22/03/2012: NORTH MACEDONIA – SEEMO CONDEMNS HATE SPEECH IN THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA/FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA

Vienna, 22/03/2012

The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns all forms of hate speech and expresses concerns over the recent reappearance of ethnic labelling in the Republic of Macedonia/Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

Following a series of incidents at the beginning of March 2102, involving the local Macedonian and Albanian populations, media in both languages insisted on pointing out the ethnic background of the aggressors when describing the incidents. According to some observers, the situation got out of control.

SEEMO supports the 10 March 2012 statement of the Association of Journalists of Macedonia (ZNM), which appeals to journalists for greater responsibility in their reporting and reminds them that “journalists shall not use hate speech and shall not incite violence and discrimination on any grounds: national, religious, racial, gender, political…”

“SEEMO is an organisation that protects press freedom and journalists. Yet I also remind all journalists that they have to follow professional standards of reporting and be aware of their responsibilities. Inciting ethnic conflict goes against any code of ethics. Media have had a very negative role in inciting ethnic hatred in the former Yugoslavia and we have to be very vigilant and react to the first signs of hate speech,” declared SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic.

Vienna, 28/03/2012

Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orban, “who once fought for democratic principles against an oppressive communist regime, seems to have succumbed to the toxic polarization of Hungarian politics by adopting a winner –take-all approach to governing, “wrote Paula Schriefer, Vice President for Global Programs, Freedom House, in her recent analysis for the web portal www.hungarypressfreedom.org, specialised in monitoring media developments in Hungary. The web portal is run by the Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), in cooperation with the International Media Centre (IMC). Additional partners for the www.hungarypressfreedom.org are: the South East European Network for Professionalization of Media (SEENPM); the Center for Independent Journalism (TASZ); and the Center for Media and Communication Studies (CMCS).

Schriefer was referring to the media laws adopted by the Hungarian parliament in 2010, revised after international and national criticism in 2011, and still a matter of concern for both the international community as well as for Hungarian media professionals.

Mike Harris, Head of Advocacy for Index on Censorship, said: “Hungary’s model of ‘co-regulation’ is a peculiarity … Annamaria Szalai, the President of the Media Authority is a known Fidesz supporter and all five members of the Media Council were delegated exclusively by the Fidesz majority in Parliament. Members of the Media Council serve a nine-year term (over two parliamentary cycles) so even in the event of a change of government the media authority will still be dominated by Fidesz delegates.”

Agnes Urban, Assistant Professor at Corvinus University in Budapest, and an atlatszo.hu expert, said: “The legal environment does not support investigative journalism: Section 6 of Act 104 of 2010 (of the so-called Media Constitution) says in exceptionally justified cases, courts or authorities may – in the interest of protecting national security and public order or uncovering or preventing criminal acts – require the media content provider to reveal the identity of the informant. Anyway, these categories are far from being well-defined, so protection of sources cannot be guaranteed at all and self-censorship is an evident consequence of this regulation.”

Márton Nehéz-Posony, Legal Representative of the Hungarian Association of Journalists, stated: “The Hungarian Media Law raises grave concerns in believers in freedom of speech.”

The president of the Hungarian Association of Journalists (MÚOSZ), Pal Eotvos, noted: “The composition of the leading authority bodies responsible for overseeing media regulation guarantees the exclusive influence and control of the governing power over the media.”

Ildiko Vincze, editor-in-chief of the media law monitoring site mediajogfigyelo.hu, said: “The amendments of 19 July 2011 contain no changes concerning those sections of the media law that were strongly criticised by international organisations and European Union institutions; moreover, in certain cases these amendments even aggravate the situation. Major concerns have prevailed with respect to the media law.”

Sandor Orbán, Program Director of the South East European Network for Professionalization of Media from Budapest added: “Hungary – as a signatory of the European Convention of Human Rights – must respect the Council of Europe’s standards on freedom of expression and media pluralism.”

Jan Mainka, publisher of two Budapest-based dailies, the German-language Budapester Zeitung and the English-language Budapest Times, has a different view: “It is a paradox, but the only real political pressure that I occasionally feel – in the form of insulting, aggressive remarks about me or my newspapers in articles, on web pages like Wikipedia or in the forum section of our web pages – come exactly from those who allegedly burn for the freedom of press in my country and whose tolerance ends when they get confronted with articles that treat our prime minister, Mr. Orban, any differently than a “Dr. Evil” from the East. As a result of this latent pressure and because of my unwillingness to assist in undifferentiated Orban bashing, I stopped writing editorials a few months ago. In this sense, I have to correct my above statement regarding not feeling political pressure about what we can and cannot publish … but I hope this will pass soon.”

