11. 05. 2004

Publisher threatened

VRANJE, May 11, 2004 – Novine Vranjske publisher Vukasin Obradovic has reported receiving another in a series of threatening letters from an organisation identifying itself as the Serbian Liberation Front. The letter warned that Obradovic would “either end up six feet under or in prison” and describes him as “treacherous Albanian scum and a fascist lackey”. It specifically refers to publication of reports on charges against Bishop Pahomije, the head of the Vranje diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church. The bishop, whose secular name is Tomislav Gacic, is alleged to have sexually abused a number of local boys of sever years. The shadowy Serbian Liberation Front also warns “Shame on you, you should all be killed”. Obradovic has reported this and earlier threats to police and the international Committee to Protect Journalists, who last year made a formal complaint to the late prime minister Zoran Djindjic.