(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – ARTICLE 19 is extremely concerned to learn that the weekly magazine “Feral Tribune” is under severe financial pressure, due to the withholding of a large sum of money owed to the publication by the state-controlled newspaper distributor, Tisak. It appears to ARTICLE 19 that this latest action follows a pattern whereby the […]
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – ARTICLE 19 is extremely concerned to learn that the
weekly magazine “Feral Tribune” is under severe financial pressure, due to
the withholding of a large sum of money owed to the publication by the
state-controlled newspaper distributor, Tisak. It appears to ARTICLE 19 that
this latest action follows a pattern whereby the authorities attempt to put
severe financial strain on the independent media in order to force them to
suspend publication.
**Updates IFEX alerts of 22 December, 21 December, 24 November, 30 September
and 19 May 1998, 19 December, 21 October and 6 May 1997, 10 October, 26
September, 19 September, 14 June, 12 June and 8 May 1996**
According to ARTICLE 19’s information, the sum owed amounts to over
US$200,000, and this shortfall in income means that “Feral Tribune” is
having problems paying staff and its printing house, hence affecting
production of the magazine.
Since Tisak has a monopoly on distribution of print news in Croatia, “Feral
Tribune” is in the unfortunate position of having to use it, despite its
shortcomings. ARTICLE 19 finds it unacceptable that a state-controlled
company should withhold money owed, thereby bringing a newspaper which is
otherwise in a healthy financial state to the brink of financial collapse.
This seems to be a direct example of state intervention to stifle freedom of
expression and reduce media diversity.
Furthermore, ARTICLE 19 understands that “Feral Tribune” is not the first
newspaper to be affected in this way – apparently the weekly newspaper
“Nacional” is also owed money by Tisak.
Background Information
This action is the latest in a long campaign of harassment by the Croatian
authorities against “Feral Tribune”. Another example is the huge number of
cases being brought against the magazine and other critical voices by public
officials using defamation law, in contravention of international standards
which state that such people should tolerate greater criticism than private
citizens.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the President:paying the money owed to “Feral Tribune”
governing defamation, which allow vast fines and even prison sentences to be
levied on journalists and editors for exercising a legitimate right to
freedom of expression. The chilling effect which this has on the press
cannot be overstated
Appeals To
President Franjo Tudjman
President, Republic of Croatia
Zagreb, Republic of Croatia
Fax: +385 1 456 5208
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
