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Medienhilfe Ex-Jugoslawien

Professionelle Solidarität gegen Nationalismus und Chauvinismus
Professional solidarity against nationalism and chauvinism

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ANEM/B92 Press Release on Yugoslav Refusal of Visas to Participants of the International Conference
Broadcasting for a Democratic Europe

Belgrade--September 29, 1998
      
Exactly one month ago, Radio B92 on behalf of ANEM informed the Yugoslav
Foreign Ministry, the Yugoslav Secretary of Information and the Serbian
Information Minister that ANEM would be organising the international
conference Broadcasting for a Democratic Europe in Belgrade on October 2
and 3. The conference was to be held under the auspices of the Council of
Europe and its invitees included local and some fifty experts from Europe
and the US. The Yugoslav Foreign Ministry was asked to enable unhindered
visa issue to all participants from abroad. The ministry was also asked to
note the great political significance of this, the first international
conference to be organised in FR Yugoslavia under the auspices of the
Council of Europe.

Unfortunately, the Yugoslav state authorities have once again shown there
is no serious intent behind their declarative statements of the need to
cooperate with and join the most important European political institutions
and organisations, one of which Council of Europe indubitably is. Although
the Yugoslav Foreign Ministry and the Yugoslav Secretariat of Information
should have taken all necessary steps to provide all international
participants with visas, ANEM learned, just three days before the
conference, that a great part of its international invitees were denied
visas. The denial came after two-three weeks of Yugoslav embassies'
dallying with the visa issue, aimed at creating a deliberate pretence of
normal administrative problems that would eventually be solved easily.

The Council of Europe has in the meanwhile confirmed that its top-level
representatives would take part in the conference, including the Chairman
of the Council of Europe and Greek Deputy Foreign Ministrer, Mr Giorgos
Papandreou. By denying visas to the participants of this conference, the
Yugoslav authorities have sent out a clear message to the world that they
are in fact preventing the inclusion of our country into the international
community.

Radio B92 and ANEM will on no account abandon the plan to present their
achievements--the ANEM Radio and Television Networks--to the world. The
Broadcasting for a Democratic Europe conference shall take place no matter
how hard the Yugoslav authorities try to spread fear of and resistance to
democracy and Europe. ANEM's internal and external openness is the core
idea of its development and strategy, which shall not be dropped regardless
of all pressures. Isolation can no longer survive nor be justified. This
fact is clear even to the Yugoslav authorities who are trying to keep
democracy and modernisation on the borders on our country.

Veran Matic,
ANEM Chairman
--
Veran Matic, Editor in Chief                   tel: +381-11-322-9109
Radio B92, Belgrade, Yugoslavia          fax: +381-11-322-4378

          Radio B92 Official Web Site --- http://www.opennet.org/

ANEM STATEMENT ON THREATS FROM SERBIAN GOVERNMENT AND PARLIAMENT

Announcements of possible international intervention in Kosovo, particularly
possible bombing of military objects in Kosovo and Serbia had opened space
for radical, so far only verbal, attacks and threats aimed at independent
media and non-government organisations known for their anti-nationalist and
anti-war views and actions.

Lacking in UNPROFOR soldiers this time, who used to be present in Bosnia and
Herzegovina in 1995, nationalist coalition of Socialist Party of Serbia,
Serbian Radical Party  and Yugoslav Left launched threats to all
unlike-minded people that in case Serbia was attacked those people would be
taken as hostages.

Although such verbal radicalism is a message clear enough for international
community that government would not stray from its hard-line nationalist
policy, it is also a reflection of inner insecurity which, unfortunately,
may turn into general witch hunt on people and institutions who have
opinions different from government's .
Labeling and marking of "the fifth column" and "quislings" from Serbian
parliament is an introduction to an open non-institutional fight and lynch
aimed at all independent media.

Besides Seselj, who openly threats that political opponents will be turned
into hostages if they do not leave country on time, threats were sent also
by Zeljko Simic in Serbian parliament, who said that "Serbia was attacked by
Albanian separatism from the inside, manifested through terrorism, and that
overall activities of so called independent media was a tantamount for high
treason." Therefore, without any doubt, framework for new dangerous campaign
had been established, particularly on internal level. Main aim is to use
general fear and disturbance of citizens about possible bombing for radical
showdown with all political opponents, especially with independent media.
Thus the political map of Serbia would be cleared for a longer period of
time and it would serve as an excellent substitution for political
compromise required in Kosovo.

ANEM Chairman,

Veran Matic
30.09.1998.

Seselj attacks media

(Dnevni telegraf) - BELGRADE, SERBIA: Serbian Prime Minister Mirko
  Marjanovic today led an attack on independent media
  in Serbia which echoed around the parliament before
  being picked up by Deputy Prime Minister and leader
  of the ultranationalist Serbian Radical Party Vojislav
  Seselj.

  ``The media have had full access to all parts of Kosovo
  and all the relevant facts,'' said Marjanovic. ``The
  media must take responsibility, both those who spread
  lies about mass graves full of Albanians and those who
  closed their eyes when faced with furnaces where
  women, children and elderly people had been
  cremated for the sole reason that they were Serbs,''
  said the Serbian prime minister.

  Marjanovic went on to say that it was clear that the
  ``so-called independent media'' were not interested in
  the truth but served lies, pressure, defeatism, fear and
  hopelessness.

  Government MP Zeljko Simic said that Albanian
  separatism had been generously assisted by the
  independent media. He added that such activities by
  the media at a time when the country was under attack
  both from within and without was tantamount to high
  treason.

  ``The Americans found their fifth column here,'' said
  Seselj, ``It is composed of politically irrelevant parties
  and independent media. Our decision to defend
  ourselves by all means should warn them that if they
  want to attack us, they should first withdraw those
  agents of theirs, such as the Helsinki Committee, the
  Women in Black and the Belgrade Circle.

