Saša Mirković: The silence of the institutions will lead to the statute of limitations for the crime against Milan Pantić.
"The bread that Milan Pantić was holding in his hand when he was killed is now bloodied on the table of those who ordered the crime and those who carried it out," said Živojin Rakočević, the president of the Association of Journalists of Serbia (UNS), in Jagodina during the commemoration of the 24th anniversary of journalist Milan Pantić's murder.
A commemoration at the City Cemetery in Jagodina and the laying of wreaths in front of the bust of journalist Milan Pantić marked another year without the name of the instigator and perpetrator of this crime.
Rakočević stated that Milan Pantić’s bread is a symbol of the journalistic profession and that it is also in the hands of the prosecution.
“This is the crime over which we all stand humiliated, because we all know everything. As far as the police and the public are concerned, the matter is as clear as day. It only takes a moment for the prosecution in Belgrade to take over the case,” concluded Rakočević.
He added that there is a lack of political will and desire for the truth, in order to reveal those responsible for the death of this just and innocent victim.
Saša Mirković, a representative of the Association of Independent Electronic Media, fears that the silence of institutions will lead to the statute of limitations for this crime.
“Next year marks a quarter of a century since this tragic event, and I fear that if something does not happen in the near future, there is a justified risk that this tragedy, this crime will become outdated,” emphasized Mirković.
He added that, in the meantime, since last year's commemoration of Milan Pantić's death, we have been faced with an initiative from students insisting that institutions do their jobs, which gives him hope that the next year and the commemoration of this crime will be met with some new, better news leading towards resolution.
The author and editor of the documentary TV series "Green Patrol in Action," Ruža Helać, is this year's recipient of the award named after Milan Pantić, a correspondent for "Večernje novosti" from Jagodina.
The Award for Journalistic Courage will be presented to her at the Novosti editorial office, as she was unable to come to Jagodina today.
The General Secretary of UNS, Nino Brajović, read her letter of gratitude.
“It is a great honor to receive an award that bears the name of the brave journalist Milan Pantić. Recipients of this award are inscribed in the history of Serbian journalism,” wrote Helać.
“Among the journalists who have received this award, the bravest are the jury and the family of Milan Pantić, who persist, in these difficult times, in defending the values for which journalist Milan Pantić lost his life,” concluded Helać.
Source: UNS
