13/09/2006: SERBIA – DEATH THREATS RECEIVED BY A JOURNALIST IN SERBIA

Vienna, 13/09/2006

To:

Dragan Jocic

Minister of Interior of the Republic of Serbia

Belgrade, Serbia

Your Excellency,

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 alarmed at the recent death threats received by a journalist in Serbia and the dismissive reaction of the police.

According to information before SEEMO, on the night of 18 August, Slavica Jovanovic, a journalist from Macvanski Prnjavor, received death threats by telephone from an anonymous male voice telling her that she will die and that she should move away. This was not the first time that Jovanovic has been threatened, and in the past, her family members have been physically attacked.

SEEMO was also informed that the local police refused to allow Jovanovic to file an official complaint. Indeed, it was only after the Journalists’ Association of Serbia (UNS) intervened on her behalf that the police agreed to give her proper protection.

SEEMO views these threats as a very serious violation of press freedom and journalists’ rights. We ask Your Excellency to do everything in your power to protect the life of the journalist and her family members, as well as to investigate why the local police failed to react immediately.

As SEEMO noted in its press release of 30 August, the situation in Serbia is very alarming because the number of threats and attacks on journalists has risen in recent months. SEEMO would also like to remind Your Excellency 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, 30/08/2006

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 the worsening situation for journalists in Serbia and Croatia.

In Serbia, SEEMO has registered the following attacks and threats against journalists, prison sentences given to journalists, as well as restrictions on the free access to information:

– On 13 July, Jelena Antic, Ruma correspondent for the daily Dnevnik, was prevented from attending a press conference at the Ruma City Hall by security officers, who were acting on the orders of the President of the Municipality, Srdjan Nikolic.

– On 25 July, Jahja Fehratovic, editor of the weekly Glas Sandzaka, received anonymous death threats over the phone.

– At the beginning of August, Slavko Savic, director of the local TV Kursumlija, was given a four-month conditional prison sentence for libel, although the information broadcast by his station was correct.

– On 13 August, Nikola Rumenic, journalist for the weekly Svet, was physically attacked and injured by two perpetrators in front of the hotel Jugoslavija in Belgrade.

– On 13 August, Dusanka Novkovic, Pozarevac correspondent for the daily Kurir, received threats over the phone by a priest of the Serbian Orthodox Church, who was dissatisfied with her writing in an article titled, “Priest Has Beaten Up a Priest”.

– On 17 August, Dragan Zaric, journalist for Radio Stari Milanovac, was physically attacked while moderating a radio show. A masked perpetrator entered the studio and attacked Zaric with a knife.

In Croatia, SEEMO has registered the following cases:

– On 23 June, Ad Van Denderen, a Dutch photographer, was beaten up by five unknown men on a beach near Split while taking photographs. He was seriously injured and had to seek medical treatment in a hospital. Afterwards, he went to a local police station in Split where he was not allowed to file an official complaint.

– On 12 July, Ladislav Tomicic, a journalist for Novi list daily, received an anonymous letter containing death threats directed at him and his family.

– In July, Vitomir Peric, Sinj correspondent for Jutarnji list daily and Croatian Radio, was insulted and threatened in a restaurant by Velibor Milosevic, a local politician. Peric had already received anonymous death threats over the phone.

– On 25 July, Kristina Tesija, a journalist for Nova TV, was verbally and physically attacked by Ivan Dabo, mayor of the town of Novalja, from where the journalist was reporting about water shortages for the evening news.

Speaking about these incidents, Oliver Vujovic, SEEMO Secretary General said, “SEEMO strongly condemns these threats and attacks on journalists, as well as all activities which restrict free journalistic work and movement. I am very concerned about the worsening of the working conditions of journalists in Croatia and Serbia, in particular because in many cases it is clear that the pressure was exerted by political representatives. Furthermore, in several cases, the police did not react properly.”

