Journalist Milorad Ostojic dies in mysterious circumstances

(RSF/IFEX) – On 27 November 1997, following the publication of information in the media concerning the death of Milorad Ostojic, correspondent for Alternativa Informativna Mreza (AIM) in Teslic (about 60 km west of Tuzla in Republika Sprska), AIM editor-in- chief Drazena Peranic published a communique calling on representatives of the international community in the country […]

(RSF/IFEX) – On 27 November 1997, following the publication of
information in the media concerning the death of Milorad Ostojic,
correspondent for Alternativa Informativna Mreza (AIM) in Teslic
(about 60 km west of Tuzla in Republika Sprska), AIM editor-in-
chief Drazena Peranic published a communique calling on
representatives of the international community in the country –
the International Police Training Force (IPTF), the sub-
Commission on the Media of the Organisation for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the leading civilian
representative in Bosnia-Herzegovina – to clarify the
circumstances surrounding the journalist’s death. The appeal was
made after a statement was issued by a spokesperson for the IPTF
indicating “the possible violent death” of Ostojic.

According to information obtained by his family, Ostojic suffered
a brain hemorrhage on 28 October and was taken to a hospital in
Doboj. On 2 November, Ostojic went into a coma while at a
Belgrade hospital, where he died on 8 November.

Ostojic had written articles critical of local authorities in
Teslic. During the municipal election campaign in September,
Ostojic was threatened and harassed.

Following the IPTF spokesperson’s statement, several AIM
reporters told their editors that they, too, had received threats
from local authorities, stating that they would suffer the same
fate as Ostojic if they continued to work as journalists.

Recommended Action

Carlos Westendorp

Leading civilian representative for Bosnia-Herzegovina

Sarajevo

Fax: +387 71 44 74 20