is not the first time that Hedl has received death threats, and SEEMO issued a letter of concern on the subject in December 2005. On this occasion the threat allegedly came from a local politician.

We would also like to bring to your attention the case of Slobodna Dalmacija journalist, Sasa Jadrijevic Tomas, who reported a death threat to the police at the beginning of May from a retired Croatian officer. The threat came after Jadrijevic alleged that the officer was illegally using army draftees to work on his construction site.

SEEMO is deeply concerned about the re-occurrence of threats against journalists and kindly asks your Excellency to do everything in your power to urgently investigate these cases, and to take all necessary steps to protect their lives. It is very alarming that threats against journalists in Croatia are increasing.

We would like to remind Your Excellencies that a safe working environment for journalists is a fundamental principle of every democratic society. It is also in the interest of democratic development in Croatia that journalists are allowed to investigate stories free of any pressure.

We thank you for your attention.

Yours sincerely,

Oliver Vujovic

SEEMO Secretary General

Vienna, 27/09/2006

To:

Zoran Stojkovic

Minister of Justice of the Republic of Serbia

Belgrade, Serbia

Bojan Kostres

President of the Parliament of Vojvodina

Novi Sad, Serbia

Your Excellencies,

The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South East Europe and an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), strongly condemns the suspended jail sentence given to a Serbian journalist for criminal defamation.

According to information before SEEMO, Snezana Nikolic, a journalist for the daily Dnevnik from Novi Sad, was given a six-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, because of her article about a lawyer. Published in Dnevnik four years ago, the article concerned conflicts over construction sites in Vojvodina. The District Court’s judgement in Novi Sad was affirmed on 21 September 2006 by the Trial Court of Novi Sad.

SEEMO, as well as local journalists’ associations in Serbia, are deeply concerned that many journalists are still facing criminal defamation actions in the country. Another concern is the District Court’s explanation in Nicolic´s case that a suspended sentence is less harsh than a fine.

SEEMO strongly believes that comparisons between fines and suspended sentences are redundant. Both are forms of criminal punishment and both leave the journalist with the stigma of a criminal record. Although preferable to a jail sentence, a suspended sentence encourages self-censorship and is another method of preventing journalists from practicing their profession.

SEEMO would also ask Your Excellencies to do everything in your power to reverse the decision in Nikolic’s case in the event that this decision is not overturned by the higher court.

SEEMO asks as well to start the process of decriminalisation of defamation according to international standards. Journalists should not be punished for defamation under criminal law and all defamation actions should be heard in the civil courts.

SEEMO would also like to remind Your Excellencies that an open media environment allowing for the free flow of information is a fundamental principle of any democratic society.

We thank you for your attention.

Yours sincerely,

Oliver Vujovic

SEEMO Secretary General

Vienna, 26/09/2006

To: Kole Berisha

President of the Assembly of Kosovo

Pristina, Kosovo

Your Excellency,

The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists from South East Europe, and an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), expresses its deep concern over the attack on a journalist working for the Prisitna-based Lajm daily.

According to information before SEEMO, on 14 September reporter Enis Veliu from the Kosovo daily Lajm was allegedly assaulted by Muhamet Berisha, a security member of the Kosovo Assembly. The incident happened while Veliu was waiting to meet the member of the parliament Bajrush Xhemaili at the Assembly’s restaurant. Prior the meeting, Veliu had presented a valid regular journalists visitors ID.

SEEMO was further informed that Veliu wanted to report the incident to the police, but at the police station he was advised to forgive the perpetrator.

SEEMO strongly condemns this attack on the journalist and urges Your Excellency to do everything in your power to investigate this case, as well as to prevent such incidents from happening in the future. We would like to remind Your Excellency that it is crucial for journalists to do their job freely and that independent media are vital for the democratic development of any society.

We thank you for your attention.

Yours sincerely,

Oliver Vujovic

SEEMO Secretary General

Vienna, 20/09/2006

To:

Vladimir Voronin

President of the Republic of Moldova

Chisinau, Moldova

Your Excellency,

The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists from South East Europe, and an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), is deeply concerned about the recent arrest of the sales director at PRO TV Chisinau.

According to information before SEEMO, Ghenadie Braghis, sales director at PRO TV Chisinau, was arrested on 7 September on suspicion of demanding a bribe of US$ 1,000 from a private Moldovan transport company. The bribe was allegedly in exchange for a prime time commercial on PRO TV Chisinau. During his detention, Braghis was denied access to legal counsel.

SEEMO condemns this treatment of an innocent individual who has not been found guilty of any wrongdoing. There is also considerable concern that Braghis’ arrest may be related to the critical reporting of the TV station. With this in mind, we would ask Your Excellency to use your influence on Moldovan officials and institutions to encourage them to respect the legal procedures in police investigations.

SEEMO would also like to remind Your Excellency that an open media environment allowing for the free flow of information, as well as the existence of critical media, is a fundamental principle of any democratic society.

We thank you for your attention.

Yours sincerely,

Oliver Vujovic

SEEMO Secretary General