  ''Maybe we can't shoot down each and every NATO
  aircraft,`` said Seselj, ''but we can grab those agents
  who are at hand. ``
--
Veran Matic, Editor in Chief                   tel: +381-11-322-9109
Radio B92, Belgrade, Yugoslavia          fax: +381-11-322-4378

          Radio B92 Official Web Site --- http://www.opennet.org/

Radio B92, Music section
  PRESS RELEASE:   "EARTHDANCE JUGOSLAVIJA"
Humanitarian party for Kosovo refugees in Montenegro

Big Humanitarian Techno Event (donation to Montenegrin High Commissioner for Refugees)

  Time: October 10, 1998, 23:00-09:00 h
  Place: Barutana, Kalemegdan park, Belgrade, Yugoslavia
  Organised by: Radio B92 (Belgrade) - in cooperation with London-based
"RETURN

  TO THE SOURCE" club

  Eearthdance Party is envisioned to be worldwide humanitarian techno
happening, that will simultaneously take place in 29 countries at 45 sites on
October 10, 1998. The slogan of the happening is "GLOBAL DANCE FOR PLANETARY
PEACE". Most of the international organizers of the Earthdance party will
donate the entire income to the
Tibetan victims of the Chinese oppression. Due to the fact that situation in
Yugoslavia is quite specific, Radio B92 as the organizer of the happening in
Belgrade is left free to decide to which humanitarian organization it make the
donation. Radio B92 has decided to donate the amount to Montenegrin High
Commissioner for Refuges, responsible for refugees from Kosovo displaced in
this republic.
The humanitarian party will be hosted by the leading local techno DJs -
Boza Podunavac, Marko Nastic and Dejan Milicevic, along with special guests
from Germany and France: DJH Marcus (Der stern von Africa project), DJ
Mahasukha (Intact Instict and Hovek Olam projects). One of the hipest European
techno DJs is scheduled as a special surprise. The DJs will perform in two
separate locations in Barutana at Kalemegdan park. Radio B 92 expects the
event
to be a big success, since this is the first humanitarian techno happening of
the kind in Yugoslavia.
Now when we are witnessing a lack of high quality events in the domestic
scene,
this happening is seen as an opportunity for local audience to show solidarity
with all victims of tragic events in our country.
Entry fee is 60 dinars.
Tickets are sold at Radio B92, Makedonska 22; Ticket service, Trg Republike;
Maniac store in Terazije underground at Atina restaurant, all in Belgrade.
Visitors outside Belgrade may book their tickets at:
Fax: 011 3248075
or e-mail: earthdance@opennet.org
Web site: http://www.earthdance.opennet.org
--
Veran Matic, Editor in Chief                   tel: +381-11-322-9109
Radio B92, Belgrade, Yugoslavia          fax: +381-11-322-4378

          Radio B92 Official Web Site --- http://www.opennet.org/

Information from Radio B92: Conference in Belgrade "banned"

Thursday's issue of the Belgrade daily Nasa Borba carries a statement from
the Chairman of the Council of Europe's Political Affairs, Andrass Barsoni.
Mr Barsoni advises that the Council of Europe decided at a meeting in
Santorini, Greece, this week to consider Yugoslavia's application for
membership in the Council of Europe at the beginning of November. According
to Mr Barsoni, The Chairman-in-office of the Council's Committee of
Ministers, Giorgos Papandreou and the Secretary-general of the Council of
Europe, Daniel Tarshise, were to discuss the Yugoslav application with
Belgrade on Friday October 2. It had also been planned that Mr Tarshise and
Mr Papandreou would open the International Conference on Broadcasting for a
Democratic Europe which was to begin in Belgrade on October 2. The
conference had was organised by the Association of Independent Electronic
Media and Radio B92.

Because of the refusal of Yugoslav authorities to guarantee visas to a
large number of foreign delegates to this conference, the event has been
postponed. Mr Papandreou has subsequently announced the cancellation of his
visit to Belgrade in a statement sent to ANEM:

"642nd Meeting - September 30, 1998

Statement from the Chairman-in-office of the Committee of Ministers, Mr
Giorgos Papandreou, on the "International Conference on Broadcasting for a
Democratic Europe: the Case of the Association of Independent Electronic
Media - ANEM"

1. The Chairman-in-office of the Committee of Ministers had the intention
to go to Belgrade next Friday, October 2, 1998 to open the "International
Conference on Broadcasting for a Democratic Europe: the Case of the
Association of Independent Electronic Media - ANEM", organised under the
auspices of the Secretary-general of the Council of Europe.
2. Due to the refusal of Yugoslav authorities to grant entry visas to a
large number of foreign participants in this conference, Minister
Papandreou considers that he is obliged to cancel his visit.
3. He expresses his full support to the organisers of the conference and
shares the efforts put forward for the strenghtening of the role of the
media in Yugoslavia.
4. He will continue to act energetically in favour of the Council of Europe
achieving positive results in respect of the multi-faceted crisis in
Yugoslavia."
--
Veran Matic, Editor in Chief                   tel: +381-11-322-9109
Radio B92, Belgrade, Yugoslavia          fax: +381-11-322-4378

          Radio B92 Official Web Site --- http://www.opennet.org/

SERBIAN RADIO TELEVISION (RTS) VICIOUS ATTACK  ON INDEPENDENT MEDIA

(Beta)  --- Serbian Radio Television has attacked viciously the independent
media in Serbia by accusing them of  "immorality" and "high treason". "The
scenario of fabricating information is well known and has come to the fore
after the collapse of Yugoslavia. According to this scenario, fabricated
information has been propagated by more that 400 foreign spies pretending to
be journalists and reporters. We do not expect from them either morality or
sympathy on account of the innocent victims in Klecka, murdered soldiers or
policemen", it is said in the commentary broadcast in a TV news journal of
RTS. "However, when we experience the same things in newspapers and
magazines published in Cyrillic alphabet, when the signatures of the authors
of such articles end in "ic", when those very "ics" create panic among their
own people and predict bombardment instead of reporting what really has
happened, then it is immoral at the least, sinful with respect to their own
people, far removed from patriotism and effectively equals high treason."
RTS claims that "there have always been  foreign servants". The author of
the commentary goes on: "One cannot stop wondering under these circumstances
whether those people, who predict Doomsday in their own country for a fee of
a few hundred or thousand German marks, think that Bill, Cooke or Ruehe
would spare them, recognize them among the millions of the Serbs and other
peoples inhabiting these parts. "

ANEM CALLS ON INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO ABANDON PLANS TO BOMB

Belgrade--October 4, 1998

Threats from the international community with military intervention because
of the situation in Kosovo have generated a trully dramatical political and
social situation in Serbia. For some time now, state media and the
extremist nationalist parties have waged an intensive campaign against all
who held different political views. The most direct threats have gone to
the independent media.

