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Temporary Media Commissioner issues warning letter to Pristina-based newspaper Dita
Pristina 28 June 2000
PRISTINA, 28 June 2000 - The Temporary Media Commissioner, established by the Head of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo, Dr Bernard Kouchner, has issued a warning to the Pristina-based newspaper, Dita.
The Commissioner, Mr. Douglas Davidson, Director of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo's Department of Media Affairs, has written to Dita's publisher following the publication of a front page article two days ago, which gave personal details of two individuals. The Temporary Media Commissioner sees this as a violation of section 4.1 of the Regulation on the Conduct of the Print Media.
Under the section the Commissioner is citing, owners, operators, publishers and editors must refrain from publishing the personal details of a person which would threaten the life, safety or security of that person. The Temporary Media Commissioner believes that the publication of the names of individuals in the 26th June article was a clear breach of this section and could put people's security at risk.
"Publishing names can put people's lives at risk. It is also violating a fundamental principle of Western journalism that someone is innocent until proven guilty," said Douglas Davidson, the Temporary Media Commissioner.
This is the first time the Temporary Media Commissioner has taken action under the Regulation which was promulgated 10 days ago.
The temporary Media Commissioner may impose a variety of sanctions which range from the requirement to publish a reply, correction or apology to a fine, of up to 100,000DM to the closure of operations.
The newspaper has been given until 2 July to reply before a sanction is imposed.
For further information, contact Press and Public Information of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, tel.: +381 38 500 162 ext. 118, 218, 260, 342. Satphone: 871 762 009 948. Fax: +381 38 500 188. Satfax: 871 382 425 022.
The Commissioner, Mr. Douglas Davidson, Director of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo's Department of Media Affairs, has written to Dita's publisher following the publication of a front page article two days ago, which gave personal details of two individuals. The Temporary Media Commissioner sees this as a violation of section 4.1 of the Regulation on the Conduct of the Print Media.
Under the section the Commissioner is citing, owners, operators, publishers and editors must refrain from publishing the personal details of a person which would threaten the life, safety or security of that person. The Temporary Media Commissioner believes that the publication of the names of individuals in the 26th June article was a clear breach of this section and could put people's security at risk.
"Publishing names can put people's lives at risk. It is also violating a fundamental principle of Western journalism that someone is innocent until proven guilty," said Douglas Davidson, the Temporary Media Commissioner.
This is the first time the Temporary Media Commissioner has taken action under the Regulation which was promulgated 10 days ago.
The temporary Media Commissioner may impose a variety of sanctions which range from the requirement to publish a reply, correction or apology to a fine, of up to 100,000DM to the closure of operations.
The newspaper has been given until 2 July to reply before a sanction is imposed.
For further information, contact Press and Public Information of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, tel.: +381 38 500 162 ext. 118, 218, 260, 342. Satphone: 871 762 009 948. Fax: +381 38 500 188. Satfax: 871 382 425 022.