07/06/2005: KOSOVO – ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON A KOSOVO JOURNALIST

Vienna, 07/06/2005

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 at the recent assassination attempt on a Kosovo journalist.

According to information before SEEMO, on Friday, 3 June, Bardhyl Ajeti, former journalist and editor for Bota sot daily from Kosovo, which is also published in Western Europe and USA, was shot with one bullet in the head and one in the back while driving through the village of Bresalc/Bresalce, some kilometres away from Gjilan/Gnjilane. Unknown persons have opened gunfire on Ajeti’s car, while driving by. His condition is critical, although he was immediately operated upon.

SEEMO has also been informed that on several occasions Ajeti claimed he was under threat. We would like to stress that this attempt on Ajeti’s life is

just one in a series of attacks on journalists in Kosovo. Only one year ago Fatmira Terdevci, a journalist for Koha Ditore, was attacked by unknown men. The perpetrators have still not been identified.

SEEMO calls upon the international and local authorities in Kosovo to do everything in their power to find those persons responsible for this

assassination attempt and to bring them to justice. SEEMO would also like to emphasise that freedom of expression and a safe working environment for journalists are the basic principles of any democratic society.

Vienna, 06/06/2005

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 concerned about a recent attempt by a Macedonian political party to ban Serbian music in Macedonia (Republic of Macedonia – FYROM).

According to information before SEEMO, on Wednesday, 1 June, the leadership of the Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity (VMRO)/People’s Party sent an appeal to all owners of television and radio stations in Macedonia to ban the broadcasting of Serbian music for the next three months. This appeal followed the decision of the Serbian Orthodox Church not to recognise the Macedonian Orthodox Church.

SEEMO strongly condemns this call by the VMRO/People’s Party, because no party has the right to influence the editorial policy of any media house.

All politicians must recognise the basic principles of freedom of expression and press freedom.

Vienna, 4 June 2005

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is alarmed about attack on Bardhyl Ajeti, born 1977, journalist working for Bota sot daily in Kosovo.

He was shot by unidentified assassins on 3 June 2005, while he was driving a car on the way to Pristina in Kosovo.

Vienna, 19/05/2005

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 a recent attack on journalists in Albania.

According to information from the Albanian Helsinki Committee, on 8 May, two journalists and two cameramen from local TV stations in Korca were forbidden from filming the activities of municipal police officers, who were in the process of suspending activities at a private bar in the Korca district. Furthermore, the chief of the municipal police of the Korca district exerted violence against Juliana Dhimitri, correspondent for Top Channel TV, and threw away one of the cameramen’s equipment.

Oliver Vujovic, SEEMO Secretary General, condemned these attacks on journalists. “Attacks on journalists and destruction of their equipment are unacceptable. It is particularly worrying if these attacks are coming from high officials, like from a chief of the municipal police. Journalists must be able to report without fear of harassment and intimidation.”

SEEMO would like to reassert 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 the necessary action against the responsible persons.

H.E. Janez Drnovsek
President
Office of the President of the Republic
SI-1000 Ljubljana
Slovenia

Fax: +386 1 478 13 57

H.E. Janez Jansa
Prime Minister
Office of the Prime Minister
SI-1000 Ljubljana
Slovenia

Fax: +386 1 1781721

Vienna, 12 May 2005

Your Excellencies,

The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists, and its affiliate, the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), are writing to you to highlight a number of problems with the draft Act on Radio Television Slovenia (RTV Slovenia).

Before examining some of the provisions, IPI would ask the Slovenian government whether there is a real need to introduce an amended public service broadcasting law. In previous times, the Slovenian law was considered to be one of the most advanced within the new EU member countries and it appears to IPI that amendments might harm this reputation.

IPI believes that the draft law in its present form does not do everything possible to uphold the independence and autonomy of the public service broadcaster and, quite to the contrary, it leaves the organisation vulnerable to political influence and pressure.