Controversial media laws in Hungary have generated a lot of debate in Europe and raised concern among international journalists:

Piotr Stasinski, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Gazeta Wyborcza, Warsaw, Poland, wrote: “Hopefully, the Orban government would be aware that its potential actions against the media will be closely watched by Brussels, and other European capitals, and press freedom organisations, like the South and East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) and the International Press Institute (IPI).”

Bulgarian journalist and SEEMO board member Milena Dimitrova is equally concerned: “Even more disturbing is that this attack on freedom of expression occurred in the European Union – the territory of the oldest and the most strictly observed democracy in the world. Moreover, it occurred just as Hungary took over the EU presidency.”

Fredy Gsteiger Diplomatic Correspondent, Swiss Broadcasting Corp., Switzerland, and former IPI Board Member, asked: “Is there something this government wants to hide; is there an agenda which should not be discussed in public? These are serious questions; but no good, acceptable answers have been provided from the government in Budapest as of yet. “

Janne Virkkunen, editor-in-chief, Helsingin Sanomat, Finland, was critical: “In the European Union, we cannot accept that a member country tries to prevent the media from doing its job. In its new form, the Hungarian media law still threatens press freedom, which means that we have to continue to press Hungarians to improve the situation in the country. For us it is impossible to compromise on this kind of issue. “

IPI Press Freedom Adviser for Europe and North America Steven M. Ellis, stated: “The fundamental values underpinning the EU, including the right to freedom of expression, provide benchmarks for evaluating the admission of new members. Such evaluation would mean little if states can discard their commitments to those values upon joining the EU.”

Agron Bajrami, editor-in-chief of the daily Koha Ditore, Kosovo, said: “They show that being a member of the EU, or an aspiring country, is not in itself a guarantee that media freedoms will be safeguarded and respected. “

SEEMO Board President Boris Bergant, former Deputy Director of RTV Slovenia, Ljubljana and former EBU deputy president, praised the hunagarypressfreedom.com initiative.

“This is an invaluable initiative by SEEMO and our Hungarian colleagues. We must defend journalistic freedoms everywhere, at all times, as well as the right to sufficient, balanced, and uncensored information, and the right to be informed and able to inform others.”

Full texts written by these experts appear on the SEEMO-run website: www.hungarypressfreedom.org. In addition, this specialised webpage includes news updates and regular reports on media developments, SEEMO and IPI statements on press freedom in Hungary, documents on media and human rights, links to specialised Hungarian and international sources and various special reports, as well as statements by Dunja Mijatovic, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media and Thomas Hammarberg, Commissioner for Human Rights at the Council of Europe.

Vienna, 29/03/2012

After publishing an article on fuel quality and distribution in Kosovo, on March 28, 2012, several journalists from the Pristina-based daily Express started receiving threatening phone calls. One caller threatened to bomb the paper’s offices, according to Express Editor-in-Chief Leonard Kerquki.

The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), calls on the Kosovo police to investigate these threats.

“I hope that the police take these threats seriously and conduct a thorough investigation,” said SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic. “Investigative journalism should not be stopped because editors and reporters fear for their lives.”

Vienna, 31/03/2012

In January 2012, Albania’s prime minister, Sali Berisha, declared that his administration would decriminalise slander, and on February 17 and March 1, 2012, two sets of reforms, both to the civil and penal code, were voted on in the parliament. However, in February 2012, the Director for Public Relations at the Council of Ministers, Gjovalin Prenga, filed criminal charges over alleged slander in Tirana’s District Court, seeking a two-year prison sentence for Lindita Cela, a journalist for the daily newspaper Shekulli.

On October 7, 2011, Cela reported on a conflict within the Agency for the Legalization, Urbanization and Integration of Informal Areas, ALUIZNI. The former head of ALUIZNI had accused his deputy of having had ties to the former Communist security apparatus. After firing the deputy, the director distributed a dossier to the local media that contained the names of several people who allegedly collaborated with the secret services. Prenga’s was on that list. Cela reported on how state officials used the dossiers for infighting and quoted parts ofthem.