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Vojislav Seselj openly threatens all who
cooperate with foreign media, such as Voice of America, Deutsche Welle,
Free Europe, Radio France International, the BBC, with punishment (one
possibilty is their being taken hostage). In his announcement of a linch
(phrased "not even the Geneva Convention protects these [journalists]"),
Serbian deputy prime minister is preparing the public for a mass physical
showdown with independent journalists. A large number of politicians of the
ruling coalition has joined in with his threats.

Radio B92 and all members of the ANEM Radio Network (currently 33 of them
in Serbia and Montenegro), which jointly cover some 80% of the Yugoslav
population, carry Voice of America's, BBC's and Radio Free Europe's
programs. A great number of Radio B92's and ANEM's journalists also work as
correspondents of a number of international media. There is no doubt that
the official threats are sent exactly to Radio B92 and ANEM.

Why have these media, rather than an opposition party, become the greatest
enemy of the Serbian regime? The answer is very simple: the independent
media, especially electronic, are in fact the greatest obstacle to the
creation of a mass nationalist and war hysteria. These media's advocacy of
anti-war position presented a great hindrance to the regime during the wars
in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Daily professional and objective reports
on what is going on in Kosovo are now creating suspicion and resistance to
the idea that state military force and large scale repression can effect
peace, stability and territorial wholeness of the country.

The independent media in Yugoslavia will probably soon face pressure and
challenge characteristic of totalitarian regimes in war situations. Apart
from the daily threats and calls to physical showdowns with journalists,
the state will most probably undertake a mass closure and ban action
against the independent media, and introduce censorship over those outlets
which are allowed to continue broadcasts.
ANEM members and Radio B92 are carrying out serious preparations to face
such developments. Our main goal is on no account to give up our basic work
and to continue to supply professional and objective information to the
local and international public on everything that is going on in the
country and the world. 

In the dramatic days that lie ahead we must once again reiterate our
position that international military intervention would be a wrong and
harmful political move, an indication of political and statesmen's
incapabilty and of a lack of a true strategy and vision of a long-term
solution for the years-long drama of the Balkans. The possible air raids
against Yugoslavia will put a powerful weapon into the hands of all
conservative and nationalist forces here, and cause desperation and loss of
direction to all who have for years now stood up to the policy of hatred
and violence. The general popular feeling of the Serb nation as a victim
and the international conspiracy against it that would arise would generate
a spirit of revenge and isolationism, which is one of the key goals the
Milosevic regime has had since his taking the helm of Serbia.

Due to all this, we must all create an atmosphere of opposition and prepare
concrete actions to protect all values we have been fighting for. The
survival of the independent media is crucial for the outlook of this part
of the world not only in half a year but also in ten years. Those who
refuse to think about that now will have to pay an enormously higher price
in the near future.

Veran Matic,
ANEM Chairman

Due to Precipitation of Political Circumstances in FR Yugoslavia, Radio B92
Cancels the Humanitarian Earth Dance in FR Yugoslavia

Belgrade--October 5 1998

Over the past couple of days, there has been a number of incidents and
threats to the independent media and foreingers in FR Yugoslavia by state
officials. Moreover, the threats from the international community with
military intervention are becoming more serious and have created an
increasingly radicalised atmosphere in the country. As it is not able to
guarantee safety of the guests and the participants in the humanitarian
Earth Dance Yugoslavia party, Radio B92 is forced to cancel the holding of
this event.

On behalf of Radio B92,
Veran Matic
Editor-In-Chief
--
Veran Matic, Editor in Chief                   tel: +381-11-322-9109
Radio B92, Belgrade, Yugoslavia          fax: +381-11-322-4378

          Radio B92 Official Web Site --- http://www.opennet.org/

Serbian Information Minister Bans Foreign News Programs Rebroadcasts by
Independent Broadcast Media in Serbia


Belgrade--October 5, 1998

The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) informs the public
that a greater part of its affiliates on Monday received a note from the
Serbian Information Minister Aleksandar Vucic, informing the stations that
the ministry had learned that a number of local radio and TV stations
broadcast "programs produced for the services of propaganda and
psychological war by the Western forces," and that the participation in the
distribution of these programming contents represented an act of espionage
and a direct attack on the constitutional system and legal order. The note
said that those who participated in this would be adequately punished.

As Mr Vucic's note included very serious accusations, without specifying
any exact programs, or quoting any current regulations that would ban the
broadcasts of foreign programs, ANEM immediately sent a note to Minister
Vucic, demanding urgent clarification which would to remove any chance of
misinterpretation of his note.

ANEM protests at such behaviour of minister Vucic, who deliberately
overlooks the years-old practice of rebroadcasting foreign programs by a
majority of broadcast media in Serbia. Furthermore, Mr Vucic is either
unfamiliar with Serbia's existing media-related legal regulations or is
deliberately ignoring them, while using exclusively political
qualifications to declare certain media "spies" acting against their own
people and trying intimidate these media's staff with threats of
prosecution for the gravest offense changes.

ANEM advises all its affiliates to continue their broadcasts in keeping
with the current laws, decisions by the competent state agencies and
professional ethics.

