(IFJ/IFEX) – Media in Serbia have been banned, censored and harassed over recent months. This harassment has reached severe levels since the government has introduced a new information law which makes it easy to prosecute media which do not toe the party line. Offences such as “calling for the violent overthrow of the Constitutional order” […]
(IFJ/IFEX) – Media in Serbia have been banned, censored and harassed over
recent months. This harassment has reached severe levels since the
government has introduced a new information law which makes it easy to
prosecute media which do not toe the party line.
Offences such as “calling for the violent overthrow of the Constitutional
order” are being used to silence the independent media. The judicial
apparatus has been exceptionally quick in enforcing the new law which only
came into force at the end of October 1998.
The Independent Journalists Association of Serbia is challenging the
legality of the law. Meanwhile, harassment of the independent media
continues apace. At this time five newspapers and at least four radio
stations have been closed by the authorities. Currently over four hundred
journalists have been put out of work.
The journalists in Serbia are ready and willing to fight this oppression,
but they need money to run campaigns and to help those who have lost their
jobs. They intend to fight the law on two fronts, to challenge it in the
courts and to galvanise the public into opposing the law. If fifteen
thousand members of the public sign an appeal, the law must be reconsidered
by the Parliament.
The IFJ is appealing for donations to a fighting and humanitarian fund for
Serbian journalists. Even the smallest amount can mean survival to some of
our Serbian colleagues.
We all know that the independent media are one of the few remaining
obstacles to the return of bigotry and war to Serbia and its neighbours.
Help us keep this obstacle in place.
Thank you for your support.
Yours
Cailin C E Mackenzie
Human Rights Officer
Please send donations to:
RAS BANK AD BEOGRAD: No DEM 0009852005 with LHB Internationale Handelsbank
Frankfurt in Main in favour of DRAGUTIN ROKVIC, AC/7080-202-25-272-8.
Please use the formulation above to make your payments, (for information
the physical address of the RAS BANK AD BEOGRAD is Jevrejska 24A, 11000
Belgrade).
