IWPR & MEDIA PLAN

MONITORING REPORT Vol II/ No 17

THE B&H MEDIA FORTNIGHT IN REWIEW: 26 MAY - 8 JUNE '97

This issue completes the second series of the Monitoring Report, 'Time of Change.' In the coming fortnight we will present readers with the first number of the third series, 'BiH Local Elections '97'.Media Plan and IWPR continue to examine and analyse those media which exert a significant influence on public thinking and the pre-election atmosphere.

The media environment in BiH has changed since the Dayton Agreement. Our analysis of the September 1996 general elections, 'Monitoring the Media' stated that the media had largely abandoned war-mongering journalism, but that the ruling nationalist parties (SDA, SDS, and HDZ) exerted even greater influence over the media at all levels. The few exemplary exponents of alternative journalism, free speech and independent criticism in both entities were unable to effect significant changes to the general picture of journalism in BiH.

In this number we focus on the following issues:

• voter disobedience
• elections next door
• Mobutu in Brcko
• media slip-ups 1-6
• MIRROR, MIRROR ON THE WALL
• policing Polikita
• media news

The eight months since September's national elections, have seen the widening of divisions between the state-controlled media in Serb, Bosnjak, and Croat areas of BiH. The respective nationalistagendas of the ruling parties remain the basis for news selection and presentation in newspapers, radio, and television under their control. The wide reach and power of state media dampens the influence of the alternative papers and other media with an independent outlook. However, the latter continue, against the odds, and largely with international support, to provide an alternative source of information for Bosnians fortunate enough to have access to them. The examples of unprofessional journalistic behaviour cited in our reports are many. We are not monitoring the failings of fellow-journalists for the pleasure of it: our goal is to create an environment in which criticism, with the maintenance of professional standards as its focus, is accepted. This task is vital if Bosnia is to develop an independent, professional press. Media Plan will compile a list of tried and true criteria and standards for journalism, in the hope that these will spread among professional organisations and editorial offices. The '97 municipal elections present journalists with a new challenge. Our monitoring does not aim to give a report of all that is said and done during the campaign, but how the media behave when covering the events of the campaign. Our purpose is not merely to publicise defects, but also to point out positive examples of professional conduct. We believe that this will help the media to pursue their task of creating an environment in which democracy can develop, and fair elections can be held. Project Director.

INTRANSIGENT VOTERS

Voter registration is not proceeding according to plan. According to OSCE, only two thirds of last year's voters have registered, although the deadline (16 June) is fast approaching. As time runs out, the ruling parties and state-run media seem to be getting nervous: registration is now no longer a right, but apparently the principal duty of every citizen. The president of of Novi Grad, the most populous municipality in Sarajevo, Ismet Cengic, refused to let the Municipal Office employees into their workplace (according to Oslobodjenje, Dnevni Avaz and Vecernje Novine, 5/6), and banned all visitors unless they could prove they had registered to vote. Curiously, the story of this disciplinary measure met with no reaction from television or radio in Sarajevo. TV Hercegbosna hammered on the fact that, of the three constituent peoples, Bosnian Croat registration is the lowest. On the newscast Kronika (27/5), the presenter suggested that although, up to now, Croats 'rightly defended their vote with guns... failure to register does not only mean losing the right to vote, but also the right to decide.' Mostar Bishop Ratko Peric was put on, celebrating holy mass in Studenci, and saying, 'as a citizen and a believer you are obliged to register, to show many of us there are, where we are, and what we want.' HTV Mostar transmitted calls to register in all of its own programmes. Civic and religious leaders were wheeled out to make the appeal, together with other forms of advertisement, such as a street interview-session with all interviewees agreeing about the urgency of registration (30/5). HTV issued a summons to register from the HDZ (Croatian Democratic Union) headquarters (28/5), and the station's editors warned, 'Register, so that you don't get left alone in poverty,' Dnevnik 12/6. Voter 'disobedience' was met with lectures from Bosnjak and Serb media as well. Radio BiH examined the causes of voter abstinence in Sanski Most. The secretary of the local election commission was shown maintaining that, 'the chief reason for the small number of registrations is, definitely, the irresponsibility of the citizens' (Dnevnik, 4/6). Serb Radio Brcko (26/5) used the warlike statement of the local SDS (Serb Democratic Party), that 'we are mobilising our membership... we are in the mobilisation phase... we mobilised our followers', creating the impression that Brcko is approaching battle stations rather than elections. The RS media were taken up with the OSCE decision to remove 25 SDS members in western RS from the candidates' list for blatant fraud in voter and candidate registration. The presenter of the SRT newscast Novosti (28/5), covering the OSCE announcement told viewers that the action of 'striking the names off the list suggests a re-run of last year's bag episode.' This alludes to the repeated complaints of Serb representatives that the regulations of last year's elections were manipulated to the disadvantage of Serbs (or rather, the SDS), and that a couple of bags containing lists of Serb votes mysteriously went missing from OSCE custody. Srpska Radio decided the same day that the international community, 'continues their former approach, of exerting political pressure on the RS and the SDS' (28/5). In the midst of their editorializing about the various forms in which the international community is plotting against Serbs, SRT neglected to give their audience OSCE's reasons for excluding the names. No clear explanation was given of what the registration regulations are, and in what manner they had been violated.

