(AMARC/IFEX) – The following is a 29 December 1998 statement by the Association of Independnet Electronic Media (ANEM) distributed in its entirety by AMARC: The situation is serious for independent media in those regions of former Yugoslavia which are still characterized by the traumatic consequences of war and ethnic cleansing. The authorities in these regions […]
(AMARC/IFEX) – The following is a 29 December 1998 statement by the
Association of Independnet Electronic Media (ANEM) distributed in its
entirety by AMARC:
The situation is serious for independent media in those regions of former
Yugoslavia which are still characterized by the traumatic consequences of
war and ethnic cleansing. The authorities in these regions limit in various
ways the freedom of the media, and journalists cannot practice investigative
journalism without the risk of reprisals. The free exchange of information
is not guaranteed by either the laws or judicial system in that country.
As a result of the situation in Kosovo, the Serbian authorities restricted
the ability of the independent media to act freely by means of new media
laws which came into effect 21 October, 1998. Both newspapers and radio
stations have been closed. Even in Bosnia-Hercegovia the free dissemination
of information has been threatened.
The Olof Palme Memorial Fund has therefore chosen to reward the following
independent voices for democracy and peace with the 1998 Olor Palme Prize:
Veran Matic, Chairman of ANEM, Belgrad, Serbia
Senad Pecanin, Editor-in-chief of Dani, Sarajevo, Bosnia-Hercegovina, and
Viktor Ivancic, Executive Editor of Feral Tribune, Split, Croatia.
Veran Matic, Senad Pecanin and Viktor Ivancic – and the media they work for-
have tirelessly carried on the struggle for free media, despite
interference, harassment, and obstructions. This was particularly important
during the war when they stood for the independent dissemination of
information of a type that was difficult to find in other media. At the same
time they maintained a professionalism that was founded on relevance and
timeliness.
The choice of these individuals should be interpreted as a recognition of
everyone in the independent media who struggled for democracy and peace in
former Yugoslavia, says Pierre Schori, Chairman of the Olof Palme Memorial
Fund. The establishment of democracy in former Yugoslavia is fundamental for
international understanding and common security for all the countries of
Europe.
The prize shared by the three prize winners consists of diplomas and 50 000
US dollars. A prize ceremony will be held in Stockholm on January 30, Olof
Palme’s birthday.
