09. 06. 2011

Association condemns attack on editor in Kosovo

Belgrade, June 9, 2011. (B92) - The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) strongly condemned the attack on journalist Željko Tvrdišić.

Tvrdišić is editor-in-chief of ANEM member Radio Kontakt Plus from Kosovska Mitrovica.

Tvrdišić, 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 radio outlet said in a statement that the owner of one of the illegally constructed shops, Zoran Katanić, hit Tvrdišić in the head without any previous provocation from the reporter, and insulted him.

The statement also says that, at the end of December 2009, when the Serbian government decided to dismiss the town assembly of Kosovska Mitrovica and set up a temporary council of the municipality, Zoran Katanić was one of the appointed members of the council from the G17 Plus party.

G17 Plus is taking part in Serbia's ruling coalition.

Tvrdišić announced pressing criminal charges against Katanić, while the case was reported to the Kosovo police and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Serbia.

ANEM noted 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, said the association.

ANEM expressed its full solidarity with everyone exposed to threats and attacks for practicing journalism and called on the authorities to investigate all the circumstances of the incident, inform the public on the results of the investigation, and prosecute perpetrators.