Association warns about threats to reporters

The South East Europe Media Organization (SEEMO) once again warned about increased threats of violence against journalists in the region. This Vienna-based network of editors, media executives and leading journalists from South East Europe, an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), "is deeply concerned about a string of threats issued against journalists in the region, rendered particularly ominous by violent attacks on journalists throughout 2008", a statement issued on Friday said. Association warns about threats to reporters It reminds that Drago Hedl, a columnist for the Croatian Jutarnji List, received an SMS threatening to "massacre" him, just as a parliament member accused of war crimes was holding a press conference during which he singled out for criticism Hedl's writings. Other threats included those made against Hrvoje Appelt, a Croatian journalist for the Zagreb-based weekly Globus. On 20 November 2008, Appelt found a device that turned out to be a fake bomb under his car. Appelt has in the past published several articles about smuggling activities in Croatia. SEEMo reminds that on November 20, a verbal threat was issued against editors of Story magazine by a Croatian football player. According to sources from Story, the football player made his threats during a visit to the magazine's newsroom, where he harassed Vladimir Milinovic, the editor of the magazine's webpage, as well as a photojournalist Tino Banic. "These threats follow several physical attacks against journalists in Croatia during 2008, underscoring the seriousness of the risks faced by the media in that country. The violence peaked with the October 23 murders of Ivo Pukanic, journalist and owner of the NCL Media Group in Zagreb, and Niko Franjic, marketing director of the newspaper Nacional, which is published by NCL." Elsewhere in the region, SEEMO points out, threats have also been issued in Serbia. Vukasin Obradovic, owner of the weekly Novine Vranjske, and his family, have received several threats during the last few months. Obradovic has been the target of numerous death threats during the past years. In Kursumlija, Slavko Savic and Cedomir Savic of RTV Kursumlija were threatened by a group of local politicians and five army reservists. The men, who were unhappy about a particular report aired on the station, entered RTV Kursumlija's premises during the evening and threatened to murder Savic, the station's editor, the statement explains. "SEEMO is concerned that these developments, which further tarnish the region's press freedom record, could lead to further violence against the media. It urges the relevant authorities to take seriously the potential risks these incidents represent," the statement concludes.

Association warns about threats to reporters

It reminds that Drago Hedl, a columnist for the Croatian Jutarnji List, received an SMS threatening to "massacre" him, just as a parliament member accused of war crimes was holding a press conference during which he singled out for criticism Hedl's writings.

Other threats included those made against Hrvoje Appelt, a Croatian journalist for the Zagreb-based weekly Globus. On 20 November 2008, Appelt found a device that turned out to be a fake bomb under his car. Appelt has in the past published several articles about smuggling activities in Croatia.

SEEMo reminds that on November 20, a verbal threat was issued against editors of Story magazine by a Croatian football player. According to sources from Story, the football player made his threats during a visit to the magazine's newsroom, where he harassed Vladimir Milinović, the editor of the magazine's webpage, as well as a photojournalist Tino Banić.

"These threats follow several physical attacks against journalists in Croatia during 2008, underscoring the seriousness of the risks faced by the media in that country. The violence peaked with the October 23 murders of Ivo Pukanić, journalist and owner of the NCL Media Group in Zagreb, and Niko Franjić, marketing director of the newspaper Nacional, which is published by NCL."

Elsewhere in the region, SEEMO points out, threats have also been issued in Serbia. Vukašin Obradović, owner of the weekly Novine Vranjske, and his family, have received several threats during the last few months.

Obradović has been the target of numerous death threats during the past years.

In Kuršumlija, Slavko Savić and Čedomir Savić of RTV Kuršumlija were threatened by a group of local politicians and five army reservists. The men, who were unhappy about a particular report aired on the station, entered RTV Kuršumlija's premises during the evening and threatened to murder Savić, the station's editor, the statement explains.

"SEEMO is concerned that these developments, which further tarnish the region's press freedom record, could lead to further violence against the media. It urges the relevant authorities to take seriously the potential risks these incidents represent," the statement concludes.