Today the
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its European group the
European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) expressed deep concern about serious threats
against Serbian journalists working
for B92 broadcaster and other independent media.
"At the moment when Serbia is seriously considering its application for
EU accession, it is unacceptable that there are still journalists working in
fear of physical attacks just because they carry out their duty," said IFJ General
Secretary Aidan White.
The IFJ says recent
attacks on B92 and threats to the editors of the broadcaster's Insider investigative journalism show have escalated even after Serbian
President Boris Tadi? stated he would not tolerate violence by hooligans and
criminals.
The IFJ and its
members, the Journalists' Association of Serbia
and the Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia
welcomed President Tadi?'s undertaking to take all the measures necessary to protect
journalists in accordance with the law and to arrest and prosecute anyone
threatening other people's lives.
However, despite
these public assurances followed by the Minister of Interior Ivica Da?i?'s
statement that the police were actively working to identify the persons behind
the threats to B92 and the call from the
Minister of Justice Snežana Malovi? for the perpetrators to be tracked
down and severely punished, messages on online social networks and graffiti sprayed
on Belgrade walls still threaten the editors of the Insider show with rape, slaughter and murder, in particular after a
programme featuring leaders of banned football fan groups who
escaped Court convictions so far.
"Serbian society and media made a lot of progress
towards democracy in the past years, but these threats and attacks still represent
a real challenge", said White.
The IFJ believes that B92
is the most exposed media because of its record of independence and in depth investigation
even during the terrible years of the Milosevic regime. The IFJ and the EFJ say
that if police and justice are able to identify
those behind these threats and attacks against journalist, then concrete action
is needed to bring them before justice.
For more
information contact the EFJ at +32 2 235 22 15
The EFJ represents over 260,000 journalists in 30
countries.
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- Threats against Serbian Journalists 'Unacceptable', Says IFJ