The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organization (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), welcomed the amendments to the defamation law but expresses concern at the renewed use of criminal charges against journalists. In fact, as stated in an article published by Balkan Insight: “The criminal charges against Cela mark the first time that a reporter is being tried for a criminal offence since the government of Prime Minister Sali Berisha came to power in 2005.”

Two months earlier, Berisha said: “I express my pleasure that last year there was no legal process by the administration against the media and I assure you there will be none for as long as this government is in power,” according to information published on the AlbanianCouncil of Ministers website (Jan. 13, 2012). One month later the Director for Public Relations at the Council of Ministers filed criminal charges against Cela.

Albania’s Union of Journalists (AUJ) supports Cela. On March 27, 2012, the AUJ condemned the lawsuit as an attack by state officials on journalists who publish critical stories based on documents and facts and expressed concern about the growing number of slander cases against journalists in general. “The explosion of these cases shows the existence of a threatening climate toward journalists and the free media,” the statement added.

SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic said: “I applauded the Albanian authorities when they took the right steps towards decriminalisation of defamation and slander. Yet, I am concerned that the very same month that these amendments were passed in the Parliament, criminal charges were filed against a journalist. I call on Albania’s authorities to keep their promises and implement the laws they have passed. I would also like to add that the increase of law suits lead to self-censorship and does not contribute to free media and democracy.”

http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/albania-official-withdraws-charges-against-reporter

Vienna, 10/04/2012

Physical and verbal attacks against journalists are continuing unabated in Montenegro. The latest victim was Marko Milacic, a correspondent for the Belgrade-based daily Press in Montenegro. Milacic entered a restaurant and was told by a local businessman that he should not mention him in the media. The businessman’s bodyguard allegedly pushed Milacic and injured his hand.

The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), condemns all forms of attacks against journalists and reminds the Montenegrin authorities that previous attacks all remain unresolved.

“I would like to remind the Montenegrin authorities that on March 7 2012 investigative reporter Olivera Lakic was beaten in front of her house,” said SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic.

“In February 2011, she reported on the illegal labelling of tobacco products. Both she and her family received threats. In July and August 2011, four clearly marked cars belonging to Vijesti were set ablaze, in three separate attacks. The perpetrators have not been found. These are only the latest incidents. I call on the authorities to bring to justice the perpetrators of this attack, and all of the others that have targeted journalists.”

The outlook, though, is bleak: top politician Milo Djukanovic, Montenegro’s former president and prime minister, and currently the head of the governing party, has said that elements of the opposition and some media owners should go to prison. Djukanovic attacked NGO and media representatives in Tivat, in April 2012, during a campaign for local elections.

Vienna, 11/04/2012

The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), strongly condemns the latest attacks on journalists in Greece.

On 5 April 2012, Mario Lolos, the president of the Greek Photojournalists’ Union, was covering an anti-government rally on Syntagma Square, downtown Athens, when a policeman allegedly hit him several times with a baton. Lolos suffered serious head injuries and underwent surgery for a cranial fracture at Hygeia hospital.

According to the statements issued by the Greek Photojournalists’ Union, Lolos and other journalists have been “targeted” by riot police.

Star TV reporter Panagiotis Bousios and journalist Makis Synodinos from Naftemporiki newspaper were also injured. A riot policeman allegedly hit the Antenna TV journalist Rena Maniou and threw her to the ground on the sidewalk, where she hit her head. Maniou was taken to the emergency ward of a nearby hospital. Journalists from public broadcaster NET, and newspaper reporter Dionysis Vythoulkas (To Vima), were also allegedly pushed to the ground by riot police.

Although the chief of the Greek police said that an investigation would be conducted into allegations of excessive use of force by riot officers, SEEMO expresses concern at repeated attacks on journalists allegedly committed by police forces.

Journalists were also targeted during previous anti-government protests. In October 2011, as SEEMO reported, Tatiana Bolari, a photojournalist working for Agence France-Presse, was beaten by a riot officer while covering a large anti-austerity rally. In June 2011, journalist Manolis Kypraios permanently lost his hearing when a policeman reportedly threw a stun grenade at him during a riot in Syntagma.

“I call on the Greek police authorities to investigate all incidents and on the Greek political authorities to issue a clear statement regarding the continued physical attacks on journalists,” said SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic. “It appears as though media representatives are being punished for covering anti-austerity protests.”

He added: “I am equally concerned at people expressing anger at journalists.”

