IFEX donosi vijesti iz Srbije

06.09.2006.

IFEX - News from the international freedom of expression community
_________________________________________________________________

ALERT - SERBIA

5 September 2006

ANEM calls for more active government defence of media, after talk show host and guest intimidated
SOURCE: Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM)
(ANEM/IFEX) - The following is an ANEM press release:

Active measures in preventing media intimidation, not only declarative decry

BELGRADE, September 5, 2006 - The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) strenuously protests the recent attack on freedom of expression and media freedom in Serbia, which occurred on Sunday, September 3rd, following the taping of the TV B92 "Impression of the Week" talk show.

Three shots were heard in front of the B92 building when Natasa Kandic, the Humanitarian Law Fund Executive Director and guest of the show, was entering a taxi, accompanied by the host of the show, Olja Beckovic, and Broadcast Agency Council member Professor Svetozar Stojanovic. The police later confirmed that the shots were, in fact, the sounds of exploding firecrackers.

Attacks on journalists and guests of the television shows diametrically oppose the proclaimed goals of  media policy in the country and principles of media independence. The condemnatory reaction of the Serbian government is a step towards the right direction; however, ANEM urges the authorities to take more active measures, governed by the full sense of importance of the freedoms of expression and media for democratic processes in society.

ANEM is also concerned with the fact that, although the attack occurred after the show, where one of the guests was also a member of the Broadcast Agency Council, a regulatory body for broadcasting in Serbia, there was no reaction from the Agency.

ANEM urges the appropriate authorities to take a more active approach to affirming the inviolability of freedom of expression, an approach where they would not merely express messages of regret after such incidents occur, but rather where they would constantly strive to maintain safe working conditions for the media and journalists, and to create an environment in which the pluralism of thought and expression is defended as a core characteristic of a democratic society.

For further information, contact Chairperson Sasa Mirkovic or Coordinator Sibina Golubovic at ANEM, 13a Marsala Birjuzova Street, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia, tel/fax: +381 11 2622 467 / 3286 355, e-mail: anem@anem.org.yu, Internet: http://www.anem.org.yu

The information contained in this alert is the sole responsibility of ANEM. In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit ANEM.
_________________________________________________________________
DISTRIBUTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
EXCHANGE (IFEX) CLEARING HOUSE
555 Richmond St. West, # 1101, PO Box 407
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5V 3B1
alerts e-mail: alerts@ifex.org    general e-mail: ifex@ifex.org
Internet site: http://www.ifex.org/
_________________________________________________________________


--
To unsubscribe from this list visit http://listmgr.ifex.org/lists/?p=unsubscribe&uid=5861fc139b775ea8f65abd855fae65f3

To update your preferences visit http://listmgr.ifex.org/lists/?p=preferences&uid=5861fc139b775ea8f65abd855fae65f3



--
Powered by PHPlist, www.phplist.com --

Povratak