For example, concerning the composition of the Programming Council of RTV Slovenia (PCRS), in Article 17 (5), 16 members are to be appointed by the National Assembly based on suggestions “by the viewers and listeners of RTV broadcasts, universities, associations of societies or their organisations. . .”

Using this format, IPI is worried that the relationship between civil society organisations and the National Assembly merely pays lip service to the idea of negotiation and consultation but, in truth, gives the organisations little or no say in the final decision as to who should be a member of the PCRS. To avoid this problem, IPI would prefer to see either an independent board of civil society organisations choosing their own representatives or certain nominated organisations forwarding their own choices.

IPI also notes that the Roma community is not specifically mentioned. On the question of the PCRS, IPI would like to see the Roma community represented in this body. This is important because of the government’s commitment to the Slovenian Constitution and the Public Media Act.

Another important point is the question of the third channel that is to be used for transmitting parliamentary and other National Assembly and National Council activities. Given the special nature of this channel, IPI believes that funding should come not from the budget of the public service broadcaster, but from a special source of funding.

After all, the requirement to produce such programming is an additional burden on the broadcaster that might affect its work in other valuable areas and there is a need for heavy technical investment in programme distribution since, at present, it is obviously not possible to broadcast a third channel across the entire country.

In view of the above, IPI and SEEMO would ask that the Slovenian government take the draft law and enter into a rolling discussion with all interested parties as a means of making certain that the draft law meets the needs of the broadest possible spectrum of Slovenian society.

Finally, public service broadcasting operates both for and on behalf of the Slovenian public and a strong statement to this effect would certainly remove some of IPI’s concerns about the possible deficiencies related to the question of the broadcaster’s independence from political influences.

We thank you for your attention.

Yours sincerely,

Johann P. Fritz
IPI Director

Oliver Vujovic
SEEMO Secretary General

Vienna, 12/05/2005

To:

Janez Drnovsek
President
Office of the President of the Republic

Janez Jansa
Prime Minister
Office of the Prime Minister

SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Your Excellencies,

The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists, and its affiliate, the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), are writing to you to highlight a number of problems with the draft Act on Radio Television Slovenia (RTV Slovenia).

Before examining some of the provisions, IPI would ask the Slovenian government whether there is a real need to introduce an amended public service broadcasting law. In previous times, the Slovenian law was considered to be one of the most advanced within the new EU member countries and it appears to IPI that amendments might harm this reputation.

IPI believes that the draft law in its present form does not do everything possible to uphold the independence and autonomy of the public service broadcaster and, quite to the contrary, it leaves the organisation vulnerable to political influence and pressure.

For example, concerning the composition of the Programming Council of RTV Slovenia (PCRS), in Article 17 (5), 16 members are to be appointed by the National Assembly based on suggestions “by the viewers and listeners of RTV broadcasts, universities, associations of societies or their organisations. . .”

Using this format, IPI is worried that the relationship between civil society organisations and the National Assembly merely pays lip service to the idea of negotiation and consultation but, in truth, gives the organisations little or no say in the final decision as to who should be a member of the PCRS. To avoid this problem, IPI would prefer to see either an independent board of civil society organisations choosing their own representatives or certain nominated organisations forwarding their own choices.

IPI also notes that the Roma community is not specifically mentioned. On the question of the PCRS, IPI would like to see the Roma community represented in this body. This is important because of the government’s commitment to the Slovenian Constitution and the Public Media Act.

Another important point is the question of the third channel that is to be used for transmitting parliamentary and other National Assembly and National Council activities. Given the special nature of this channel, IPI believes that funding should come not from the budget of the public service broadcaster, but from a special source of funding.

After all, the requirement to produce such programming is an additional burden on the broadcaster that might affect its work in other valuable areas and there is a need for heavy technical investment in programme distribution since, at present, it is obviously not possible to broadcast a third channel across the entire country.

In view of the above, IPI and SEEMO would ask that the Slovenian government take the draft law and enter into a rolling discussion with all interested parties as a means of making certain that the draft law meets the needs of the broadest possible spectrum of Slovenian society.