WHAT THE NEIGHBORS ARE UP TO

The official media in Zagreb and Belgrade produced ideologically identical versions of virtual reality for the Croatian and Yugoslav presidential campaigns. The one-horse Croatian Presidential campaign finished triumphantly, and the election race in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was entered by a single favourite. Considering the behaviour of HRT (Croatian state television) on the occasion, it has to be concluded that the Croatian elections took place in a media environment which was neither fair, nor impartial, nor open. About 90% of airtime was occupied by President Franjo Tudjman of the ruling HDZ. His competition, Vlado Gotovac of the HSLS (Croat Social Liberal party) and Zdravko Tomac of the SDP (Social Democratic Party) shared the remaining 10 %. The top of HRT's newscasts were always occupied by the protocol activities of President Tudjman, especially on his birthday, Republic of Croatia Day, and his visits to Beli Manastir and Vukovar, which received extra-generous coverage. HRT seemed bent on furthering an already well-developed personality-cult. HRT took the opportunity to kill several birds with one stone, slamming Tudjman's opponents and independent media in former Yugoslavia in one blow. Referring to an interview with Tomac and Gotovac in Croatia's leading independent weekly, Feral Tribune, which regularly lampoons Tudjman and the HDZ, the presenter said, 'As nobody doubts the devoted patriotism of these two opposition leaders, it remains a mystery why they displayed no reluctance to give interviews to such a tabloid'. Announcing that Feral Tribune, together with Oslobodjenje (BiH) and Nasa Borba (FRY) had received international acknowledgment, the presenter added, 'All three of these papers are of leftist orientation, nostalgic for the fallen Yugoslavia, and are totally dependent on Soros Foundation support' (Dnevnik, 5/6). Slobodan Milosevic's candidacy for the presidency of FRY was launched with pomp and circumstance on TV Serbia's Dnevnik (6/6). More than half the newscast (17 minutes) concentrated on the event. Leaders of the ruling Social Party of Serbia (SPS) appeared to express their gratitude to Milosevic for standing, linking his candidacy with the need to reform 'the regulations of the constitution which limit the FRY president's ability to run in elections, though not his powers.' The station seemed to be doing its best to give the impression that Milosevic's candidacy fulfils the universal desire of FRY constituents. By way of adducing evidence of this 'mass civic support,' Dnevnik's presenter read out supportive telegrams from 'worker's collectives' (the socialist term for factories)in 15 towns, implying, though not actually stating, that all people in these towns favour Milosevic's candidature. There were also "man in the street" interview, in which every interviewee, without a single exception, openly expressed support for the SPS. The reporter went on to announce that 'the members of the Independent Student Movement were ecstatic at this action of Slobodan Milosevic.' The reporter did not specify where and how this ecstasy was expressed. The Independent Student Movement is a small group of pro-Milosevic students who opposed last winter's demonstrations in Belgrade. It should not be confused with the tens of thousands of students who demonstrated against Milosevic every day for more than three months. Those students were apparently didn't send any telegrams.

