A PYRRHIC VICTORY

AIM, ZAGREB, October 15, 1995

State journalists, as those who are ready to even lie for Croatia call themselves, have again succeeded in taking over power in the Croatian Journalistic Association. At their 35th Electoral Assembly which more or less proceded smoothly with only sporadic sparks, Jagoda Vukusic, head of the Zagreb Correspondent Office of "Novi List" from Rijeka, which here has a reputation of an independent or even oppositionary paper, was elected new President of the Association. Her direct opponent was Srecko Lipovcan (a free-lance journalist) who in the second round lost by a hair (the ratio of votes was 36:34), while the third, a professor of journalism, Dr.Marko Sapunar, lost already in the first round with 16 votes.

The voting for the Executive Committee, the highest operative body of the Croatian Journalistic Association was also interesting. The largest number of votes, 57, went to the Catholic journalist, editor-in-chief of the Publishing and Literary Agency (IKA) and of "Glas koncila" Zivko Kustic, who with the so far President Ante Gavranovic (45 votes) became the Vice-President of the Association. The other five are Gojko Marinkovic (also 45 votes), Drago Pilsel (a free-lancer), Olga Ramljak, correspondent of "Slobodna Dalmacija" from Zagreb, Vladimir Fajgl (correspondent of Croatian Radio and TV from Slavonski Brod) and Srecko Lipovcan, who got between 31 and 33 votes.

In short that was the epilogue of the Assembly which was expected with great interest, but nevertheless ended up as a great surprise. The impression is, namely, gained that the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) actually gave up its intention to take over this journalists' association because, except for Marko Sapunar, who had no chances from the very outset, it did not even nominate its candidate. And only a few days before the Assembly, it was believed that the four strong media - Television, Radio, "Vjesnik" and "Slobodna Dalmacija" - would jointly nominate the former Vice-President of the Association, Olga Ramljak, who several months ago together with her colleague from "Vjesnik", Aleksa Crnjakovic, resigned because they had remained in a minority at the Assembly which was adopting the new Statute. This, in all probability, did not take place because it was assessed that Olga Ramljak had no real chances and also because the HDZ decided to leave the association of journalists alone and to turn to those who really hold the power in the media.

This "scorn" towards the journalistic organization was best exhibited by President Tudjman who that very same day, at the same time when the Journalists' Assembly was being held, invited to the Presidential Palace, as said in the Press Release, "the editors-in-chief and political commentators of the major Croatian media". From that release we learned who Tudjman was actually counting on and which were, in his opinion, the "major Croatian" media: Croatian TV, Croatian Radio, HINA, "Vjesnik", "Vecernji list", "Slobodna Dalmacija", "Drzavnost", "Obzor", "Hrvatsko slovo", "Velebit" and "Zalac".

Hence, according to the President, the "major Croatian" media include the HDZ paper "Drzavnost", "Obzor" the unsuccessful attempt of the HDZ to find a successor to the former "Danas", "Hrvatsko slovo" the paper of the Croatian Society of Writers, "Velebit" the paper of the Croatian Army and "Zalac" allegedly a satyrical, humouristic paper. Altogether they barely sell 10 thousand copies. But, at the same time, since emphasis is on the "Croatian", "Novi list" was not invited and its circulation is, for example, twice that of "Vjesnik". There were no representatives of the most influential weekly, "Globus" or the most critical "Feral Tribune", nor of many, many others. Why this meeting was held and in such a composition is not difficult to fathom, because the elections are ahead and the campaign has already started.

Why should the HDZ waste time and effort on some association of journalists when this party rules almost the entire media space and through persistent tricks constantly tries to expand that influence. Thus, immediately before the "Oluja" operation (storm), the first ten concessions for Radio and TV stations were distributed and all were, without fail, allocated to HDZ members and their followers. There were absurd situations in which concessions were denied to TV and Radio stations which have been working for years, but given to those who have neither the equipment nor the editorial staff. The case of the once independent Zagreb Youth TV now called "Open Television" speaks for itself.

Former Tudjman's advisor became its majority owner, while the major political programmes were given to Olga Ramljak and Aleksa Crnjakovic, who should replace Hloverka Novak - Srzic, who in the meanwhile became the editor-in-chief of Croatian Television. The HDZ realized that it had to take over some other media also and it is already known that Aleksa Crnjakovic was transferred from "Vjesnik" with a low circulation, to the post of editor of the most popular magazine for women - "Glorija", owned by the same man who owns "Globus". Concurrently, there are increasing indications that the present owner of "Slobodna Dalmacija", HDZ member, Miroslav Kutle, wants to buy a majority share of the weekly "Globus" and also become the owner of the largest distribution house "Tisak".

The lengths to which the HDZ will go is seen from the fact that Marija Peakic-Mikuljan was appointed head of the electoral board of Croatian Television, i.e. the person who will control the regularity of the electoral campaign, who is at the same time in charge of public relations in the HDZ. Since the Director of Television, the Editor-in-Chief and the other editors enjoy Tudjman's greatest confidence, it is not difficult to conclude why it was decided that coalition parties had the right to only one hour for representing themselves on the programme and not to an hour each as the rules dictate.

Suprisingly enough the Republican Electoral Board was of a different opinion. The prohibition of broadcasting as many as three paid spots of the Croatian Socio - Liberal Party (HSLS) belongs to the same category of wrong interpretation of HDZ's own rules. Namely, although these rules literaly say that "The Croatian Radio and Television has the right to refuse a propaganda spot or programme within sponsored shows if their contents are contrary to public morals, i.e regulations of the Republic of Croatia", the TV power-holders refused the spots of the HSLS with the explanation that they irritate the public, that the presented claims are untrue, as well as that they do not show who ordered the messages. The Electoral Board intervened again and established that there were no reasons to deny their broadcasting. Thus, its President, Dr.Krunislav Olujic, also the President of the Supreme Court, became the star of this campaign, especially as in one case he rejected the complaint of the HDZ of which he had been a member up to his election to the present post.

There appear some lights in the tunnel, which will not change the situation much, because TV and other state journalists continue to violate the electoral rules. On the very first day of the electoral campaign, although expressly forbidden by TV rules, TV News broadcast two reports from HDZ electoral gatherings from Dubrovnik and Korcula, all under the guise of the presence of the President of the Republic although it was quite clear that he was there in his capacity of the President of the Party. Television made a second slip when it showed a picture of people in uniforms of the Croatian Army in the electoral campaign, which is expressly forbidden.

The electoral rules, this time adopted by the Croatian Journalistic Association, are also violated by journalists appearing on electoral lists. Thus, Dunja Ujevic, a candidate on HDZ's state list, still regularly writes for "Obzor", while Jadranka Kosor, a journalist of Radio Zagreb and deputy candidate in an electoral unit in Zagreb continues with her programme. Similar behaviour is manifested by Petar Pozer from "Glas Slavonije", a candidate on SDP's (Peasants' Democratic Party) list, Vladan Desnica, a free-lancer, a SDU (Socio - Democratic Union) candidate, although the document adopted by the the Journalistic Association clearly says that "if a journalist directly takes part in the election procedure of a party or as an independent candidate, he must be relieved of all journalistic duties which might enable any promotion of party programmes or his personal election".

Hence, in their Organization Croatian journalists have won independence, but to no avail when the authorities have ample political commissioners who will put that journalistic majority in order through various methods. The few independent media and the independence of the Association can, regrettably, serve as a perfect alibi, as proof that there is quite enough democracy in Croatia.

GOJKO MARINKOVIC