(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ is greatly concerned about the criminal libel trial initiated by Croatian President Franjo Tudjman against editor-in-chief Viktor Ivancic and correspondent Marinko Culic of the independent weekly “Feral Tribune”, which was scheduled to resume on Monday, 18 May 1998, in Zagreb. **Updates IFEX alerts of 19 December, 21 October and 6 May 1997, […]
(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ is greatly concerned about the criminal libel trial
initiated by
Croatian President Franjo Tudjman against editor-in-chief Viktor Ivancic and
correspondent Marinko Culic of the independent weekly “Feral Tribune”, which
was scheduled to resume on Monday, 18 May 1998, in Zagreb.
**Updates IFEX alerts of 19 December, 21 October and 6 May 1997, and 10
October, 26 and 19 September, 14 and 12 June, and 8 May 1996**
Ivancic and Culic face criminal charges of offending President Tudjman’s
“honor
and reputation.” As president, Tudjman is one of five top officials in
Croatia offered special protection from criticism in the countryâs penal
code.
The 18 May hearing continued the journalistsâ retrial after a higher court
overturned their September 1996 acquittal in the case last year. The
accusations stem from a satirical article and photo montage published in
“Feral Tribune” two years ago criticizing President Tudjman’s proposal to
rebury the remains of World War II Ustasha Nazi collaborators along with
their Jewish, Serb, Croat, Roma, and other victims under a joint memorial at
the Jasenovac death camp.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to President Tudjman:
Culic
international commitments to respect press freedom
the
hallmark of authoritarian regimes, calling on him as the democratically
elected president of Croatia, to repeal all statutes that make libel a
criminal offense and give special protection to public officials from
scrutiny by the mass media
Appeals To
His Excellency Franjo Tudjman
President of Croatia
Fax: +385-1-456-5208
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
