SUPPLEMENT FOR THE REFUGEES FROM KOSOVO IN MONTENEGRO

SUMMARY

Since NATO air strikes against FRY began, the independent weekly Monitor has been operating under threat of being banned. Yugoslav Army pressure, the attempt of imposing censorship on Monitor and forced reserve call-up of our journalists are only some of the problems Monitor has been facing in recent days. For a month and a half this weekly magazine has continued to be the only independent one in Yugoslavia as well as the only medium presenting comprehensive analyses of balefulness of FRY conflict with the West. Monitor insists on the fact that Serbian and Yugoslav leadership’s policies caused this crisis and the bombing. It has been trying to point out the importance of keeping the western democracy principles in this, unfortunately, anti-western orientated state. Because of such activities, Monitor has been a target of military authorities representing the Belgrade regime in Montenegro.

Breaking off economic relations with the world and closing Montenegro’s borders by the Army made the economic situation in this republic worse. In such a situation Monitor has faced many difficulties concerning the collection of money from distribution companies and providing the newsprint.

BACKGROUND

After elections victory of pro-western orientated President Milo Djukanovic in presidential elections, over two years ago and after his Coalition had won in parliamentary elections a year ago, Montenegrin authorities committed themselves on transition of society, political and economic reforms. The Coalition Government consisted of representatives of many parties and all ethnic groups in Montenegro, resisted to Milosevic’s project of an ethnic state and closed society. When conflict broke out in Kosovo a year ago, Montenegrin Government requested for negotiations instead of war and for the democratic solution to Kosovo. Although Montenegro didn’t participate in negotiations in France, it supported them strongly.

The transition of Montenegro was stopped by NATO air strikes though Mr. Djukanovic declared neutrality in the conflict of Milosevic and his Army with the Allied Powers. The Yugoslav Army declared general mobilization in Montenegro. The Federal Government declared a state of war, which was rejected by Montenegrin authorities.

Militarization of society and forced call-up threaten to jeopardize civilian authorities and values determined by Montenegro’s voters.

Monitor, the independent weekly established ten years ago in order to oppose to Milosevic’s and the former Montenegrin leadership’s pro-war and undemocratic project, has been passing through its hardest times these days. Monitor’s criticism of official Belgrade, the Army and ethnic cleansing of Kosovo being carried out by VJ, Serbian police and paramilitary formations, caused sharp reactions of the Second Army Command whose troops are situated in Montenegro.

Seven Monitor journalists refused call-ups. Unfortunately, one of them was picked up and taken to his military unit. As for the others, who are hiding from military authorities, the editorial staff managed to provide a shelter.

Apart from the attempt of forced call-up, the military police tried to arrest Mr. Miodrag Perovic, one of the founders and the owners of the weekly and haul him before a military tribunal because of his articles published in Monitor. Mr. Perovic was obliged to leave the country temporarily. Despite its best intentions, the Montenegrin Government could not guarantee him security as military authorities obey only laws passed by Belgrade.

At the moment Montenegro is totally isolated in economic terms. Besides being threatened politically by Belgrade, it is in danger of suffering economic catastrophe. Its serious economic situation is being made more difficult by the presence of more than 70.000 Kosovo’s refugees. Thus, when NATO air strikes began the Montenegrin Government had to pass the war budget. Owing to the general lack of money in the country, Monitor can hardly have outstanding debts from its distributors. In the last few weeks, because of Army’s censorship in Serbia, Monitor has lost its market in Serbia, where it used to sell one third of the total circulation of 10.000 copies.

We hope that Medienhilfe Ex-Jugoslawien support will relieve our difficult financial situation and, in that way, assist the weekly continue publishing under such serious political and economic conditions.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

The Montenegrin independent weekly Monitor will keep with its editorial policy, i.e. promotion of parliamentary democracy, western standards and multiethnic society despite of the Army’s pressure.

Monitor has already started special columns dealing with the problem of ethnic cleansing in Kosovo, war crimes, the problems of refugees as well as relations between civilian and military authorities in Montenegro. Monitor keeps warning of danger of Milosevic’s policy and war, which could easily be spread over Montenegro and other countries in the region. Monitor supports the Serbian democratic opposition, which can only express itself through Montenegrin media. In July 1999. Monitor will start publishing a special 8-pages edition which will comprise all data important to Kosovo refugees.

• Investigative articles dealing with the crime of ethnic cleansing in Kosovo (analyses and interviews with Kosovo refugees, intellectuals and politicians)
• Articles about the position of Kosovo refugees in Montenegro (problems of schooling, board and lodging, humanitarian aid distribution and human rights protection)
• Analyses of Milosevic’s policy in Serbia (articles and interviews from Serbia, the position of democratic opposition, human rights respect, supporting Serbian intellectuals and journalists)
• Analyses and investigative articles about political situation in Montenegro (the relations between Montenegrin civilian authorities and military authorities, relations between the Republic’s and federal institutions, the problem of forced mobilization, independent media under the Army’s pressure, etc.)

ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND:

The independent weekly Monitor was founded in 1990. to promote the principles of parliamentary democracy, multiethnic and open society. During the political Coalition of the Montenegrin and Serbian regimes, Monitor’s journalists were many times sentenced and its offices were twice attacked with hand grenades. This weekly often reported on war crimes committed in the Balkan Wars in this decade, on the problem of ethnic minorities human rights both in Montenegro and Serbia and the responsibility of political elite from here.

Monitor employs 15 full-time journalists, one photo-reporter, two computer experts, a graphic editor and a secretary. Monitor is owned by shareholders. The main shareholders are Mr. Miodrag Perovic, Stanislav Koprivica and Monitor’s full-time journalists.

Key individuals who will be in charge of the project are: Drasko Djuranovic, editor-in-chief and Milka Tadic, director.

Finances to be provided by Medienhilfe Ex-jugoslawien: 21,000 CHF

go to top

P.O. Box, CH-8031 Zürich, Switzerland
Phone +41-1-272 46 37,  Fax +41-1-272 46 82, email: info@MEDIENHILFE.ch