Slobodan Milosevic and the regime in Serbia perfome the most brutal and intensive crack-down on opposition parties, civic groups and independent media. One of the primary goals is to fully shut-down any critical and independent voices in the country. As those whose work is aimed at professional reporting on developments, independent media are first to be exposed to attacks.

This newest campaign against independent media started in February, when Vojislav Seselj, Deputy Serbian Prime Minister and President of the Serbian Radical party, accused independent media in Serbia of being implicated in the killing of Defence Minister Pavle Bulatovic.

Punitive actions using the draconian Information Law have been significantly stepped up. Since the law was introduced (Oct. 98), more than 50 media were forced to pay fines amounting at over 4,5 million SFr. If not paying them within 24 hours, they would risk their property be confiscated.

Print media are spending last reservs of newsprint. The only paper factory in the country works with half capacities and state-owned papers are priority customs.On the other hand, for paper import a special approval of Federal Ministry is needed, which independent press is never given.

Since March, 13 independent radio and TV stations, were shut-down. Among them, 7 members of our partner ANEM (Association of Independent Electronic Media), including Radio B2-92, internationally most known media in the area. Studio B, the largest TV station out of regime’s control faced the same.

Journalists are exposed to permanent harrasment on a daily basis: Police interrogations and "informative questioning", opening of police dossiers, arrests, trials, even physical attacks. Court processes against a few journalists are under way. The most difficult is the one against Miroslav Filipovic, correspondent of the independent daily "Danas" and AFP. Because of his articles on activities (Graueltaten) of Yugoslav Army and Serbian Police in Kosov@ war, he is on a trial in Military Court for betrayal of national interests. He is prevented defendance from freedom and threat with high punishment, which goes up to 30 years of imprisonment.

Unfortunately, we can expect that Serbian regime will continue and even intensify ist campaign against independent media. Law on anti-terrorism is in preparation and will be passed in an urgent proedure by the Serbian Parliament. The leaders of the ruling coalition pubicly expressed support to foresee deth penalty, which is a sign that the law will most problably have such regulations included. Through inforcement of this law, the Serbian regime intends to completely eliminate – when needed also by killing – any critical and opposition voices and activities in the country.

Civic society groups and independent media in Serbia are decisive to persist in their work and resistance towards the regime. Independent media and journalist organisations, with support of civic groups and student movement "Otpor", wagued a remarkable resistance. Due to citizens‘ protests and financial contributions for obtaining new transmitters, radio and TV stations in a few cities governed by the opposition parties resumed their work. In many towns, "crisis headquarters" for defense of media were established. A few banned stations are broadcasting through internet, while B2-92 combines internet and sattelite facilities and has ist radio and TV production re-broadcast on 42 stations in Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia and Hungary.

The independent media in Serbia launched the campaign to defend themselves. The International Journalist Federation and World Association of Newspapers supports it by the international campaign for solidarity and support to independent media in Serbia, called Prime Time for Freedom, supported by the International Journalist Federation and the World Association of Newspapers. Beside the political support, the campaign is aimed at establishing a fund for support to independent media, mostly covering the following urgent needs support journalists (and their families) who stay without job, cover court costs in processes against journalists and contribute to fund for paying court fines against media.

The media crisis is deepening. Urgent steps are required to save independent journalism. There will be no hope for democracy if the independent media are extinguished.

Medienhilfe Ex-Jugoslawien supports this solidarity campaign for independent media in Serbia. In order to be efficient and give support for the most needed and urgent concrete needs.

We call upon Swiss journalists, journalist organisations, as well as Swiss media and publishing houses to express solidarity with their colleagues in Serbia.

We call upon human rights and other organisations, as well as individuals, to support free and professional journalism in Serbia.

You can make your contribution to the Medienhilfe’s PC, with remark: Prime Time.

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