Finally, public service broadcasting operates both for and on behalf of the Slovenian public and a strong statement to this effect would certainly remove some of IPI’s concerns about the possible deficiencies related to the question of the broadcaster’s independence from political influences.

We thank you for your attention.

Yours sincerely,

Johann P. Fritz

IPI Director

Oliver Vujovic
SEEMO Secretary General

Vienna, 03/05/2005

The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South East Europe (SEE) and an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), commemorates today, together with journalists, media executives and editors in South East Europe, World Press Freedom Day. In 1991, the General Conference of UNESCO recommended that the United Nations General Assembly proclaim 3 May as World Press Freedom Day, a day to mark the fundamental principles of press freedom.

SEEMO is pleased that we have today in South Eastern Europe less direct pressures on media by governments than we had a few years ago. However, the pressure is still present, and we are especially worried about indirect state pressure. “It is important that governments and state institutions recognise that journalists have the right to work freely and independently,” said Oliver Vujovic, SEEMO Secretary General.

SEEMO is also deeply concerned that the work of investigative journalists in SEE is often obstructed by local businessmen, officials or criminals. According to Vujovic, “The work of investigative journalists is very important and helps the democratisation process of the countries in the region. Officials, police and courts should take every case of pressure against journalists more seriously, and help journalists if they receive death threats.”

SEEMO uses this opportunity to remind authorities in the region that there are still unsolved investigations involving journalists killed in the past years. For example, in Serbia, the authorities have not discovered the identities of the killers of journalists Milan Pantic and the owner and editor-in-chief of Dnevni Telegraf, Slavko Curuvija, and have not finished the investigation of the death of journalist Dada Vujasinovic. On 27 May 2005 it will be one year since Dusko Jovanovic, editor-in-chief of the daily Dan from Montenegro, was killed. It is intolerable that journalists and editors are being assassinated for carrying out their professional duties.

SEEMO is also concerned about hate speech, and the unethical or unprofessional reporting of some media. “Some journalists are working more like propagandists of a political party than like professionals. SEEMO sees as important the acceptance of professional standards and the education of journalists in SEE,” Vujovic said.

On today’s World Press Freedom Day we would also like to remember that three kidnapped journalists from Romania, Marie Jean Ion, Sorin Miscoci and Ovidiu Ohanesian, are still missing in Iraq.

SEEMO also urges governments in SEE to accept internationally recognised media standards, including the decriminalisation of defamation. No journalist should ever again be sentenced to jail for what he or she writes. Also, journalists should be free from persecution under insult laws that protect public officials. Officials should open the doors to journalists for free and easy access to information, but on the other hand respect the right of journalists to protect their sources of information.

Regarding its activities, SEEMO would like to announce issues of two SEEMO publications: South East Europe Media Handbook 2004/2005 and number 3 of DeScripto, a quarterly magazine of media in South Eastern Europe. SEEMO will also continue this year its Dialogue Meetings between editors-in-chief and media executives, with a meeting in October 2005 in Opatija with editors-in-chief and media executives from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia, as well as a meeting in November 2005 in Tirana with editors-in-chief and media executives from Albania, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo. SEEMO will also organise this year a meeting of editors-in-chief and media executives of private news agencies in the region.

Vienna, 18/02/2005

To:

Stjepan Mesic
President of Croatia

Ivo Sanader
Prime Minister of Croatia

Vladimir Seks
President of the Croatian Parliament

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 deeply concerned by the decision by a Croatian Court to uphold a suspended jail sentence given to a journalist under the Criminal Code, as well by reports that the Croatian security service has tried to discredit a group of journalists.

According to information before SEEMO, the County Court in the town of Split recently decided to uphold the sentence against Ljubica Letinic, a journalist for Croatian Radio and Television (HRT), after she filed an appeal. On 12 July 2004, Letinic was handed down a two-month suspended prison sentence by a Municipal Court in Split for defaming a local businessman in the television programme “Latinica” in March 2002.

