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OSCE condemns efforts to intimidate journalists in Bosnia and Herzegovina
SARAJEVO 12 April 2001
SARAJEVO, 12 April 2001 - The OSCE Free Media Helpline has registered an alarming increase in complaints from radio and television stations in Croat-dominated areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina complaining about pressures, threats, and intimidation of editors and staff made by the HDZ-BiH and other Croat self-rule supporters. This increase in pressure followed the placement of Herzegovacka Banka under provisional administration on 6 April, and has continued to increase in the subsequent days.
Numerous "Croat" stations from all areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina have reported receiving direct instructions from HDZ-BiH party officials about the content and timing of statements to be read on air from the HDZ, HVO, HVIDRA, and other organizations linked to the HDZ. Stations have also reported receiving threats of firing or loss of position for failure to comply with these demands. Each station has requested confidentiality, in order not to experience explicit threats or personal harm to station personnel.
"The situation is grave" said Regan McCarthy, the Director of Media Affairs for the OSCE. "We have rarely heard such fear in the voices of journalists here - they report that the stakes are high and the danger is real. Regardless of the political sympathies of these stations, they uniformly report that they effectively have lost or are increasingly losing control over their own editorial policies and practices."
There is no democracy without a free press, and the very need to apply pressure on the media is indicative of the anti-democratic aims of those who intimidate the media. The OSCE condemns such actions and warns those involved that this will serve to harm them and the stations — for violations of freedom of expression are prosecutable and violations of regulatory norms will result in sanctions, regardless of who ordered the violation.
For further information, please contact OSCE Spokesperson Luke Zahner at ++387/(0)33 292-449.
The OSCE established its present Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina on 18 December 1995. In accordance with the General Framework Agreement for Peace (GFAP), the OSCE Mission activities are to: promote Democratization and the building of a vibrant civil society, foster the development of professional journalism and monitor the rights of journalists, monitor and advance the Human Rights situation, supervise the conduct of Elections, and encourage Regional Stabilization through arms control and confidence and security-building measures. The OSCE Mission continues to work closely with other international organizations and local institutions to implement the Dayton Peace Accords.
Numerous "Croat" stations from all areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina have reported receiving direct instructions from HDZ-BiH party officials about the content and timing of statements to be read on air from the HDZ, HVO, HVIDRA, and other organizations linked to the HDZ. Stations have also reported receiving threats of firing or loss of position for failure to comply with these demands. Each station has requested confidentiality, in order not to experience explicit threats or personal harm to station personnel.
"The situation is grave" said Regan McCarthy, the Director of Media Affairs for the OSCE. "We have rarely heard such fear in the voices of journalists here - they report that the stakes are high and the danger is real. Regardless of the political sympathies of these stations, they uniformly report that they effectively have lost or are increasingly losing control over their own editorial policies and practices."
There is no democracy without a free press, and the very need to apply pressure on the media is indicative of the anti-democratic aims of those who intimidate the media. The OSCE condemns such actions and warns those involved that this will serve to harm them and the stations — for violations of freedom of expression are prosecutable and violations of regulatory norms will result in sanctions, regardless of who ordered the violation.
For further information, please contact OSCE Spokesperson Luke Zahner at ++387/(0)33 292-449.
The OSCE established its present Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina on 18 December 1995. In accordance with the General Framework Agreement for Peace (GFAP), the OSCE Mission activities are to: promote Democratization and the building of a vibrant civil society, foster the development of professional journalism and monitor the rights of journalists, monitor and advance the Human Rights situation, supervise the conduct of Elections, and encourage Regional Stabilization through arms control and confidence and security-building measures. The OSCE Mission continues to work closely with other international organizations and local institutions to implement the Dayton Peace Accords.