Vujovic added, “If both countries would like to become members of the European Union, the local politicians and courts, as well as police, must do everything in their power to provide safe working conditions for journalists.”

Vienna, 09/08/2006

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, welcomes Serbian President Boris Tadic´s refusal to promulgate legislative amendments to the Broadcasting Law passed by the Serbian Assembly on 19 July 2006.

SEEMO also fully supports the views expressed by the OSCE Mission to Serbia, which “called upon the Serbian Assembly to reconsider the urgent procedure of adopting amendments to the broadcasting law and allow time for public discussion.”

SEEMO believes that, if these amendments are signed into law, they will make the Republic Broadcasting Agency financially dependent on the government in clear violation of the regulatory body’s need for independence. In addition, although broadcasters may appeal, they are obliged to execute the regulatory body’s decision without delay; the failure to do so leads to a compulsory enforcement procedure of the Council’s decision.

Commenting on the situation, SEEMO Secretary-General, Oliver Vujovic said, “The proposed amendmends to the Broadcasting Law jeopardize freedom of expression and seriously limit the right to fair proceedings and the use of legal remedies, particularly the right to appeal against a decision of the Republic Broadcasting Agency.”

“For these reasons I welcome the decision of the Serbian President Boris Tadic to exercise his Constutional right and refuse to sign these amendments into the Broadcasting law. I also hope that in the next parliamentary session, in September or October 2006, Parliament will once again debate these amendments and take into considaration all domestic and international reactions by professional media organisations.”

Vienna, 22/05/2006

To:

Branko Crvenkovski
President of the Republic of Macedonia

Ljupco Jordanovski
President of the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia

Vlado Buckovski
Prime Minister of the Republic of Macedonia

CC:

Meri Mladenovska-Georgievska
Minister of Justice of the Republic of Macedonia

Ljubomir Mihajlovski
Minister of Interior of the Republic of Macedonia

Lence Sofronievska
President of the Court Council of the Republic of Macedonia

Skopje, Republic of Macedonia (FYROM)

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 outraged by a prison sentence handed down to a journalist in Kumanovo, Republic of Macedonia – FYROM.

According to information before SEEMO, Zoran Bozinovski, co-owner and deputy editor-in-chief of the daily Trojka and a journalist for Forum Plus weekly, was recently given a 3-month prison sentence for criminal defamation and insult. The sentence was handed down by the Court in Kumanovo after charges were brought against Bozinovski for an article published in the local weekly Bulevar on 25 December 2003. At the time he was the newspaper’s owner and editor-in-chief.

In accordance with the SEEMO Vienna Declaration of 6 May 2006, SEEMO regards prison terms for defamation as a gross violation of internationally accepted standards and believes that defamation should be treated under civil law, not as a criminal offence subject to punishment by the state. SEEMO also finds this sentence unacceptable because, on 10 May, the Parliament in Skopje adopted an amendment to the Criminal Code, which abolished imprisonment as a punishment for criminal defamation.

SEEMO has also been informed that Bozinovski has to report to the police today at 3 p.m. in order to start serving his sentence. However, the above-mentioned decision by the Parliament will be implemented on 23 May. At the moment, there are 82 pending charges against Bozinovski, mostly initiated by public officials. As a result of his investigative reporting, Bozinovski has been physically attacked and seriously injured in the past.

We remind Your Excellencies that reporting on controversial figures and topics is not only in the public interest, but also provides a context to delicate and difficult subjects. SEEMO, therefore, asks Your Excellencies to do everything in your power to rescind this court decision and withdraw the charges and the sentence against Bozinovski. 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, 10/04/2006

To:

Sergei Stanishev
Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria

Rumen Yordanov Petkov
Minister of Interior Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria

Sofia, Bulgaria

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 about a recent assassination attempt on a Bulgarian journalist.

According to information before SEEMO, on 6 April 2006, a bomb exploded in front of the house of Vassil Ivanov, an investigative reporter for Nova TV channel. The explosion destroyed his apartment, and smashed the windows of the building and the cars parked nearby, but luckily nobody was injured. Ivanov suspected the assault might have been connected to his reporting on crime and his investigative stories.