ANEM will inform its affiliates and the general public about the possible
response from Minster Vucic.
--
Veran Matic, Editor in Chief                   tel: +381-11-322-9109
Radio B92, Belgrade, Yugoslavia          fax: +381-11-322-4378

          Radio B92 Official Web Site --- http://www.opennet.org/

WARNING! POSSIBLE GENERAL ALERT!

Dear friends:
This message is to warn you that we, Yugoslav journalists, may very soon
proclaim a general alert to all fellow journalists, professional unions,
NGOs concerned with human rights and freedom of press and all decent people
in the world.
Faced with the imminent bankruptcy of their chauvinist political project,
Slobodan Milosevic, his national-socialist regime and his Fascist
accessories are preparing their final stand. Cornered as they are now,
facing possible military intervention in Kosovo and air strikes against
their military targets, they are ready to reach for their last option -
open totalitarian dictatorship, that is.
Naturally enough, their first target will be the handful of free media in
Serbia and the foreign correspondents: once they are silenced and banned,
nothing will be left to bother the ruling Communist-Fascist coalition in
Serbia. The shadow of totalitarian dictatorship is getting longer every
day, as the highest-ranking officials of the ruling red-black coalition
keep repeating their threats against free media and foreign correspondents
in Serbia.
Dr. Vojislav Seselj, Serbian Vice-Prime Minister and the President of the
extreme-right Serbian Radical Party is spearheading the current campaign of
intimidation and threats. Just a few days ago he threatened terrorist
actions against NATO troops in Balkans, foreing citizens, foreing news
correspondents and Yugoslav journalists working for foreign and domestic
free media. He openly threatened to take hostages and to attack any and all
foreign citizens and inedependent journalists regardless of their
citizenship. He was seconded by high-ranking members of the ruling
Socialist Party of Serbia and Yugoslaf Left, who openly called all
journalists from the free media "traitors" and threatened them with
unspecified punishments - just because they refused to howl with the regime
media hate-mongering pack.
This climate of hatred and threats was being prepared for months and is
steadily escalating. It is being spread by regime-controlled Radio
Television of Serbia, a nation-wide and the most influential means of
information. The atmosphere created is one of fear, hystery and self-pity;
the scapegoat is offered, identified and inequivocally pointed at: the free
media and journalists. They are being accused of inviting foreign
agression, betraying their country and working for hostile great powers. In
such a climate of self-righteousness, self-pity and self-indulgence, the
threats made by people on high executive positions are definitely liable to
encourage the most extremist elements and produce a possible uncontrolled
cycle of violence. It is most certain that the designated targets of such
Fascist-like violence will not suffer it - nor should they. It is the
unalienable right of every human being to defend himself. Serbian society,
deeply split and well armed, will most probably fall in the abyss of
chaotic political violence if the red-black coalition decides to deploy and
use their goons.
Today (Monday, Oct. 5th) we witnessed two new Fascist scandals in the
Federal Parliament: first, Dr. Seselj declared the state of war on his own,
with blatant disregard for the oficial minutes of the Parliament and the
clearly worded statement of the Federal Prime Minister, Mr. Momir
Bulatovic, neither of which never mentioned the state of war. Before that,
his young clone and the high-ranking member of his party, Mr. Aleksandar
Vucic, Serbian Minister of Information, issued a statement asking all
electronic media to stop re-transmitting news programs made by foreign
networks in Serbian language. The statement refers to programs produced and
originally transmitted by networks like Voice of America, BBC, Radio Free
Europe, Radio France International, Deutsche Welle and the like. This
statement is another outragious Fascist attack against the freedom of
expression and - specifically - against independent electronic media:
Serbian Ministry of Information doesn't have any legal grounds to introduce
censorship; ministerial statement has no constitutional or legal grounds
whatsoever; the wording of the statement reflects typical Fascist arrogance
("subversion, spying, psychological warfare" etc.); the statement contains
illegal and generalized threats of uncpecified punishments. Such programs
have been re-transmitted by many local FM and TV stations for years, in
accordance with Yugoslav laws and there were no objections of any kind.
We, Yugoslav journalists, do not ask for anything more than to be let alone
to do our work honestly: to report and analyze truthfully, completely and
in time. As human beings with first-hand, direct experience of war, we are
meeting the threats of military intervention in Yugoslavia with cold
disaproval; we've seen enough of war in past seven years. Deeply convinced
that there cannot be justice without truth, we ask only to be allowed to
report the truth, because that's our vocation. We will not suffer
censorship and we will not lie for the sake of Communist-Fascist
totalitarian hypocrites who just happen to rule our unfortunate country.

Milos Vasic, President,
Independent Journalists' Union of Serbia

PS: Please send this warning to all interested parties and please do not
publish it yet; you'll be informed of our decision to go public with the
general alert I mentioned.
--
Veran Matic, Editor in Chief                   tel: +381-11-322-9109
Radio B92, Belgrade, Yugoslavia          fax: +381-11-322-4378

          Radio B92 Official Web Site --- http://www.opennet.org/

      Reporters sans frontières
Secrétariat International
Bureau Europe et ex-URSS

5, rue Geoffroy Marie - 75009 Paris France

Tél : (33) 1 44 83 84 84
Fax : (33) 1 45 23 11 51
E-mail : europe@rsf.fr
Web : www.rsf.fr

___________________________________________________________________________
M. Slobodan Milosevic
Président de la République fédarale de Yougoslavie
fax :  381 11 636 775
___________________________________________________________________________

Paris, le 6 octobre 1998


Monsieur le Président,

Reporters sans frontières, organisation indépendante de défense de la
liberté de la presse dans le monde, proteste contre les violences
policières dont a été victime un cameraman kosovar à Pristina, chef-lieu du
Kosovo (sud du pays).

