(IPI/IFEX) – IPI is most concerned for the safety of Pit Schnitzler, a German television correspondent, who is currently being detained by the authorities in Yugoslavia. **Updates IFEX alerts of 23 April and 22 April 1999** Pit Schnitzler, 56, south-east Europe correspondent for the German television station Sat.1, has been held by the authorities since […]
(IPI/IFEX) – IPI is most concerned for the safety of Pit Schnitzler, a
German television correspondent, who is currently being detained by the
authorities in Yugoslavia.
**Updates IFEX alerts of 23 April and 22 April 1999**
Pit Schnitzler, 56, south-east Europe correspondent for the German
television station Sat.1, has been held by the authorities since Friday, 16
April 1999. He was detained somewhere between Belgrade and the
Serbian-Croatian border as he tried to leave the country. Already on 8
April, his car and technical equipment were taken at gunpoint by military
police officers at the Belgrade Inter-Continental Hotel.
According to IPI’s information, Serb and Yugoslav authorities have accused
Schnitzler of espionage.
IPI strongly condemns the harassment and detention of both local and foreign
journalists by the authorities in Yugoslavia as a blatant attempt to silence
critical reporting on events in the region and has appealed to all parties
involved in the present conflict not to target the media. This has included
an appeal to NATO to not bomb civilian broadcast facilities.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
unconditionally and that his equipment is returned to him
Appeals To
His Excellency Slobodan Milosevic
President of Yugoslavia
Belgrade
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Fax: +381 11 367 25 48
E-mail: slobodan.milosevic@gov.yu
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