SEEMO strongly condemns this bomb attack, which was a clear attempt to kill the journalist and his family. Journalists should be able to work freely, without their life being threatened due to their reporting.

We urge Your Excellencies to do everything in your power to stop these practices and to prevent such cases from happening in the future, as well as to secure safe working conditions for journalists. 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, 23/02/2006

To:

Calin Popescu-Tariceanu

Prime Minister of Romania

Monica Luisa Macovei

Minister of Justice of Romania

Bucharest, Romania

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), expresses its outrage at recent government pressure on journalists in Romania.

According to information by the Civic Media Association in Bucharest, since the beginning of February 2006, six Romanian journalists have been placed under judicial pressure in Romania as a result of their professional activities. On 7 February, anonymous sources provided two national dailies from Bucharest, ZIUA and Romania Libera, with military documents about Romanian and US troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. However, the newspapers decided not to publish this information. The military information was sent to the editorial offices on a CD copy, which was later handed over to the authorities.

Afterwards, the Romania Libera corespondent from Vrancea county, Marian Garleanu, was arrested on 16 February and released after two days. His arrest was part of a broader investigation into the leak of military information by a former Romanian soldier, which has been described by some as classified.

Sebastian Oancea, another journalist from Vrancea county and a corespondent for Academia Catavencu magazine in Bucharest, was also implicated in the case by the authorities. His home was searched on 18 February, and his personal CD’s and his computer hard disk were confiscated. On 20 February, the public prosecutors in Bucharest charged and indicted Oancea for the possession and distribution of state secrets.

Defense Minister Teodor Atanasiu said the information was two years old and “doesn’t threaten our forces…but it is very serious that something like this was leaked.”.

Three journalists for ZIUA daily, Bogdan Comaroni, Doru Dragomir and Victor Roncea, who is also a member of the Civic Media Association, are now also under investigation by the public prosecutors for possession of the information – in spite of the fact that the journalists informed the authorities about the information and handed it over. Ovidiu Ohanesian from Romania Libera is also being investigated in the same case. Elsewhere, Sorin Rosca Stanescu, Director of ZIUA daily, and Petre Mihai Bacanu, Director of Romania Libera daily, were questioned by the prosecutors about this case.

SEEMO strongly condemns the attempt to pressure journalists into revealing their sources. Governments should not involve journalists in their criminal investigations, nor intimidate them in order to influence their reporting.

We urge Your Excellencies to do everything in your power to stop these practices and to prevent such cases from happening in the future. 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, 21/12/2005

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 from South East Europe and an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), is alarmed about recent death threats received by Croatian journalists.

According to information before SEEMO, on 12 December, after the Croatian Radio Television (HRT)’s edition of the popular political show “Latinica”, titled “Tudjman’s Legacy”, the editor of the show, Denis Latin, together with his staff members, started receiving numerous death threats. During the show, guests discussed the late Croatian president Franjo Tudjman and his role, as well as his legacy.

SEEMO has also been informed that Zrinka Vrabec-Mojzes, editor at Radio 101 from Zagreb, who herself was a guest in the same show, has also started receiving death threats, as well as other editors and journalists working for the radio station.

SEEMO would like to emphasise that open discussions and critical views are a part of every democratic society and are especially important for nascent democracies. Therefore, it is extremely alarming that a TV show could cause such reactions, including a call by certain individuals to lynch journalists in Croatia. SEEMO is extremely worried about several Croatian members of the Parliament, who may have started this campaign and who, by doing so, have violated the laws on freedom of expression.

SEEMO asks Your Excellencies to do everything in your power to protect the lives of threatened journalists, as also to secure the independence of the Croatian Radio Television (HRT). We would also like to remind Your Excellencies that a safe working environment for journalists is a

fundamental principle of any democratic.

