ANEM: Unacceptable attack on the N1 cameraman in front of the SNS president and a demonstration of intolerance towards media workers and journalists.
During the recording of a public event in the village of Makovište, near Kosjerić, which was attended by the president of the ruling party SNS, Miloš Vučević, cameraman Marjan Vučetić from N1 was attacked from behind with multiple blows to the back and neck, along with being kicked, and then he was thrown out of the tent where the program was taking place, which was being covered by a reporting team from this television station in Kruševac. Following this cowardly attack, there was no response from the organizers to protect the cameraman in the performance of his duties.
This case has been reported by representatives of the Permanent Working Group for the Safety of Journalists to the contact points in the Prosecutor's Office in Požega and the Police Department in Užice.
Marijan Vučetić first underwent an examination at a healthcare facility and then provided a statement at the police station in Kosjerić.
ANEM calls on the relevant authorities to raise an indictment as soon as possible, as the identity of the main attacker is known. It is essential to identify and prosecute all others involved in this attack, as well as for the SNS to strongly condemn the attack on the N1 cameraman and punish the assailant.
It is very important that all actors in the political and social arena strongly condemn attacks on journalists and media workers, especially during this period when the number of physical attacks on journalists and interference with their work is dramatically increasing. Preventing journalists, photojournalists, cameramen, and other media workers from reporting is a violation of all laws and the constitution of this country. Both the attackers and the instigators bear responsibility, as they encourage attacks through hate speech against journalists and the media.
Particularly concerning are the attacks on cameramen.
The first physical attack on a cameraman occurred in early November of last year when, after a speech in front of the SNS offices in Novi Sad, Mirko Todorović, a cameraman for Juronjuz television, was knocked to the ground. Despite the entire attack being recorded and the assailant being identified, this case has not yet been resolved, meaning the perpetrator has not been convicted. On the same day, a cameraman for N1 television was attacked in front of the city hall in Novi Sad, and this case has also not been prosecuted.
Journalists, cameramen, and other media workers from N1 have been the most attacked in recent years, and it is crucial to stop unfounded accusations, severe disqualifications and discrediting, targeting, and false accusations against employees of this media house, as this is a prerequisite for halting physical attacks. Of course, there must also be an end to impunity regarding attacks on journalists, meaning that the police, prosecutor's offices, and courts must fulfill their legal and constitutional obligations.
It is unacceptable that in the past year and a half, there has been only one conviction for attacks on journalists, while in 2023 alone, there were as many as 13. This is the best illustration of trends that, instead of preventing, actually encourage attacks on journalists and media workers.
ANEM demands that institutions begin to do their job, respecting the agreement made between journalists' associations, organizations, and the Republic's Supreme Prosecutor's Office and the Ministry of Internal Affairs regarding urgent action in cases of attacks on journalists.
The escalation of attacks on journalists must be stopped.
Veran Matić, member of the Permanent Working Group for the Safety of Journalists and President of the ANEM Board
