07/05/2012: GREECE – SEEMO CONCERNED BY MEDIA PRESSURE IN GREECE GROUP CALLS ON ALL POLITICAL PARTIES TO RESPECT DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES

Vienna, 07/05/2012

The Vienna-based South East Media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), is concerned by the latest pressures and threats exerted on the media by the Greek Golden Dawn party. The party, commonly described as a radical, right-wing party, obtained 6.9 percent of the votes, or 21 out of 300 seats in the Greek parliament, during the May 6, 2012 elections.

On the evening following the election, Golden Dawn leader Nikolaos Michaloliakos appeared at his first press conference after the elections. As reporters were waiting for Michaloliakos to arrive, party members ordered journalists to stand to show respect for him. When some journalists refused to obey the orders they were expelled from the room, as shown on a video posted on the website of Protothema. According to Greek media outlets To Vima and Protothema, mostly foreign journalists remained in the room.

In another previous incident on April 12, 2012, Greek journalist Xenia Kounalaki published a story on Golden Dawn in the Kathimerini daily, explaining why she considered it impossible to have a dialogue with them. Five days later, she wrote in German weekly Der Spiegel: “An anonymous reply to my article appeared on the Golden Dawn website. It was a 2,500-word-long personal attack… [they] recounted my entire career, mocked my alleged foreign roots (I was born in Hamburg) and even, for no apparent reason, mentioned my 13-year-old daughter. The unnamed authors indirectly threatened me as well: ‘To put it in the mother tongue of foreign Xenia: “Kommt Zeit, kommt Rat, kommt Attentat!” ’ In other words, watch your back.”

“I am very worried by these developments,” Oliver Vujovic, SEEMO secretary general, said. “All political parties have to respect democratic principles and press freedom. However, in one month, the Golden Dawn party threatened one journalist and obliged reporters to stand to salute the party leader or leave the press conference. I hope that these incidents will be isolated cases and that the Golden Dawn leaders will respect democratic principles.”

Vienna, 08/05/2012

Croatian public broadcaster, Croatian Radio Television (HRT) has recently experienced a series of internal incidents in which political representatives and public figures have reportedly exerted pressure on the public broadcaster.

The latest incident, one among many in the past year, occurred on 4 May 2012, one day after the celebration of World Press Freedom Day. Veteran journalist Elizabeta Gojan was warned that she could be dismissed from her job after she criticized HRT practices in a speech on World Press Freedom Day and in interviews with Deutsche Welle and the Split-based daily Slobodna Dalmacija.

Gojan said that scandals, irregularities and internal bickering at HRT have undermined the quality of its programming and that a decreasing number of people are tuning in. On all occasions, Gojan reportedly expressed her opinion in her capacity as a journalist and as a representative of the Croatian Journalists’ Association (HND).

The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), today expressed concern with the developments at HRT, noting that Gojan is not the only journalist to have recently been warned that she could lose her job. On 22 April 2012, another high-profile journalist, Maja Server, editor of the show “Croatia Life”, received a warning of possible dismissal for an alleged professional mistake.

The two incidents are the latest among a series of incidents that have reportedly plagued HRT for some time, and SEEMO today called on HRT’s board and its management to create and ensure an atmosphere of trust and confidence with both its journalists and its audience.

As SEEMO reported on 19 January 2012, the then-recently-appointed government promised to address the problems of the public broadcaster. On 16 January 2012, Culture Minister Andrea Zlatar-Violic met with journalists, editors and representatives of non-governmental organisations and different professional organizations to discuss problems at HRT. The meeting ended with a joint appeal calling, among other things, for an end to political meddling, censorship and nepotism, as well as for transparency, a clear strategy and respect for professional standards. The Croatian Journalists’ Association (HND) and 26 other NGOs signed a statement demanding the professionalisation of the public broadcaster and an end to political pressure and censorship.

However, problems have reportedly continued. The latest dismissal warnings generated numerous protests in Croatia and another public appeal signed by more than 20 NGOs. The new public letter, dated 8 May 2012, asked the Ministry of Culture to protect HRT journalists and to respect press freedom. It also demanded the solution to all the pending problems.

Laws regulating the public broadcaster are currently being discussed.

SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic commented: “I call on Croatia’s authorities and the HRT management to respect that staff should be able to work independently, without pressure, and to respect freedom of expression. Journalists cannot be dismissed on the basis that they questioned the quality of public service. Public broadcasters are meant to produce information of public interest and they should be a trustworthy source of information.”