Selon les informations dont nous disposons, le 5 octobre, Sulejman Klokoqi,
cameraman pour l'agence américaine APTN, a été battu par des policiers
après avoir été convoqué au commissariat de Pristina. Le journaliste a été
giflé à plusieurs reprises puis frappé à coups de matraque. Après lui avoir
interdit de quitter la ville, les policiers lui ont conseillé de
"travailler de façon plus professionnelle".

Les policiers reprochent à Sulejmen Klokoqi d'avoir pris des images à
Gornje Obrinje (centre du Kosovo) où une vingtaine de civils ont été tués
par balles la semaine dernière.

Reporters sans frontières rappelle que depuis le début des opérations des
forces de police au Kosovo, en mars dernier, pas moins de huit
représentants de la presse, dont une majorité de journalistes de langue
albanaise, ont été battus ou malmenés par la police. Notre organisation
vous demande de faire cesser ces violences et de vous porter garant de la
sécurité de tous les journalistes travaillant sur le territoire de la RFY.
Nous vous demandons également d'user de toute votre autorité pour qu'une
enquête soit ouverte dans les plus brefs délais sur cet incident.

Nous vous prions d'agréer, Monsieur le Président, l'expression de notre
très haute considération.

Robert Ménard,
Secrétaire général


C.C. : Premier ministre - Ministère des Affaires étrangères - Ministère de
la Justice - AFP - AP - Reuter -  Amnesty international - Article 19 -
Association mondiale des journaux - Canadian Committee to protect
journalists - Commission des droits de l'homme des Nations Unies -
Committee to Protect Journalists -  Conseil de l'Europe - Fédération
internationale des droits de l'homme - Fédération internationale des
journalistes - Fund for Free Expression - Index on Censorship -
International Pen - International Press Institute - Organisation pour la
Sécurité et la Coopération en Europe -  Parlement européen - Unesco - World
Press Freedom Committee.

Message from Women in Black, Belgrade,  30 September 1998
stasazen@EUnet.yu

OPENING OF NEW HUNTING SEASON ON "UNDESIRABLES"

The most recent session of the Serbian Parliament (September 28, 1998)
demonstrated the highest level of ethnic homogenization and perfect unity
between leader, people and political parties that has been achieved since
the beginning of the most recent wars in the Balkans (1991).

Of course, in regards to Kosovo, the war continues but only by different
means.  Small concessions are made to the international community so that
the regime can stay in power.  For a long time, patriotism has been the
most profitable business section in Serbia.  That is why the regime and the
people sharing their opinions strut around to defend Kosovo with other
people's sufferings and lives.

To confirm the reputation of Seselj, one of the greatest chauvinists and
perpetrators of ethnic cleansing in Serbia's political life, we cite from
his most recent speech to Parliament when he threatened Serbia's "enemies
within":

"We should take the US threats very seriously, but we must not be
frightened.  We will have an enormous number of victims and great material
damages, but we don't have a spare fatherland.  We must fight at all costs,
no matter by whom we are attacked.  Our determination to defend ourselves
by all means should prove that if they want to attack us they should
withdraw their supporters." 

Seselj demand that the USA, in case they attacked Serbia, "withdraw at that
time their Quislings like members of the Helsinki Committee for Human
Rights, the Belgrade (Intellectual) Circle, Wommen in Black, and not to
leave them as hostages.  Maybe we cannot reach every aeroplane, but we will
grab those that are close to us."

Seselj, of course, abused his functions as vice-premier but that should not
surprise anyone.  members of parliament and members of the government,
including the president, have supported Seselj, and this time too, his
aggressive, chauvinistic and militaristic politics that affirm as the only
way to govern.

Experience in this region shows that first come the rhetoric of lynching
and then the lynching of people.  Since we cannot count on any protection
in this country, we inform you of this threat.  This same information we
sent to all relevant international organizations  It seems as if the
international public can be our only protection.

Belgrade,  30 September 98 Women in Black
--------------------------------------------
Howard Clark
C/. Maqueda 113 9b
28024 Madrid
Spain
+34 91 717 8675

Statement by the Vreme weekly

A person from the Serbian Ministry of Interior has requested from VREME
weekly to provide the Ministry with the data concerning VREME’s journalist
Dejan Anastasijevic. This request has occurred in less then 24 hours after
Aleksandar Vucic, the Serbian Minister of Information and the member of the
Serbian Radical Party, at the Federal Assembly session denounced VREME and
Mr. Anastasijevic’s reporting on the massacre in Gornja Obrinja in Kosovo.
In a telephone conversation, the person from the Ministry of Interior told
VREME that they have acted upon requests from the state prosecutor. Mr.
Anastasijevic shall meet the relevant authorities only when he is
subpoenaed. VREME will continue to inform the public about the event and
will closely follow up the development.
Thus, the Serbian authorities has shown that they are ready to keep up
their promises and to persecute certain media and journalists. VREME
Editorial Board believes that the democratically-minded local and
international community, along with a professional solidarity are the
legitimate protection from any kind of unchecked rule, especially when it
comes from the delegated authorities.
Should our journalist Dejan Anastasijevic suffers a slightest harm, VREME
will hold directly responsible Minister Vucic for his ungrounded witch-hunt.

