(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 press release: MEDIA REMAIN UNDER ATTACK ACROSS FORMER YUGOSLAVIA – NEW BOOK CHARTS HISTORY OF MEDIA MANIPULATION On Wednesday 3 November, ARTICLE 19 is launching Forging War (1). The book lays bare the use and abuse of the media in the countries of former Yugoslavia – […]
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 press release:
MEDIA REMAIN UNDER ATTACK ACROSS FORMER YUGOSLAVIA – NEW BOOK CHARTS HISTORY
OF MEDIA MANIPULATION
On Wednesday 3 November, ARTICLE 19 is launching Forging War (1). The book
lays
bare the use and abuse of the media in the countries of former Yugoslavia –
manipulation which prepared the ground for acceptance of nationalist
policies and violent confrontation. Sadly, little has changed since 1994,
when the first edition of the book was published. Mark Thompson, the book’s
author, recently returned from the region and will be available to address
the issues from 12.30 p.m. on the day of the launch.
The book went to press during the NATO bombing of FRY and documents
manipulation of the media by the region’s leaders up to that time. Since
then, attacks on the independent media – from legal to physical – have
continued, as has the use of state media for nationalist propaganda.
Overhauling laws and official practice governing the media must be a top
priority for those seriously pursuing long term stability in the region.
Andrew Puddephatt, Executive Director of ARTICLE 19 said:
“The problems faced by the media in the countries of the former Yugoslavia
remain severe – the same political forces still dominate, exercising the
same crude control techniques. Forging War provides an exact description of
how an environment ripe for nationalist war was created, and then used to
foment conflict. The book shows that without impartial and independent
media, there is little hope of establishing peace in the region.”
ARTICLE 19’s campaign for the international community to assist such
development continues as, in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, pressure on
the media is being stepped up even further in anticipation of early
elections. Freedom of expression and the media in other countries of former
Yugoslavia remains limited, due to officially sanctioned restrictions, and
the situation described by Mark Thompson remains virtually unchanged
throughout the region:
“The post-communist regimes behave, especially under pressure, as if
independent media pose a greater threat to them than opposition parties.”
A short survey of recent events across the former Yugoslavia shows the
desperate state of affairs:
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Serbia
– Prosecutions being brought under the Public Information Law include:
actions against newspaper Niske Novine, its publisher and associated staff;
44 charges made against printer ABC Grafika, Kikindske Novine; newspaper
Danas fined 200,000 dinars when politician Vojislav Seselj used the Law to
sue them for alleged defamation.
– Police severely beat up Svetozar Rakovic, managing editor of Sindikalni
Poverenik magazine, then arrested him and sentenced him to a month in
prison, beginning immediately.
– Banning of import of Banja Luka’s popular weekly Reporter.
Montenegro
– Radio Free Montenegro banned.
– Individuals denied right of reply on TV Montenegro to televised claims
made about them in the Parliament.
Kosovo
– Kosovapress, a state news agency, denounced journalists Veton Surroi and
Baton Haxhiu of newspaper Koha Ditore, stating that they “should not have a
place in a free Kosovo”.
– Arsonists set fire to the building designed to house multiethnic TV
Pristina.
– Killings of foreign and local journalists.
Bosnia Hercegovina – attempted murder of a journalist
– Zeljko Kopanja, founder and chief editor of independent Serb daily
Nezavisne Novine, lost his legs and remains in a serious condition following
a car bomb attack, after the newspaper published details of Serb war crimes.
Croatia
– despite a commitment to bring legislation into line with European
standards as a member of the Council of Europe, laws on broadcasting,
defamation and other areas affecting freedom of expression remain in place
and allow constant harassment and suppression of criticism.
– Journalists have been publicly threatened by both a radical right-wing
politician and by President Tudjman.
1. Forging War: The Media in Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Hercegovina, a new,
completely revised and updated edition of the 1994 publication, is published
by ARTICLE 19/University of Luton Press.
2. Call Ilana Cravitz or Fiona Harrison on +44 171 278 9292 for details.
3. An essay based on the book’s thesis is published in the latest issue of
Index on Censorship (5/99).
