10. 08. 2007

DEATH THREATHS TO EDITOR OF RADIO-TELEVISION STATION IN BELA CRKVA

BELGRADE, August 10, 2007 - The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) demands that the authorities, without delay, conduct a full investigation of circumstances related to death threats that Stefan Cvetković, Editor-in-Chief of Independent Radio-Television station TNT in Bela Crkva, received by telephone.

Cvetković said that he has informed Internal Affairs Minister Dragan Jočić's cabinet of the threats and estimated that this was an attempt to prevent publicising of the documents on criminal activities that had been uncovered by his station.

Freedom of expression is one of the basic foundations of the democratic society and one of the essential preconditions for its development and progress. ANEM reminds of the many unexplained cases of threaths and attacks on journalists, including the still unsolved murders of Slavko Ćuruvija and Milan Pantić, as well as the recent, also unsolved attempt of murder of journalist Dejan Anastasijević and demands a full investigation of Stefan Cvetković’s case of deaths threats by the authorities.

ANEM also demands investigation of all other cases of threats and attacks on journalists and publicizing of results of such investigations by the authorities. In a democratic society, it is imperative that journalists and media be protected from pressures. They must be allowed to work without fear for their safety and continue to inform the public on issues that are in the public interest.

Saša Mirković,
ANEM Chairman