We thank you for your attention.

Yours sincerely,

Oliver Vujovic

SEEMO Secretary General

Vienna, 21/12/2005

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 alarmed about the recent attack on a media house in Albania.

According to information before SEEMO, on the night of 18 December, unknown persons threw explosives into an area close to the building in which three newspapers, Shekulli, Sporti Shqiptar and Biznesi, and one magazine, Spekter, have their offices. Although the journalists were still working in the building, nobody was injured, but there was damage to property.

Oliver Vujovic, SEEMO Secretary General, condemned this incident, “We are especially worried because only a few days ago there was a brutal physical attack on a journalist in the city of Gjirokastra. Once again, we would like to emphasise that journalists must be able to report without fear of harassment or intimidation. It is obvious that such acts of violence against journalists are attempts to scare them and obstruct their work.”

SEEMO believes that a safe working environment for journalists is a fundamental principle of any democratic society. We urge the Albanian authorities to investigate this case immediately and to take all necessary action against those responsible.

Vienna, 19/12/2005

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 alarmed about the recent assault on two journalists in Greece.

According to information before SEEMO, on Tuesday, 13 December, the reporter of Mega Channel TV, Christos Michalopoulos, and his cameraman, Alfonso Ponse, were attacked by unknown men wearing masks and helmets, while covering a demonstration in downtown Athens. The demonstration was organised by trade unions in protest of a new law introducing significant changes to working practices in the public sector. Two journalists were sent to cover the demonstration after some 30 masked men burnt down a police car. Later, the two were also attacked and beaten around the head and upper body by the same men. They were both taken to a hospital, where their injuries were treated. None of the perpetrators could be identified.

Speaking about this attack, Oliver Vujovic, SEEMO Secretary General said, “It is important that during a demonstration all sides respect the right of journalists to report on important news events.”

Vujovic also referred to previous attacks on journalists in Greece, “In October 2004 sports journalist Philippos Syrigos was attacked in the car park near Super Sport FM radio station, while walking to his car after a radio show. On 7 May, Kostas Nikolakopoulos, a journalist for the sports daily Fos ton Sport and the radio station Super Sport FM, was attacked by four unknown men in front of his home in Athens. On 30 September 2005, Periklis Stellas, sports journalist and director of the Thessaloniki branch of the sports daily newspaper, Goal News, was attacked by an unknown person as he was leaving his office in the centre of Thessaloniki. In [these] cases, the perpetrators have not been identified yet.”

With the above in mind, SEEMO calls upon the authorities in Greece to find and bring to justice those responsible for these attacks. SEEMO would also like to remind the Greek authorities that freedom of expression and a safe working environment for journalists are the basic principles of any democratic society.

Vienna, 19/12/2005

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 the recent attack on a journalist in Albania.

According to information before SEEMO, on 11 December, at around 2 a.m., Engjell Serjani, director of Dita Jug newspaper and correspondent for Gazeta Shqiptare, was attacked and beaten up by two unknown persons in the city of Gjirokastra. Serjani was leaving a bar next to his office in order to go home, when two persons stopped him and started hitting him until he lost consciousness. Later, Serjani recovered consciousness and was able to go to a hospital to have his injuries treated. The two perpetrators managed to escape.

Oliver Vujovic, SEEMO Secretary General, condemned this attack on the journalist, “Physical attacks on journalists are both unacceptable and alarming. Journalists must be able to report without fear of harassment and intimidation. This case is very worrying because this is not the first time that a journalist in Albania was physically attacked. This and other acts of violence against journalists are obviously aimed at intimidating the work of journalists.” Vujovic added, “SEEMO takes every physical attack on a journalist in a country of transition very seriously. Particularly because in previous years in South East Europe, several journalists have been killed due to their professional work.”

SEEMO believes that a safe working environment for journalists is a fundamental principle of any democratic society. We urge the Albanian authorities to investigate this case immediately and to take all necessary action against the responsible persons.