VREME Editorial Board 

>M. Slobodan Milosevic
>President de la Republique federale de Yougoslavie
>Belgrade
>fax : 381 11 636 775
>___________________________________________________________________________
>
>Paris, 5 octobre 1998
>
>Monsieur le President,
>
>Reporters sans frontieres (RSF), organisation independante de defense de la
>liberte de la presse dans le monde, s'inquiete de la recrudescence des
>menaces a l'encontre des medias independants et des correspondants de la
>presse etrangere a Belgrade.
>
>Selon les informations dont nous disposons, le 28 septembre, lors de la
>session extraordinaire du Parlement de Serbie, le vice-premier ministre
>Vojislav Seselj (chef du Parti radical, SRS, extreme droite) a accuse les
>medias independants d'etre "la cinquieme colonne des Americains". "A defaut
>de pouvoir abattre chaque avion de l'OTAN, nous pourrons nous concentrer
>sur ce que nous avons sous la main" a-t-il ajoute. Lors d'une conference de
>presse, tenue le 1er octobre, le vice-premier ministre a egalement exhorte
>les correspondants etrangers travaillant pour les stations de radio Voice
>of America, BBC, Deutsche Welle, Free Europe et RFI de quitter le pays et
>menace de represailles leurs collaborateurs yougoslaves.
>
>Deux hauts responsables du Parti socialiste de Serbie (SPS, au pouvoir),
>Milorad Komrakov et Zeljko Simic, s'en sont egalement pris aux medias
>independants qui, selon M. Komrakov, "propagent le defaitisme, le chaos, la
>violence, la peur et le desespoir". "Leur activite peut etre consideree
>comme une trahison", a ajoute M. Simic. Ces propos ont ete repris, le 3
>octobre, par la Radiotelevision de Serbie (RTS) qui a, en outre, accuse les
>collaborateurs yougoslaves des medias occidentaux d'avoir un comportement
>"amoral et servile, passible de poursuites pour trahison".
>
>Le 1er octobre, le quotidien gouvernemental Politika Express a accuse les
>medias independants "d'¦uvrer dans l'interet de l'Occident et de vouloir
>provoquer un bombardement de l'OTAN".
>
>Depuis le debut de l'offensive des forces de police au Kosovo, en mars
>dernier, les medias independants sont frequemment qualifies de "traîtres"
>ou de "mercenaires" pour avoir refuse de relayer le discours officiel des
>autorites sur le conflit qui les oppose aux separatistes kosovars. Parmi
>les medias incrimines : les quotidiens Nasa Borba, Danas, Blic, Glas
>Javnosti et Demokratija, la radio B92 et l'agence de presse BETA. Cette
>derniere a ete notamment accusee de "trahison" par les medias officiels
>apres la creation d'un site Internet commun avec le principal quotidien de
>langue albanaise de Pristina, Koha Ditore.
>
>Reporters sans frontieres s'inquiete de ces menaces a l'encontre des medias
>independants et des representants de la presse etrangere a Belgrade. RSF
>estime que ce type de discours vise a creer un climat de peur et
>d'autocensure chez les journalistes qui porte prejudice a la liberte
>d'informer et d'etre informe. Selon notre organisation, il est tout a fait
>regrettable que des representants de votre gouvernement se fassent les
>vecteurs de ces propos au lieu de les condamner fermement et de se porter
>garants de l'existence d'une information pluraliste et independante sur les
>evenements actuels.
>
>Je vous prie d'agreer, Monsieur le President, l'expression de ma tres haute
>consideration.
>
>Robert Menard,
>Secretaire general
>
>C.C. : Premier ministre - Ministere des Affaires etrangeres - Ministere de
>la Justice - AFP - AP - Reuter -  Amnesty international - Article 19 -
>Association mondiale des journaux - Canadian Committee to protect
>journalists - Commission des droits de l'homme des Nations Unies -
>Committee to Protect Journalists -  Conseil de l'Europe - Federation
>internationale des droits de l'homme - Federation internationale des
>journalistes - Fund for Free Expression - Index on Censorship -
>International Pen - International Press Institute - Organisation pour la
>Securite et la Cooperation en Europe -  Parlement europeen - Unesco - World
>Press Freedom Committee.
--
Veran Matic, Editor in Chief                   tel: +381-11-322-9109
Radio B92, Belgrade, Yugoslavia          fax: +381-11-322-4378

          Radio B92 Official Web Site --- http://www.opennet.org/

Vojislav Seselj Reiterates His Threats

Belgrade--October 6, 1998

In the "Interview of the Day" show by Radio B92, leader of the Serbian
Radical Party and Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Vojislav Seselj today
reiterated his threats with repercussions for journalists who work as
correspondents of the international media and for local broadcast media
outlets which carry news programs by foreign media.

Seselj interpreted yesterday's note sent by Serbian Information Minister
Aleksandar Vucic as an official warning which might very soon be followed
by an official decree of the Serbian Government that would include
sanctions for those who breached the decree's ban on rebroadcasts of news
shows by foreign media.

Although Vucic's note had qualified the rebroadcasts of the foreign
programming as "a direct attack on the constitutional system and legal
order of the country, as well as a conscious involvement in espionage
activities against your own people" and threatened with "adequate
punishement", legal sanctions Seselj today listed included closures,
seizures of equipment and possibly criminal procedures against individuals.
He neverhteless strongly advised that broadcast media take this warning
seriously, because the "Serbian Government shall prevent any attempt to
undermine our [Serbia's] defense power" by rebroadcasts of "foreign
psychological propaganda".

He warned that not only would broadcast media be forbidden to carry foreign
news programs, but their editors would be summoned for briefings in the
Serbian Government and the Information Ministry where they will be
instructed as to the content of their stations' programming.

He insisted that "journalists taking money from the American, German,
British and French media" were "spies helping these countries' anti-Serb
efforts", and added that the criterion for foreign support to local media
was these media's anti-Serb position.  He named Radio B92 as one that
qualified as "anti-Serb".

--
Veran Matic, Editor in Chief                   tel: +381-11-322-9109
Radio B92, Belgrade, Yugoslavia          fax: +381-11-322-4378

          Radio B92 Official Web Site --- http://www.opennet.org/

B92: ABOUT YESTERDAY'S COMMUNICATION OF MINISTRY OF INFORMATION

     Federal Information Secretary, Goran Matic: "According to law and legal
acts currently in effect, censorship in Yugoslavia is banned. Activities
related to disseminating information are free. Two thousand journalists have
been to Kosovo in the
course of the last nine months and we'll  continue with this trend. This is
the best answer to those journalists prone to abuse and manipulation.
Therefore, the greatest obstacle to manipulation and biased propaganda would
be increasing the quantity and quality of information. It would be stupid to
resort to censorship."