MOBUTU IN BRCKO

The BiH propaganda war is taking on increasingly bizarre forms in Brcko.Witness TV Tuzla-Podrinska Canton's (TV TPK's) enthusiastic 'investigation' of the bizarre story of Zaire's ex-dictator Mobutu's visit to Serb-controlled Brcko (Dnevnik, 3/6). The introduction to this item consisted of an unsourced agency news quote of RS president Biljana Plavsic's speech, "The Republika Srpska has no intention of handing its wartime leaders over to the Hague Tribunal, for that would seriously jeopardise the establishment of peace in BiH." This was the cue for the presenter to add, "The Republika Srpska does not only protect its own war criminals, but offers refuge to fallen dictators." Next followed the "confirmed" news, from the Federation daily Dnevni Avaz, originally borrowed from unspecified "Belgrade media", that Brcko Supervisor Robert Farrand, had been invited to call on Mobutu in Hotel Galeb, together with the 'president of Brcko Municipality's Executive Committee' (name not given). TV TPK then commenced its own "research" - their journalist tried to call Farrand, but failed, getting his interpreter instead, who explained on the telephone that "Mr Farrand does not know what you are talking about, so I have nothing more to say to you." Next on the line was the nameless president of the Brcko Executive Committee, saying, "No, I don't work for the Hotel Galeb. I'm president of the Executive Committee." - "I know, Sir", said the journalist, "but as a responsible person for the municpality of Brcko you should know what is going on." - "Well, but nobody told me", said the voice on the other end of the line. The journalist ended by saying, "This news is sensational, although we are not sure how much is true, and how much is a journalistic canard." How much indeed? If this peculiar broadcast had any redeeming value, it was in giving viewers an insider's glimpse into how TV TPK journalists do their jobs (and spend cantonal tax revenues).

MIRROR IMAGE

When the BiH Council of Ministers meeting in Lukavica collapsed in arguments over the agenda (5/6), TV BiH aired Haris Silajdzic (joint president, with Boro Bosic, of the Council), demanding that the Serb side be penalised for refusing to cooperate, (Dnevnik, 5/6). Three days later TV BiH ran a repeat, and the presenter cued it in with, 'Haris Silajdzic commenting on the reincarnation of Pale uncooperativeness' (8/6). No Serb views were aired. In SRT's coverage of the episode, the Novosti reporter announced 'yet another Muslim obstruction. Bosic was aired blaming the Bosnjaks for the meeting's failure. SRT did not present Silajdzic's comments (5/6). TVIN should get credit for having given voice to both presidents, and for some footage which slyly captured Bosic making faces while Silajdzic was talking. This was an excellent substitute for commentary(5/6).

A NEW NAME FOR B-H

SRT continues to assert the statehood of the RS, sacrificing brevity and accurate reporting and sometimes sense, in order to say 'the-Republika-Srpska-and-the-Federation-of- Bosnia-and-Herzegovina' rather than 'BiH'. A few examples from Novosti: 'High Representative Westendorf expressed hope that the continuing peace in the Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Hercegovina, would be confirmed in the next couple of years,' (2/6). 'the Republika Srpska delegation participates in the Portugal conference' (no mention of the BiH delegation) (20/5), 'Madeline Albright is paying a two day visit to the Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina...' (1/6).

SELLING OFF SERB HOUSES

TV BiH ran a story on the sale, in Sarajevo's suburbs, of houses by Serbs who left when the suburbs were handed over to the Federation last year (Dnevnik, 31/5). The presenter argued that every such sale represents a heavy loss to a minimum of three Bosnjak refugees. Sale means that those occupying the house are forced to pay for it, or leave, although the Serb owner selling may be living free of charge in accommodation which was formerly Bosnjak (no mention of Bosnian Croats). The presenter concluded, 'Dayton has divided Bosnia. If implemented, it will be in one part only, and that part will be the underdog.' No attempt was made to look any further into the complexities of legalising property transactions, or property laws in BiH.

