(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an IFJ press release received before news of B92’s editor-in-chief Veran Matic’s release was made known: **Updates previous IFEX alerts of 24 March 1999** Media Release Brussels, 24th of March 1999 IFJ DEMANDS RELEASE OF EDITOR AS SERBIA OPENS FIRE ON MEDIA The International Federation of Journalists today condemned the […]
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an IFJ press release received before news
of
B92’s editor-in-chief Veran Matic’s release was made known:
**Updates previous IFEX alerts of 24 March 1999**
Media Release
Brussels, 24th of March 1999
IFJ DEMANDS RELEASE OF EDITOR AS SERBIA OPENS FIRE ON MEDIA
The International Federation of Journalists today condemned the
detention of
a leading journalist and accused President Slobodan Milosevic of
declaring a
new “war on press freedom and democracy” in the shadow of the conflict
in
Kosovo.
Veran Matic, a journalists’ leader and head of the independent media
station
B92 was detained as the station was closed under Yugoslavia’s state of
emergency. “This action is an appalling assault on the peoples’ right to
know and on the rights of journalists,” said Aidan White, General
Secretary
of the IFJ. “This is not the moment for censorship and propaganda, it is
the
moment for journalism of the highest professional quality,” said White.
The IFJ called for Matic to be released and for all restrictions on
professional journalists to be lifted. “Journalism must be free to
present
all points of views,” said White, “that is the key to peace and
stability.”
