Journalist organizations condemn assault

Various journalist organizations (UNS, NUNS, NDNV) have condemned the brutal assault of columnist Teofil Pancic. The Journalists’ Associations of Serbia (UNS) called on witnesses to contact the police and “help them convict and punish the attackers.” Journalist organizations condemn assault UNS also called for police to give the public information related to the investigation as soon as possible. The Association states that it is “convinced that this attack has to do with journalist Teofil Pancic’s job and calls on the prosecution to act according to the changes to laws which call for more severe punishments for those who attack journalists.” Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS) President Vukasin Obradovic said that he is sorry about the attack, but is not surprised that another journalist has been brutally assaulted. He said that it is a consequence of the general atmosphere in the society, in which journalists have become free targets, and reminded that no attackers have been convicted or processed, from the murder of Slavko Curuvija to the attacks on Brankica Stankovic and Bosko Brankovic. “We have an ambient in which it is allowed to kill journalists, threaten them, and not be punished. It is time for the government to answer the question of whether journalists in this country will be safe only if they all have their personal security like Brankica Stankovic, or if the country will be able to do something more to protect journalists,” Obradovic told B92.

Journalist organizations condemn assault

UNS also called for police to give the public information related to the investigation as soon as possible.

The Association states that it is “convinced that this attack has to do with journalist Teofil Pančić’s job and calls on the prosecution to act according to the changes to laws which call for more severe punishments for those who attack journalists.”

Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS) President Vukašin Obradović said that he is sorry about the attack, but is not surprised that another journalist has been brutally assaulted.

He said that it is a consequence of the general atmosphere in the society, in which journalists have become free targets, and reminded that no attackers have been convicted or processed, from the murder of Slavko Ćuruvija to the attacks on Brankica Stanković and Boško Branković.

“We have an ambient in which it is allowed to kill journalists, threaten them, and not be punished. It is time for the government to answer the question of whether journalists in this country will be safe only if they all have their personal security like Brankica Stanković, or if the country will be able to do something more to protect journalists,” Obradović told B92.