SFOR STORY

TV BiH's Dnevnik ( 8/6) carried a good story on the successful return of Bosnjaks to a village under Serb control near Doboj. A returnee was shown saying that they had had no problems, and that the Serb police had behaved very correctly. The comments of local Serb police were carried, including one about helping everybody, regardless of nationality. To see such a story on TV BiH, showing the RS in a positive light, is extremely rare. Unfortunately, the report was not produced by TV BiH, but by TV SFOR. The local reporters working with TV SFOR should be an example to the media on both sides of the IEBL.

DONOR KARADZIC

Radovan Karadzic, despite pressure from OSCE and OHR, has not yet been consigned to the archives, as he got a place on the newscast of Srpska Radio (Dnevnik 5/6). Stating that leading RS functionaries, including the RS premier Gojko Klickovic, were present when the foundations of Vojkovic church (in an RS suburb of Sarajevo) were blessed, and its bell raised, the reporter added the rumour that 'Dr Radovan Karadzic is the donor,' of the bell.

MISJUDGED PENALTIES

BiH media are often guilty of politicising athletic events, and bad sportsmanship was in evidence on both sides of the IEBL in the past two weeks. In its 30/5 Dnevnik, TV TPK covered a press conference given by Tuzla's 'Zrinski' football club (whose name commemorates a Croat Prince). Most other media accurately reported that the umpires had shown prejudice, calling the Zrinski players 'Ustashas', despite the fact that most of them are Bosnjak. In response, Zrinski's members announced they had sent a protest to the Tuzla-Podrinska Football Association, about the hostility they encountered solely because of their Croat name, and were thinking of withdrawing from the remainder of their scheduled matches. TV TPK, however, omitted most of the facts, reducing the protest to a complaint about three unfair penalties. A few days later, in the Novosti (5/6) sport bloc, SRT announced the start of the European netball championships in Budapest, and the participation of the 'Yugoslavian' representative. Nothing at all was said about the BiH candidate, who was, nevertheless, chosen for the finals.

MIRROR, MIRROR ON THE WALL

• * A Srpska Radio reporter put on a classic display of reportage confused with commentary in his coverage of a speech made by US State Secretary Madeline Albright, at the opening of Brcko'bridge over the Sava. The report ran as follows; 'This bridge will last us beyond the twentieth century', said Mrs Albright, but she did not neglect the opportunity to declare that in the recent war the Serbs destroyed part of the bridge, forgetting the important point that the Croats first did the same on their side. This speech is yet another example of the American State Secretary pursuing her usual course - that of inciting hatred against Serbs.'(2/6)
• * TVIN's newscast made a general knowledge slip on (29/5): 'last night's sitting of the Presidencypassed laws on...' Laws are drawn up by members of the Presidency, but it is the BiH Parliament who passes them.
• * Radio Slobodno Brcko's reporter has trouble with names, both foreign and domestic: in covering the opening of the Sava bridge, he referred to Madeline Albright as 'Merlin', and the Croat Premier, Zlatko Matesa, as 'Zdravko Matesa' (5/6).
• * TV Una-Sana Canton (TV USK) caught itself neatly between two irreconcilable facts, when it tried to explain to viewers how both industry and unemployment are flourishing in the canton (Kronika, 1/6).