Question: "So you do not agree with such an initiative?"
G.Matic: "I'm not aware of such an initiative and I haven't heard about it.
That's what it's all about, we should check this out; it's quite possible
that the news concerning this initiative is nothing but plain propaganda.
There are some people who would like to portray us as undemocratic, as a
society in which the censorship is rampant, but this is nonsense - there is
no censorship in Yugoslavia."

Q: "Under such specific circumstances is there a possibility of suppressing
the media if we take into account previous announcements concerning this
issue?
A: "I don't understand - which media?"
Q: "I refer to B92 and all those which ...."
A: "That's only their propaganda so as to appear more important in the eyes
of others than they actually are."


"Federal Secretary is right, there is no censorship in this country and
we're not introducing it in the yesterday's communication from the Ministry
of Information sent to some media", says Dusanka Djogo-Antonovic, the
deputy of the republic minister of information, for B92. She explains
that the aforementioned communication is an appeal to media and that there
is no mention of bans: "Ministry wishes to indicate that there is abuse in
some media in terms of disseminating false and unreliable information which
cause panic among the citizens and undermine constitutional order in this
country; these actions are anticonstitutional and illegal. There are such
media - that's true and that is a fact. On the other hand, this
communication should indicate to these media that it is necessary to observe
in the following period the laws which are currently in effect, and thirdly,
there is a recommendation to the state agencies to apply the law when it
comes to illegal actions on the part of the media - nothing more."Not a
single journalist should fear for his legal, financial and personal
security", stressed deputy minister.

We have asked her if that means that she's dissociating herself from the
threats by the vice-president of the Serbian government Vojislav Seselj who
has claimed on several occasions that both the foreigners and the
journalists
working for the foreign media would be targeted first: "Who or what would be
targeting them .... ?"
B92 reporter: "The authorities, I presume. I suppose that he speaks on
behalf of the authorities."
A: "Mr. Seselj while giving speech in the parliament acts in the capacity of
a member of parliament and is entitled to express his own opinion and the
stance of his own political party. The actions of the state and its agencies
do not reflect this attitude and the communications or statements issued by
state agencies neither are intoned in such a manner nor do they substantiate
such claims."
--
Veran Matic, Editor in Chief                   tel: +381-11-322-9109
Radio B92, Belgrade, Yugoslavia          fax: +381-11-322-4378

          Radio B92 Official Web Site --- http://www.opennet.org/

ANEM Press Release on the Beginning of Police Pressure against Journalists
and Media

Belgrade--October 7, 1998

After volleys of general accusations and disqualifications against
independent media and journalists, the Serbian Information Minister in the
session of the Yugoslav Federal Assembly on Monday picked the weekly
"Vreme" and its journalist Dejan Anastasijevic out for criticism over their
reports on the crimes in Gornje Obrinje, Kosovo. "Vreme", the
internationally renowned Belgrade weekly has informed that an officer of
the Serbian Interior Ministry on Tuesday phoned to require details about Mr
Anastasijevic, saying that the public prosecution department had issued
instruction for this.

Radio Globus in Kraljevo is receiving daily threats with violence while the
competent state agencies are doing nothing to remove such threats.

Due to the threats from the Serbian Information Ministry and the vicinity
of the zone of war operations, TV Kursumlija had to stop its broadcasts of
the Voice of America programs.

These cases are clear evidence that the regime has gone a step further from
verbal accusations and calls to lynch of independent journalists, and is
now undertaking concrete actions. Data gathering is the first step in
police investigations and its aim is intimidation of journalists. It is
clear that representatives of the regime waging this action from the pulpit
of a law-giving agency.

Due to the increased pressure against independent media and journalists,
and open threats with closures, seizures of equipment and arrests of
editors, ANEM calls on all international organisations engaged in the
protection of the media, journalists and the freedom of speech urgently to
send their representatives to FR Yugoslavia to monitor all forms of
pressure and repression against independent journalists and inform the
international public of them. ANEM also calls for a close solidarity of the
media and news organisations in FR Yugoslavia with the media and
journalists in jeopardy.

Veran Matic
ANEM Chairman and Radio B92's Editor-In-Chief
--
Veran Matic, Editor in Chief                   tel: +381-11-322-9109
Radio B92, Belgrade, Yugoslavia          fax: +381-11-322-4378

          Radio B92 Official Web Site --- http://www.opennet.org/

Press Release

CLAMPDOWN ON INDEPENDENT MEDIA GAINS FORCE

Belgrade--October 11, 1998

The state's clampdown against the independent media has gained force:

On Friday, October 9, inspectors of the Yugoslav Telecommunications
Ministry closed the multiethnic and multilingual independent Radio Senta in
Vojvodina and seized a part of its transmission equipment. The same day,
Radio Senta received a request from the Yugoslav Telecommunications
Ministry to pay fee for the use of frequency. The ministry's note
requesting payments said "the station's broadcasts caused no diffusion
problems". The banning order and verbal instructions from the ministry
headquarters however cited "exclusively technical" reasons for the
station's closure.

On Saturday evening, October 10, inspectors of the same ministry backed by
police closed Belgrade's Radio Index and seized its transmission equipment.
The banning order said that the station did not hold a broadcasting
licence. Radio Index participated in the frequency allocation tender by the
same ministry and has received information from the ministry that its
documentation was now complete and its licence pending in the second round
of the tender. The station furthermore holds a valid contract with the
state Radio Television Serbia under which it has the right to use the RTS
premises and transmitter. RTS breached this contract on Thursday, October
8, when it evicted Radio Index from the premises it had used for over 27
years and discontinued its transmission. Radio Index then relocated and
started broadcasting on a frequency it had applied for in the current
frequency tender.

Radio BOOM 93 in Pozarevac and TV 5 in Uzice have received requests from
the Yugoslav Telecommunications Ministry to pay fees for the use of their
frequencies. ANEM has disputed the legality of this fee, introduced in May
for those stations which are allocated temporary frequency licences in the
current tender. Radio BOOM 93 and TV 5 are not only requested to pay for
the use of frequencies they have not yet received licences for, but are
requested to do so in "arrears", from June on.

