08. 06. 2011

ANEM CONDEMNS THE ATTACK ON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF RADIO “KONTAKT PLUS” FROM KOSOVSKA MITROVICA

Belgrade, June 8, 2011 - The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) strongly condemns the attack on Zeljko Tvrdisic, the editor-in-chief of an ANEM member, Radio "Kontakt Plus" from Kosovska Mitrovica.

Zeljko Tvrdisic, who is also the president of the Association of Journalists of Kosovo and Metohija and a correspondent of the Tanjug news agency, was attacked while reporting on the process of removal of illegally constructed buildings in Kosovska Mitrovica. The statement of Radio "Kontakt Plus" says that an owner of one of illegally constructed shops, Zoran Katanic, hit Tvrdisic in the head without any provocation and insulted him. The statement also says that, in the end of December 2009, when the Government of the Republic of Serbia had adopted the decision on dissolution of the Assembly of Kosovska Mitrovica Municipality and formation of the temporary council of the municipality, Zoran Katanic was one of the appointed members of the temporary council from the G17 political party. Tvrdisic announced pressing criminal charges against Katanic, while the case was reported to the Kosovo Police and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Serbia.

ANEM notes that physical attacks and insults aimed against journalists on assignments create an atmosphere of fear, in which the media are limited in informing the public on issues of public interest. It is of utmost importance for the informing of the Serbian community in Kosovo that the activities of journalists and local media outlets are not jeopardized by fear related to their physical integrity and personal safety.

ANEM expresses its full solidarity with everyone who is exposed to threats and attacks for practicing journalism and calls on the authorities to investigate all circumstances of the attack on Zeljko Tvrdisic, to inform the public on the results of the investigation and to prosecute the perpetrators.

ANEM President, Sasa Mirkovic