He added: “I do hope that the new law, soon to be adopted, will provide a solid basis for eliminating the problems that have undermined HRT’s work. I also hope that freedom of expression and professional reporting will be respected.”

Vienna, 09/05/2012

The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), calls on Moldova’s authorities to bring to justice the individuals who severely beat cameraman Vladmir Vivici. On 5 May 2012, the camera operator working for the Omega news agency was beaten by four men who stepped out of a car. No valuables were taken from him. Vivici was brought to the hospital with multiple head and internal injuries.

Omega, which is broadly considered as a supporter of views close to Moldova’s opposition parties, recently reported on illegal activities involving public figures, according to information available to SEEMO.

Several sources informed SEEMO that police did not rush to investigate the case. Although the accident happened on Saturday evening, police authorities did not react until Monday, and even demanded that Vivici, currently hospitalized, should go in person to the police station to present charges.

“I call on Moldova’s authorities and the police to investigate and prosecute the perpetrators of this brutal attack. It cannot go unpunished,” said Oliver Vujovic, SEEMO Secretary General.

Vienna, 10/05/2012

The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), condemns the physical attack on Skai TV and Radio presenter Konstantinos Bogdanos. The reporter was attacked on 9 May 2012 in the Athens neighbourhood of Exarchia. He was later taken to the hospital to be treated for head injuries and a fractured hand.

According to the Athens-based daily Kathimerini, the journalist said that the attackers were waiting for him. “As I attempted to get into my car, they attacked me and dragged me away. They had me on the ground and were beating me… I can say with absolute certainty that they knew I was a journalist. As they were kicking me, they made reference to Skai,” Bogdanos stated.

The aggressors also stole the journalist’s telephone.

“I strongly condemn this latest attack and I hope that perpetrators will be found and brought to justice,” said Oliver Vujovic, SEEMO Secretary General

Vienna, 16/05/2012

One week before the second round of presidential elections in Serbia, scheduled for May 20, 2012, one of the presidential candidates, Tomislav Nikolic, said that he needed to be president in order to tell journalists what to report on.

The web portal of the Association of Serbian Journalists (UNS) reported that Nikolic, who represents the Serbian Progressive Party, said on a May 13 2012 broadcast of the show Rec po Rec (Word by Word) produced by Serbia’s public broadcaster, Radio Television Serbia (RTS), that once he was elected president he would call RTS and say: “I am coming to the television tonight, you will inform about everything I do, I am the president of Serbia.”

The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), expressed dismay at Nikolic’s warning.

SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic said: “I hope that whoever wins the presidential elections in Serbia guarantees press freedom. I would like to remind both presidential candidates that press freedom is a pillar of democracy. They both claim to respect democratic principles and state that the future of Serbia is in the European Union.”

Vienna, 18/05/2012

The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), condemns the attack on Romanian journalist Dan Bucura and hopes that the perpetrators will soon be brought to justice.

Bucura, an investigative reporter with Realitatea TV and former editor-in-chief of the Bucharest-based daily Puterea, was attacked by two individuals in the lobby of his apartment building. One of the attackers said that Bucura was getting what he deserved because he worked for TV, the reporter recalled in a statement to Realitatea TV. Bucura was hit several times but did not need to be hospitalised.

The reporter stated in other interviews that he had published reports regarding corruption and bribes among local politicians. No direct link has thus far been established between his reporting and the attack. However, neither money nor his cell phone were taken.

Romania’s governing Social-Liberal Union (USL) asked for quick police action, saying that aggression against Romanian journalists must be punished according to the law, regardless of who the perpetrators or masterminds are.

SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic stated: “I hope that the authorities find the perpetrators and bring them to justice. I also hope that the aggressors of numerous journalists during the January 2012 protests will be found. Aggression against journalists must not go unpunished.”

Vienna, 21/05/2012

The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), condemns the physical threats against two Kosovo journalists on May 16 in the ethnically divided city of Mitrovica, northern Kosovo. Protesters threatened to attack journalists Musa Mustafa of the Pristina-based daily Koha Ditore and Alidin Damati of the Kosova press agency but the police managed to avert the imminent aggression. According to SEEMO sources, journalists were obliged to flee and police intervened at the last minute. However, as journalists recounted, the police as well as international forces (KFOR) stationed in Kosovo, took a lenient attitude when the threats began.

“I urge the authorities to investigate this case of intimidation of journalists,” said Oliver Vujovic, SEEMO Secretary General. “Journalists should be allowed to do their work freely, and I call on both the police authorities and KFOR to protect journalists and enable them to do their work.”