On April 6, 2012, angry protesters entered the Epirus TV 1 studio and threw eggs and yoghurt at reporter Panagiotis Bourchas, who was interviewing a political leader. The reporter was attacked on live TV for more than a minute, as video recording appears to show.

“Reporters are not responsible for economic problems or for the views of their studio guests, and should be adequately protected,” Vujovic said.

Vienna, 12/04/2012

The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), condemns the destruction of technical installations of the regional channel Elita TV, based in Rezina, 100 kilometers from Chisinau, Moldova’s capital.

On April 8, 2012, unknown perpetrators entered the headquarters of Elita TV, and deliberately damaged or stole technical equipment.

Elita TV producer Angela Zaharova wrote in a statement published in the daily Timpul, among other media, that “the act of vandalism” was “premeditated”. She linked it to economic problems of the broadcaster.

Founded in 1993, Elita TV broadcasts in five districts, covering 450,000 viewers.

“I call on the authorities in Rezina and Chisinau to bring to justice the perpetrators,” said SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic. “Destroying media property is a form of media silencing. Democracy needs freedom of expression.”

Vienna, 24/04/2012

The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), is dismayed at recent changes in the Kosovo Penal Code, approved on April 20, 2012, in the Kosovo parliament.

According to the controversial articles 37 and 38, journalists will be held criminally liable if they do not reveal their sources. These changes, approved by MPs against the opinion of the Association of Professional Journalists of Kosovo and other civil society organizations, as well as against the advice of the Ministry of Justice, appear to benefit those accused of bribery or illicit activities.

One daily illustrated the situation: a journalist could end up in prison if he or she does not reveal a source that has denounced irregularities or bribes.

These legal changes still have to be signed off on by Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga.

“I urge the president not to sign off on these reforms of the criminal code, and to return the law to the parliament, “said SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic. “The new legal provisions violate freedom of expression standards and would make press work extremely dangerous. If Kosovo has opted to construct a democratic society, democratic principles have to be upheld. These amendments have to change and defamation and libel fully decriminalised.”

Vienna, 26/04/2012

The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organsation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), on Thursday sent an official letter to Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga asking her to return the recently approved Penal Code to the parliament and reconsider signing off on it.

On April 20, 2012, the Kosovo parliament approved changes to the Penal Code and included two controversial articles, 37 and 38, that could seriously hamper press freedom.

“I call on President Jahjaga to reconsider signing the revised Penal Code and to return the law to the parliament,” SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic wrote in the letter. “As a trained lawyer, I am sure that the president will fully understand our concerns that articles 37 and 38 could seriously undermine press freedom in Kosovo.”

Vienna, 02/05/2012

“The struggle for press freedom is a continuing endeavour,” Oliver Vujovic, secretary general of the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), declared today in recognition of this year’s World Press Freedom Day, which falls on May 3.

Politicians in the region monitored by SEEMO – Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, The Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, the Republic of Macedonia / FYROM, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey and Ukraine – claim to respect press freedom and yet journalists are detained, and physically and verbally attacked, media property is destroyed, pressure on journalists continues and self-censorship appears to be the norm.

In some countries, media ownership is not transparent. In 2011, SEEMO registered 684 press freedom violations.

The organisation noted that a number of journalists’ murders in the region – some more than 10 years old – remain unsolved.

Rough police methods with reporters covering demonstrations and protests have sent journalists to hospitals, and some reporters have suffered long-term consequences.

Physical and verbal threats, especially in smaller towns, have not diminished and they seem to intensify incrementally during pre-election periods. Political pressure is exerted through different methods: from public condemnation to discrete bribe offers. Business pressure comes as a direct threat or through indirect methods like the withdrawal of advertising.

Economic crises and decreased profits have resulted in a deteriorating terms of employment for many reporters, obliging them to work for meagre salaries and often without any stable employment contracts. In these circumstances, reporters are not motivated to engage in quality journalism or pursue investigative reporting.

These negative trends have, however, been accompanied by a growing online media market and relative freedom of expression for its users.

In order to document press freedom developments, SEEMO runs four country-specific web portals (focusing on Belarus, Hungary, Macedonia and Turkey) with regular updates of media-related news and debates. By autumn 2012, SEEMO will be running 20 country-specific press freedom portals.

“I call on the authorities to put their rhetoric in favour of press freedom into action: resolve unsolved murder cases, find the perpetrators of different attacks against journalists, protect journalists from all forms of pressure and guarantee a free and democratic environment for the media,” Vujovic declared.