(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is expressing concern regarding recent threats against Albanian language media in Kosovo. According to RSF’s information, on 16 December 1998, Serbian Information Minister Aleksander Vucic sent a letter to several Albanian language newspapers in Pristina (main city in Kosovo) threatenening them with lawsuits. These threats are notably directed at the dailies “Bujku” […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is expressing concern regarding recent threats against
Albanian language media in Kosovo. According to RSF’s information, on 16
December 1998, Serbian Information Minister Aleksander Vucic sent a letter
to several Albanian language newspapers in Pristina (main city in Kosovo)
threatenening them with lawsuits. These threats are notably directed at the
dailies “Bujku” and “Koha Ditore” which, according to Vucic, promote
“terrorism” and incite “hatred” and the “overthrow of the constitutional
order in Yugoslavia.” Since the passage of the new information law, these
offences are punishable by penalties ranging from heavy fines to suspension
and seizure.
RSF recalls that three Belgrade dailies, “Dnevni Telegraf”, “Danas” and
“Nasa Borba”, were closed last October after having received such a “warning
letter” from the Information Minister. Since the passage of the information
law on 20 October, “Nasa Borba” has not been published, “Dnevni Telegraf”
was punished with three heavy fines and “Danas” can no longer be printed in
Serbia (see recent IFEX alerts).
On 18 December, alarmed by Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic’s numerous
attacks on freedom of the press, RSF was expected to launch an official
complaint to William Walker, head of the verification mission of the
Organisation on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), in Pristina.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the President:
language
press in Kosovo
Serbia
Appeals To
Mr. Slobodan Milosevic
President of FRY
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Fax: +381 11 636 775
e-mail: slobodan.milosevic@gov.yu
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
