(RSF/IFEX) – On 14 August 1998, reporter Friedhelm Brebeck and his two cameramen were expelled from Kosovo. The journalists, who work for the German public television channel ARD, were officially accused by authorities of having incited Albanians to set fire to a house in Junik in order to film footage of it. Brebeck categorically denies […]
(RSF/IFEX) – On 14 August 1998, reporter Friedhelm Brebeck and his two
cameramen were expelled from Kosovo. The journalists, who work for the
German public television channel ARD, were officially accused by authorities
of having incited Albanians to set fire to a house in Junik in order to film
footage of it. Brebeck categorically denies the accusations.
This most recent attack on press freedom occurs within the context of
Serbian authorities freely harassing foreign journalists or correspondents
for foreign media. Over the past six months, at least eight of them have
been assaulted or mistreated. Serbian police have even torn up the
accreditation of several foreign journalists, warning them that they could
“become targets” if the international community imposes sanctions on the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Moreover, many correspondents for the
international media have been refused a visa or denied access to certain
areas within Kosovo.
These repeated threats have yet to be condemned by the FRY government. Worse
still, they have gained justification from comments made by Serbian
government ministers or press officials, who have violently criticised the
foreign media. For instance, in March, Goran Matic, FRY Secretary of
Information, stated that “the world media had committed a massacre against
the truth” in their treatment of events in Kosovo.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
indicating that it demonstrates a willingness to have silenced those who
wish to present a reality that is quite different from what Belgrade offers
well as those who work for foreign media outlets
Appeals To
His Excellency Slobodan Milosevic
President
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
email: slobodan.milosevic@gov.yu
Fax: +38 111 636 (775) / (682) / (167)Goran Matic
Secretary for Information
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Fax: +381 11 600 446
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
