(RSF/IFEX) – The trial of Viktor Ivancic, editor-in-chief of the satirical weekly “Feral Tribune”, and staff reporter Marinko Culic is set to resume on 22 December 1997. **Updates IFEX alerts dated 6 May 1997, 10 October, 26 and 19 September, 14 and 12 June and 8 May 1996** Background Information The two journalists are accused […]
(RSF/IFEX) – The trial of Viktor Ivancic, editor-in-chief of the
satirical weekly “Feral Tribune”, and staff reporter Marinko
Culic is set to resume on 22 December 1997.
**Updates IFEX alerts dated 6 May 1997, 10 October, 26 and 19
September, 14 and 12 June and 8 May 1996**
Background Information
The two journalists are accused of having “defamed and insulted”
Croatian President Franjo Tudjman in an article that denounced
plans to bury in the same graves the remains of Croatian World
War Two victims and their executioners at the Jasenovac
extermination camp. Both Ivancic and Culic were initially charged
in May 1996; they were acquitted in September of that year.
However, the September 1996 acquittal was annulled by the Supreme
Court on 5 May 1997, and they were again charged with defaming
President Tudjman. The charges against Ivancic and Culic are
being applied under an article of the Penal Code that re-
establishes crimes of the press and provides for penalties of up
to three years in prison (see IFEX alerts).
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
Viktor Ivancic and Marinko Culic
journalists and the rest of the staff of “Feral Tribune” are no
longer harassed by Croatian authorities
Appeals To
His Excellency Franjo Tudjman
President of the Republic of Croatia
Zagreb, Croatia
Fax: +385 1 443 075/444 532/456 5188Mr Zeyno Luzavec
Minister of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Communication
Prisavlje 14
10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Fax: +385 1 611 0691Minister of Internal Affairs
Mr Ivan Jarnjak
Ministar
Ministarstvo za unutraSnje poslove Republike Hrvatske
Savska cesta 39
10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Fax: +385 1 443 715
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