ANEM warns that the state is mounting a severest clampdown on the
independent media in which the state disrespects even valid legal
regulations. ANEM will continue to fight to protect its affiliates' rights.
ANEM has called on its affiliates to carry on with their professional
reporting in keeping with the law regardless of the pressure they are
exposed to.
--
Veran Matic, Editor in Chief

ANEM Press Release 12.10.

MEDIA CLAMPDOWN

Serbian police have closed down two radio stations in Yugoslavia in an
escalation of the authorities’ clampdown on independent media. The
latest action comes during the final stages of talks between Yugoslav
President Milosovic and US special envoy Richard Holbrook as they
attempt to broker a deal to avert NATO air strikes.

Police seized vital transmission equipment from Radio Senta – a station
near the Hungarian border, which broadcasts in Serbian and Hungarian.

The authorities also seized transmission equipment from Radio Index in
Belgrade, on the pretext that the station does not hold a valid
broadcast license.

Until last week, Radio Index used the transmitters and premises of the
state-controlled Radio Television Serbia. But the station was forced to
re-locate after the authorities evicted Index staff from RTS premises.

Both stations belong to ANEM - a network of 50 independent TV and Radio
stations in Serbia and Montenegro. ANEM Chairman, Veran Matic, said:
“The state is mounting the severest clampdown on the independent media.
ANEM will fight to protect the rights of its members who will continue
their professional reporting regardless of what pressure they are
subjected to.”
--
Veran Matic, Editor in Chief

Reporters sans frontieres
Secretariat International
Bureau Europe et ex-URSS

5, rue Geoffroy Marie - 75009 Paris France

Tel : (33) 1 44 83 84 84
Fax : (33) 1 45 23 11 51
E-mail : europe@rsf.fr
Web : www.rsf.fr
___________________________________________________________________________
Monsieur Goran Matic
Ministre de l'Information (RFY)
Belgrade
fax : 381 11 600 446
___________________________________________________________________________

Paris, le 12 octobre 1998


Monsieur le Ministre,

Reporters sans frontieres, organisation independante de defense de la
liberte de la presse dans le monde, proteste contre l'arret des programmes
de la radio independante Indeks.

Selon les informations dont nous disposons, le 10 octobre, deux inspecteurs
du Ministere federal des telecommunications accompagnes de deux policiers
ont saisi l'equipement de la radio independante Indeks l'empechant de
diffuser ses programmes. Les photographes presents lors de l'operation ont
ete obliges de remettre aux policiers les pellicules de leurs appareils.

Deux jours auparavant, le personnel de la radio avait ete contraint par les
autorites de demenager des locaux qui leur etaient attribues dans le
bâtiment de Radio Belgrade (officielle). Le 2 septembre, le directeur
general de la Radiotelevision de Serbie (RTS, officielle) avait demande aux
responsables de la radio de cesser d'emettre depuis le relais de la RTS
situe a Belgrade. Selon les termes d'un contrat signe en 1992, radio Indeks
pouvait utiliser cet emetteur jusqu'a ce qu'elle obtienne son propre relais
d'emission et sa frequence.

La radio estudiantine Indeks, connue pour son critique envers les
autorites, a depose cette annee une demande d'attribution de frequence
aupres du Ministere federal des telecommunications mais n'a, a ce jour,
reçu aucune reponse.

Reporters sans frontieres proteste contre l'arret des programmes de la
radio Indeks et demande la restitution immediate de son materiel de
diffusion. Notre organisation estime que cet acte constitue une violation
des principes de la liberte de la presse qui vient renforcer la campagne de
menaces et de denigrement a l'encontre des medias independants en Serbie.
Reporters sans frontieres vous demande de faire tout ce qui est en votre
pouvoir afin d'examiner dans les plus brefs delais le dossier d'attribution
de frequence depose aupres de votre ministere par la radio Indeks.

Nous vous prie d'agreer, Monsieur le Ministre, l'expression de notre tres
haute consideration.

Robert Menard,
Secretaire general

C.C. : Premier ministre - Ministere des Affaires etrangeres - Ministere de
la Justice - AFP - AP - Reuter - Amnesty international - Article 19 -
Association mondiale des journaux - Canadian Committee to protect
journalists - Commission des droits de l'homme des Nations Unies -
Committee to Protect Journalists - Conseil de l'Europe - Federation
internationale des droits de l'homme - Federation internationale des
journalistes - Fund for Free Expression - Index on Censorship -
International Pen - International Press Institute - Organisation pour la
Securite et la Cooperation en Europe - Parlement europeen - Unesco - World
Press Freedom Committee.

Alexandre Levy
Europe desk researcher
Reporters sans frontieres
tel : 33 1 44 83 84 84
fax : 33 1 45 23 11 51
email : europe@rsf.fr

Press Release: ANEM Finds Ways To Put Banned Stations Back On Air

Belgrade--October 13, 1998

ANEM has found a solution to put the banned Radio Index back on the air.
Radio Index will produce a one-hour show on the repression in Serbia, which
will be broadcast on the Internet and from there put up on a BBC satellite
in London. This will allow members of the ANEM Radio Network (currently 32
stations across Serbia and Montenegro), to distribute Radio Index's show to
70% of the Yugoslav territory they cover.

Radio Senta will also continue its broadcasts by sending the signal from
the studio in Senta to the transmitter of Radio Kikinda (some 35 km away),
from where the signal will be sent back to Senta.

"ANEM has thus once again made the regime's repression pointless. But the
repression will not cease. On the contrary, it will intensify. ANEM
affiliates are intent on persevering and preventing the dissolution of
teams of journalists of stations under repression," said Veran Matic, ANEM
chairman.

ANEM continues to look for an option to allow full broadcasts of Radio
Index in Belgrade.

Yugoslav independent media agree that this repressive campaign has not yet
been given due attention from the international media.
--
Veran Matic, Editor in Chief

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