(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an IFJ press release: **Updates IFEX alerts of 2 April, 1 April, 31 March, 29 March, 25 March and 24 March 1999** IFJ Condemns “Whispering Campaign” as Milosevic Seizes Radio B92 The International Federation of Journalists today condemned the silencing of B92, the Belgrade-based independent radio station as a “manipulation […]
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an IFJ press release:
**Updates IFEX alerts of 2 April, 1 April, 31 March, 29 March, 25 March and
24 March 1999**
IFJ Condemns “Whispering Campaign” as Milosevic Seizes Radio B92
The International Federation of Journalists today condemned the silencing of
B92, the Belgrade-based independent radio station as a “manipulation and
censorship” by the Government of Slobodan Milosevic. B92 was banned from
local transmissions last week, but today its satellite and Internet services
were threatened as the station was sealed off and Belgrade courts removed
station Director Sasa Mirkovic from his post and placed control in the hands
of Aleksander Nikacevic, a Milosevic supporter.
At the same time, the IFJ has criticised western political observers who
have undermined B92 by suggesting that its satellite and Internet services
are not independent. “A grotesque whispering campaign against B92 has
developed while Milosevic has moved to strangle the last remnants of
independence on the Serbian media landscape,” said Aidan White, IFJ General
Secretary.
B92âs Editor in Chief Veran Matic, who is also Chairman of the Association
of Independent Electronic Media, has been criticised by some because of his
voiced opposition to the NATO air strikes in Serbia.
“Information from B92 has been as independent as can be expected in the
hot-house atmosphere of Belgrade. It has provided a variety of sources,
reporting the views of Serbian officials, of NATO and from the Kosovo
Liberation Army. It has also urged caution about the fact that
correspondents are unable to report directly from Kosovo,” said White
“In these circumstances it is absurd to suggest, as some have done, that B92
should censor itself and stop broadcasting. Meanwhile, Milosevic has taken
his opportunity and snuffed out the flickering light of decent journalism.”
The IFJ has warned that military sources of information – including NATO –
have proved unreliable in recent days. At the same time the information
blackout in Kosovo and the crackdown on media in Serbia has created an
unprecedented media crisis.
“When rumour and gossip become the mainstream sources of information there
will only be an increase in fear, uncertainty and ignorance,” says the IFJ
which has confirmed that next week it will send an urgent international
delegation to Belgrade to monitor the media crisis and to help journalists
on the spot, both foreign correspondents and local reporters.
The IFJ represents more than 450,000 journalists in 100 countries. It is the
largest organisation of journalists in the world and represents journalists’
groups from all republics and territories in the region of former
Yugoslavia.
