Prosecution on media's role in war crimes

Serbia's War Crimes Prosecution is to open a preliminary inquiry into the possible role of the media in inciting war crimes in the former Yugoslavia in the 90s. Outlining the initiative, prosecution spokesman Bruno Vekaric told B92 that the inquiry was in its early stages and that two cases were under examination--the Vukovar case and the Zvornik case. Prosecution on media's role in war crimes He added that "politicians' speeches" were not under scrutiny for the time being. The war crimes prosecution was also analyzing the influence of reporting by certain media into crimes committed during the wars in the former Yugoslavia in Ovcara and Zvornik, Vekaric said. He said that the analysis pertained to these two cases, because both culminated in steep sentences and the truth about the events that occurred in these regions was brought to light. “The climate and atmosphere in society portrayed by the media will be analyzed. The causal-consequential ties that could have led to the crimes will be established,” Vekaric said, adding that the analysis should be complete within the next two months, after which a decision would be taken on whether there were grounds for an investigation. Vekaric added that the statements given by some of those accused and convicted of war crimes were also being analyzed. “I quote: ‘I watched the program, then I went out and gave them what for...’ And this man really did participate in the murders of 200 people in Ovcara. Therefore, you have a cause and a consequence,” he said, adding that media reporting in some cases was completely false. The spokesman said that the aim was not to persecute journalists, but to establish whether there were elements of criminal activity in reporting. He added that he expected the support of all journalist associations in this procedure. “We’re not currently looking into the responsibility of certain politicians. I am sure that their responsibility is a lot more complex than that of the media, and an important difference should be made there,” the prosecution spokesman added. Bruno Vekaric (FoNet, archive)

Prosecution on media's role in war crimes

He added that "politicians' speeches" were not under scrutiny for the time being.

The war crimes prosecution was also analyzing the influence of reporting by certain media into crimes committed during the wars in the former Yugoslavia in Ovčara and Zvornik, Vekarić said.

He said that the analysis pertained to these two cases, because both culminated in steep sentences and the truth about the events that occurred in these regions was brought to light.

“The climate and atmosphere in society portrayed by the media will be analyzed. The causal-consequential ties that could have led to the crimes will be established,” Vekarić said, adding that the analysis should be complete within the next two months, after which a decision would be taken on whether there were grounds for an investigation.

Vekarić added that the statements given by some of those accused and convicted of war crimes were also being analyzed.

“I quote: ‘I watched the program, then I went out and gave them what for...’ And this man really did participate in the murders of 200 people in Ovčara. Therefore, you have a cause and a consequence,” he said, adding that media reporting in some cases was completely false.

The spokesman said that the aim was not to persecute journalists, but to establish whether there were elements of criminal activity in reporting.

He added that he expected the support of all journalist associations in this procedure.

“We’re not currently looking into the responsibility of certain politicians. I am sure that their responsibility is a lot more complex than that of the media, and an important difference should be made there,” the prosecution spokesman added.