Kosovo: IHF and RSF denounce Serb threat to Albanian media freedom
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From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1998 09:31:17 +0200 (EET)
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Subject: Kosovo: IHF and RSF denounce Serb threat to Albanian media freedom
From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>
Original sender: Greek Helsinki Monitor <[email protected]>
Kosovo: IHF and RSF denounce Serb threat to Albanian media
freedom
Threat to the Freedom of Albanian Media is a Threat to Peace
Vienna, 18 December 1998. The International Helsinki Federation for
Human Rights (IHF) is deeply concerned by Serbian Minister of
Information Aleksander Vucic’s threat of legal action against several
Kosovo Albanian-language newspapers if they do not change their
editorial policy.
In a letter to several Albanian language newspapers, Vucic accused
them of publishing texts "calling for the violent break of the
constitutional order, territorial integrity and unity of the Republic
of Serbia and FR of Yugoslavia." Vucic, however, has failed to
conclusively show any articles constituting this type of offense.
The IHF fears that this may be a veiled attempt by Serbian authorities
to close two of the three Albanian language newspapers in Kosovo:
Bujku and Koha Ditore (the most influential Albanian language
publication). The fact that Bujko was not published today serves to
support this fear. The paper could not be published, as electricity to
the premises was cut yesterday, and journalists have not been allowed
to enter the premises.
"This crude attack on the basic freedom of expression undermines any
possible process of peace and reconciliation, and is against the
interests of all the people in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia,"
stated Aaron Rhodes, Executive Director of the International Helsinki
Federation for Human Rights. "It seems the government is planning to
wipe out independent journalism in Kosovo, as well as in Serbia."
For more information:
Aaron Rhodes, Executive Director +43-1-402 73 87
___
International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights
http://www.ihf-hr.org/
----------------------------------------------------------
IFEX - News from the international freedom of expression community
___________________________________________________________
ACTION ALERT - FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA
18 December 1998
Albanian language media threatened in Kosovo
SOURCE: Reporters sans frontières (RSF), Paris
(RSF/IFEX) - RSF is expressing concern regarding recent threats
against Albanian language media in Kosovo. According to RSF's
information, on 16 December 1998, Serbian Information Minister
Aleksander Vucic sent a letter to several Albanian language newspapers
in Pristina (main city in Kosovo) threatenening them with lawsuits.
These threats are notably directed at the dailies "Bujku" and "Koha
Ditore" which, according to Vucic, promote "terrorism" and incite
"hatred" and the "overthrow of the constitutional order in
Yugoslavia." Since the passage of the new information law, these
offences are punishable by penalties ranging from heavy fines to
suspension and seizure.
RSF recalls that three Belgrade dailies, "Dnevni Telegraf", "Danas"
and "Nasa Borba", were closed last October after having received such
a "warning letter" from the Information Minister. Since the passage of
the information law on 20 October, "Nasa Borba" has not been
published, "Dnevni Telegraf" was punished with three heavy fines and
"Danas" can no longer be printed in Serbia (see recent IFEX alerts).
On 18 December, alarmed by Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic's
numerous attacks on freedom of the press, RSF was expected to launch
an official complaint to William Walker, head of the verification
mission of the Organisation on Security and Cooperation in Europe
(OSCE), in Pristina.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Send appeals to the President:
- asking him to strongly condemn these threats against the Albanian
language press in Kosovo
- urging him to ensure that all media have the right to free
expression in Serbia
APPEALS TO:
Mr. Slobodan Milosevic
President of FRY
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Fax: +381 11 636 775
e-mail: [email protected]
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
For further information, contact Alexandre Lévy or Ludovic Brun at
RSF, 5, rue Geoffroy Marie, Paris 75009, France, tel: +33 1 44 83 84
84, fax: +33 1 45 23 11 51, e-mail: [email protected], Internet:
http://www.rsf.fr
The information contained in this action alert is the sole
responsibility of RSF. In citing this material for broadcast or
publication, please credit RSF.
_________________________________________________________________
DISTRIBUTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION EXCHANGE (IFEX)
CLEARING HOUSE
489 College Street, Toronto (ON) M6G 1A5 CANADA
tel: +1 416 515 9622 fax: +1 416 515 7879
alerts e-mail: [email protected] general e-mail: [email protected]
Internet site: http://www.ifex.org/
_________________________________________________________________
___________
Greek Helsinki Monitor &
Minority Rights Group - Greece
P.O. Box 51393
GR-14510 Kifisia
Greece
Tel. +30-1-620.01.20
Fax +30-1-807.57.67
e-mail: [email protected]
http://www.greekhelsinki.gr
_____________
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