HOW THE POLICE READ POLIKITA

Sarajevo Canton police went into action on the 5th of June, confiscating from street sellers all copies of a satirical Tuzla fortnightly paper, Polikita. Its latest number was headlined 'Burblings of BiH Political Party Spokesmen'. Under a photomontage picture of Alija Izetbegovic metamorphosing into Marshal Tito was the caption, 'After Tito - Tito'. A pornographic photomontage showed Madeline Allbright shaking a finger at several statesmen of the former Yugoslavia, including Izetbegovic, Momcilo Krajsnik, and Milosevic, caught in various forms of flagrante. The text included a mock-statement about 'the plague spreading from this organisation..' supposed to have been given by OSCE. The MUP official announcement, said 'After receiving information from the ground, and telephone complaints from a great number of Sarajevo citizens, about the text and photography of the paper Polikita, and threats of physical attack on the people and places selling the paper, the MUP police of Sarajevo Canton have temporarily withdrawn copies of the paper from sellers...' The announcement went on to say that the MUP would seek damages and bring criminal charges against the paper's editors and responsible persons, for 'offending and belittling the patriotic, religious and moral feelings of citizens.' Polikita's editor-in-chief, Samir Sestan told the press agency SAFAX (10/6), that the paper had sold without problems in all other towns of BiH, except for an isolated incident in Zenica. He added that the Sarajevo police had confiscated not only the offending number, 10, but also the previous fortnight's number, 9, while sellers had received threatening phone calls, and were summoned for police questioning in which their interviewers demanded, 'Do you read this paper? Do you know what you are selling?' Meanwhile, the Opresa kiosk company, whose kiosks had sold the paper, found its main location in central Sarajevo had been allotted to Dnevni Avaz by the municipality authorities. The BiH Independent Union of Professional Journalists sent protests to the BiH Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP), and Sarajevo's Security Services Centre (CSB), describing the police action as a violent attack on the freedom of the press and freedom of expression. The Association of BiH journalists demanded that the MUP take steps to prevent the police acting as censors of the press, and encroaching on basic human rights, freedom of speech and the media. Two opposition parties, the Social Democratic Party and the BiH Union of Social Democrats pointed out that the police action set a dangerous precedent. But the Ministry of Military Welfare, the Organisation of the families of war martyrs and killed soldiers, and the War Veterans Association, supported it.

MEDIA NEWS

• * On the 2nd of June, in the Congress Hall of Amsterdam, Nasa Borba, Oslobodjenje, and Feral Tribune were awarded with 'the gold pen of freedom'. This is awarded for high professional standards, and notable efforts on behalf of the freedom of the press. The World Press Federation (FIEJ) gave this prestigious prize, which was presented by Beatrix, Princess of Holland. (Oslobodjenje, 3/6)
• * Norway and Sweden's parliamentary working group on media and democracy, as a result of research undertaken for the European Democratic Union (EDU), stated in a Sarajevo press conference that in their opinion the media situation in BiH is grave. Kaci Kullmann-Five, leader of Norway's Conservative party, stated that the manner in which the free media are covering the pre-election campaign is not that of a democratic society. (Oslobodjenje, 5/6)
• * Sarajevo monthly Dani's June issue reported that the Sarajevo newspaper group Avaz would carry a lawsuit against the magazine and its editor, Senad Pecanin. Avaz claims to have been slandered, and is seeking damages starting at 150,000 DEM. For what particular slander, Avaz has not specified, but it may have to do with Dani's view that Avaz' director, Fahrudin Radoncic, is a former apparatchik of the Tito regime, and a 'hair-oiled genius'. (see Dani 6/97, p 26). Radoncic has filed a separate suit against Dani as well. (Dnevni Avaz, 7/6)
• * On the 30th of May The OSCE Media Experts Commission (MEC), drew up a list of eight regulations for the behaviour of the BiH media. These had been previously approved by the Provisional Elections Committee of OSCE, and will be used to train police and SFOR members during the pre-election period. The rules state that police may not harrass or hinder journalists in the pursuit of their professional occupation. Nor may they confiscate their equipment, nor force them to disclose sources of information. Journalists have the right to print, distribute and sell their publications, freely and without fear of penalties of any kind. They also have the right to freedom of movement and may not be arrested for crossing the inter-entity border lines. (Oslobodjenje, 7/6)
• * A new paper, Reporter, has started up in Banja Luka. Its stated mission is to affirm the post-Dayton BiH, and to build political, economic and cultural ties between entities and peoples. Its staff will be drawn form all nationalities of BiH and the former Yugoslavia. It will be published fortnightly. The chief editor is Perica Vucinic, a journalist from the paper Vreme, who has for a year worked as a reporter for the Banja Luka office of the independent news agency AIM. Funding for the Reporter comes from USAID. (SAFAX)

The following media were monitored for this fortnight's report: Srpski Radio, Srpska TV, Radio BiH, TV BiH, Hrvatski radio HB, TVIN, TV TPK, TV USK, Radio Brèko(RS), Radio Slobodno Brèko(F BiH), TV Mostar, HTV Mostar, TV Srbije, Hrvatska televizija.

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