Vienna, 30/05/2012

Bulgarian investigative journalist Lidia Pavlova, who specialises in reporting on organised crime in southwest Bulgaria for the Blagoevgrad-based daily Struma and who has been the subject of a number of threatening incidents in recent years, was threatened again late last week.

Pavlova’s family car was set on fire on May 25 in the town of Dupnitsa, where she resides. The incident marked the second time her car has been destroyed. Her 22-year-old son, Ivan, who has been attacked several times, reportedly as a form of pressure on Pavlova, was driving the car on the night of the latest incident.

The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), expressed concern at the renewed threat.

Pavlova is the recipient of a 2010 SEEMO-CEI diploma for Outstanding Merits in Investigative Journalism and the 2009 Award for Courage in Journalism presented by the WAZ Media Group and the International Journalists Federation. A reporter for more than 15 years, she has investigated the so-called “Galevi brothers,” local businessmen who have been the subject of several criminal trials.

She has received a number of threats since trials against the Galevi brothers and their alleged accomplices began. In November 2008, Ivan Pavlova was beaten and his eardrum was broken after he supposedly spilled water on the shoe of Georgi Gradevski, a bodyguard of the Galevi brothers. On May 16, 2009, hours after the initial trial against the Galevi brothers and their alleged accomplices commenced, the rear windshield of Pavlova’s car was smashed and police found a bullet inside the car.

On Jan. 1, 2010, an assailant severely beat Ivan Pavlov at a local establishment where the young man was celebrating the New Year with his girlfriend. Ivan Pavlov sustained severe injuries to the head and spent three days in the intensive care unit of the local hospital following the assault. On Jan. 22, 2010, someone slashed the tires of Lidia Pavlova’s company care. The windshield of her car was smashed several times during that year and in 2011, but Pavlova did not report all of the incidents.

SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic said: “I am very concerned for Pavlova’s safety. In April 2012, a SEEMO delegation met Tsvetan Tsvetanov, Bulgaria’s minister of the interior, and raised concerns regarding Pavlova’s safety. The minister said he believed that another incident with Lidia Pavlova would not happen due to the high-profile nature of the trial against the Galevi brothers. I do hope that Minister Tsvetanov can offer protection to Pavlova and guarantee her safety.”

Vienna, 04/06/2012

President of Serb Entity in Bosnia and Herzegovina Orders Reporter to Leave Press Conference, Calls Her a ‘Liar’

The Vienna- based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), today called on Milorad Dodik, president of Republika Srpska, the Serbian entity in Bosnia and Herzegovina, to respect press freedom as an essential democratic right.

On June 2, 2012, Dodik asked Ljiljana Kovacevic, the local correspondent of the Belgrade-based Beta News Agency, to leave a press conference and to not return. Using disrespectful language to address the journalist, Dodik also called her a liar.

Friday’s incident was not the first time that authorities in Republika Srpska have targeted Kovacevic, who has been a target since 2009 when she published a report on allegedly misspent public funds. As SEEMO reported in February 2009, Rajko Vasic, secretary general of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (Savez Nezavisnih Socijaldemokrata – SNSD), accused Beta of accepting money from foreign sources in order to publish false and tendentious reports aimed at creating public discontent.

SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic said: “I call on President Dodik to respect press freedom. Without press freedom, there is no democracy. I would like to remind the political authorities in Republika Srpska, Bosnia-Herzegovina, that journalists have the right to access information of public interest and to attend public press conferences, and to provide information. Further, they have the right, as do all citizens, to be treated with respect.”

Vienna, 08/06/2012

The South East Europe Media Organization (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), today condemned the violent attack on Jerusalem Post journalist Gil Shefler that took place on June 6, and called on the Greek authorities to ensure his attackers are prosecuted.

According to a report on the Jerusalem Post’s website, Shefler was in Greece to report on the rise of the far-right political party Golden Dawn, which has enjoyed growing support in the wake of Greece’s financial and political crisis.

In a video report on the paper’s website, Schefler said he was attacked after trying to film a mob of armed, masked men beating a group of refugees and homeless people outside the National Archaeological Museum in Athens. It is unclear which political group the attackers are affiliated with, if any.

He was treated at hospital for injuries to his head and chest, but is now in “good condition,” the Jerusalem Post said. The Greek ambassador to Israel “unreservedly” condemned the attack in a letter sent to the paper’s editor on Thursday.

“We condemn this outrageous attack and call for the Greek police to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book,” SEEMO Secretary-General Oliver Vujovic said.