19. 06. 2014

OSCE: PROTECT INTERNET FREEDOM

19. 06. 2014 (Tanjug, B92) - OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović said that her office is ready to assist in improving the media situation in our country.

Mijatović called the Serbian government to protect internet freedom.

The OSCE representatives said that on 2 June she spoke with Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić about her statement regarding online censorship and that she informed him that "the trend of removal of websites and blocking of online sources and comments must be stopped."

She said, in a report, that Prime Minister Vučić assured her that he will address these issues.

Mijatović added that she and Vučić agreed to meet in the near future and discuss this and other media related issues.

Mijatović said that on 27 May she expressed concern about the spread of online censorship and called on the authorities to foster an uncensored debate on matters of public interest, particularly in times of crisis, such as in the situation with the floods in the region.

"I also raised the issue of arrests of persons who allegedly have spread panic. I said that the arrest of individuals for their blogs, comments, or other written content is unacceptable," said Mijatović in the report.

The report stated that a letter was received by her office on 29 November, from Slavka Draskovic, director of the Office for Diaspora of the Government of Serbia, regarding pressure against the Serbian minority in Croatia and spreading of hate speech in Croatian media.

Mijatović replied that although her office is closely monitoring events related to hate speech, such cases should be resolved through national judicial proceedings.

Mijatović also noted that on 13 December she publicly expressed concern over blocking of access to online media content, because stories by investigative journalists were removed from websites of certain media outlets after they were hacked.

She gave an example of an article by journalist Miodrag Sovilj, which was removed from several websites, including the website of the Serbian Center for Investigative Reporting and Autonomija.info.

"I called on the authorities to do all they can to protect the culture of free Internet that exists in the country," Mijatović noted in the report.

The report states that on 16 December Mijatović wrote to Serbian authorities regarding attacks on journalists of TV B92 and TV Prva in Bački Gračac and municipality of Odžaci and welcomed the fact that the incident was condemned by Justice Minister Nikola Selaković, who called for an investigation and punishment of those responsible.

On 14 January Mijatović welcomed the arrest in the case of the 1999 murder of journalist Slavko Ćuruvija, and reminded the authorities that murders of Dada Vujasinović of 1994 and Milan Pantić of 2001 remain unsolved.

She also asked for continued investigation of these cases, so those responsible are brought to justice, the report said.
Mijatović said that she asked for an investigation and for more information about a police raid on the house of Lily Lynch, a journalist and editor Balkanist.net, which took part in the middle of the night, at which time she was questioned.

Mijatović also mentions the case of RTV Mladenovac journalist Dragan Nikolić, who was questioned by police about a message on Facebook, in which he allegedly offended the dignity and reputation of public figures, as well as the attack against the website "Peščanik".

As stated in the report on press freedom in the OSCE countries, over the six month period that the report covers, Mijatović has, because of issues related to the freedom of the media, intervened a total of 120 times, including 40 times regarding Ukraine.

"Too many countries around the world know that something like democracy and freedom of speech does not come on its own and cannot be taken for granted. They have to be constantly checked, confirmed, and strengthened," concludes the report.