(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Jiri Dienstbier, the United Nations (UN) special rapporteur on human rights in the former Yugoslavia, RSF expressed its concern about acts of violence perpetrated by Albanian extremists against journalists and the destruction of television relay stations in the Tetovo region. “The recent tension in the north-west of Macedonia makes […]
(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Jiri Dienstbier, the United Nations (UN) special rapporteur on human rights in the former Yugoslavia, RSF expressed its concern about acts of violence perpetrated by Albanian extremists against journalists and the destruction of television relay stations in the Tetovo region. “The recent tension in the north-west of Macedonia makes journalists hostages and aims to prevent the circulation of independent information on current events,” said Robert Ménard, the organisation’s secretary-general. “We ask that you pay special attention to these alarming facts,” added Ménard.
According to information collected by RSF, the 14 March 2001 demonstration by Albanian radical movements, which drew between 3,000 and 5,000 people in the city of Tetovo (about 40 km from Skopje), was the scene of attacks against two Macedonian journalists who had come to cover the rally to support Albanian guerrillas. Atanas Sokolovski, a journalist from the private television station A1, was manhandled by the crowd while trying to interview Albanians. He was taken to hospital, where his condition was listed as serious. A correspondent from the Sitel television station was also beaten by demonstrators and her video camera was broken.
Moreover, the information situation remains troublesome in the country’s north-western region. Macedonian public television is the only station still airing in Tetovo. The two relay stations of private television stations in the region were destroyed by mortar and rocket-launcher fire from armed Albanian groups. On 14 March, broadcasts by the private television stations that air nationally, A1 and Sitel, were interrupted in Tetovo. On 16 March, the transmitters of local private stations ETV Art, TV Kis and TV Koha were destroyed. The written press has allegedly not been available in Tetovo in recent days.
