27. 07. 2011

ANEM REACTION TO TIMOCKA TV BEING PREVENTED FROM REPORTING ON POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC EVENTS IN BOR IN A HIGH-QUALITY AND REGULAR MANNER

Belgrade, July 27, 2011 - The Association of Independent Electronic Media strongly protests over the recent preventing of Timocka TV in Zajecar from reporting in a high-quality and consistent manner on current political and economic events in the municipality of Bor.

A statement issued by Timocka RTV says that its journalists and editors have been denied answers to their questions delivered to the Municipal Administration of Bor, related to official data on business conduct and other events in the municipality. At the same time, the statement says that the TV station's journalists and editors have not received any answers to their questions from the Bor Mining Basin, forcing them to acquire information of public importance in a much more difficult manner. On top of that, Timocka TV is forbidden from attending the sessions of the Municipal Assembly and the Municipal Council in Bor.

According to the statement, the TV station's terrestrial transmitter is regularly turned off when broadcasting programs related to current political and business events in the municipality of Bor. With increasing frequency, the TV station's interviewees have asked to remain anonymous because of the fear of losing their jobs, and even fear for their own safety and safety of their families.

ANEM emphasizes the need to protect the crucial principle of public informing and points out the fact that the law prohibits even indirect limiting of the freedom of public information, especially any limitations to the freedom of public information through abuse of official and private authority, or through the abuse of rights, influence or control over the broadcasting equipment or broadcasting frequencies, as well as via any other means that result in limiting of the free flow of ideas, information and opinions.

At the same time, ANEM reminds that everyone has the right to access to information of public importance, and strongly condemns the fact that journalists have not been allowed to access information that the public can and should be informed about.

ANEM expresses its full solidarity with its colleagues, journalists, and the editorial office of Timocka TV and urges the authorities to take all appropriate measures to ensure and preserve the fundamental role of the media in a democratic society, which is to report information of public importance and to publicly discuss them.

Sasa Mirkovic, ANEM President