SEEMO regards prison terms for defamation, whether suspended or not, as a gross violation of internationally accepted standards. Along with numerous other inter-governmental and non-governmental organisations, we believe that defamation should be treated under civil law, not as a criminal offence subject to state punishments.

We would like to remind you that SEEMO already reacted to this case in 2004. Therefore, we once again call on the Croatian authorities to initiate the process of removing repressive laws that criminalise defamation, as well as to take the appropriate steps to ensure that the sentence against Ljubica Letinic is revoked.

Finally, SEEMO has been informed by a group of five Croatian journalists that the Counter-Intelligence Agency (POA) recently accused them of meeting with representatives of foreign secret services.

Zeljko Peratovic of the daily Vjesnik, Gordan Malic of Globus, Ivica Djikic of the Feral Tribune, and Ivanka Toma and Marijo Kavain of the daily Jutarnji list, are calling for an inquiry after an article in the Globus weekly claimed that the POA, led by its former chief Franjo Turek, had tapped their phones in 2003 and 2004 because they were suspected of participating in a media-intelligence campaign against Croatia. The reporters said that a published POA document described their articles on investigations by the Hague war crimes tribunal and the functioning of security services as “a premeditated, organised and coordinated campaign to disseminate misinformation jeopardising national security.”

SEEMO urges the Croatian authorities to investigate this case and to allow journalists to work freely.

We would like to remind Your Excellencies that a safe working environment for journalists, without any pressure, is a fundamental principle in every democratic society.

We thank you for your attention.

Yours sincerely,

Oliver Vujovic

SEEMO Secretary General

Vienna, 17/12/2004

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 restrictions on the free movement of journalists in the Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).

According to information before SEEMO, on 6 December 2004, Ali Ahmeti, leader of the Democratic Union for Integration (DUI), and Arben Dzaferi and Menduh Thaci, leaders of the opposition Democratic Party of Albanians (DPA), visited the village of Kondovo, a suburb of Skopje, for a meeting with a paramilitary group stationed there. They were followed by a group of journalists working for print and electronic media in Skopje. After entering the village, the journalists reported seeing some 200 men in black uniforms.

Before the talks started, the journalists were forced to leave Kondovo and were told they would be given statements by the participants later. The reporters waited several hours for the meeting to end and were then approached by Ahmeti, who accused them of giving false reports.

SEEMO strongly condemns the attempt to restrict journalists from reporting on this event and the verbal attacks made by Ahmeti. We would like to stress that the free movement of journalists is a fundamental principle of any democratic society and we hope that the authorities will provide an explanation about this incident.

Vienna, 29/11/2004

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 pressure exerted on Croatian journalist Helena Puljiz by the Counter Intelligence Agency (POA).

According to information before SEEMO, on 5 October, Puljiz was taken by POA employees to an interview. The talk soon turned into an attempt to bribe and blackmail the journalist. She was asked to cooperate with POA and also to deliver information about her colleagues. POA threatened Puljiz that in case she refused, it would make public compromising details about her private life. She was interrogated for five hours. This case was then reported to the Croatian Council for Civil Supervision of Intelligence Agencies and is now being discussed in the Parliament.

SEEMO urges the Croatian Government and Parliament to urgently investigate the pressure POA used against the journalist and ensure that all the details are made public, while respecting the private sphere of Puljiz, as well as to prevent such practices happening in the future. We would also like to add that the SEEMO office in Vienna has been informed of similar uses of pressure against Croatian journalists by the police and intelligence agencies in the recent past.

Furthermore, SEEMO was informed that the position of freelance journalists in Croatia is continuously worsening under the present labor law, tax law and copyright law. The Government has been refusing to amend the unfavourable legal regulations regarding the freedom and financial independence of freelance journalists, as proposed by the Freelance Journalists’ Chapter (FJC) and Croatian Journalists’ Association (HND).

SEEMO urges the Croatian Government to amend these laws according to international standards. SEEMO would like to stress that it is vital for journalists to do their job freely and that independent media are crucial for democratic development in any country.