Independent media under attack

(IFJ/IFEX) – According to the IFJ, Radio Index has had its signal jammed due to the proximity of two other broadcasters, Radio Bon-Ton and Radio Top FM. These two stations were told to change frequencies by the Yugoslav Telecommunications Ministry to make way for Radio Interspeed. Not only do these moves place the two stations […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – According to the IFJ, Radio Index has had its signal jammed due
to the proximity of two other broadcasters, Radio Bon-Ton and Radio Top FM.
These two stations were told to change frequencies by the Yugoslav
Telecommunications Ministry to make way for Radio Interspeed. Not only do
these moves place the two stations illegally close to Radio Index’s
frequency, but it is surprising that any move was needed since there is free
broadcast space between 88,10 and 88,90 MHz on the FM band.

The IFJ believes that these moves are a deliberate attempt by the
authorities to interfere with Radio Index’s signal, thus jamming its
broadcasts. They coincide with the use of a weak RTS transmitter to
broadcast Index, meaning that Top FM easily drowns out the Index signal.

The IFJ would also like to draw attention to the increased practise of
summoning journalists for “informative discussions” with the police. These
discussions tend to follow news broadcasts about the police. One such
incident occurred on 22 July, when Momcilo Djurdjic, editor-in-chief of
Radio Pirot, was summoned by the Pitot police.

The IFJ considers such summons to be attempts to intimidate the media and to
be in contravention of international standards on freedom of expression.

Recommended Action

Slobodan Milosevic

President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

Belgrade

Fax: +381 11 367 25 48