FROM PERFIDIOUS STIFLING TO POLICE VIOLENCE

Violence Against Media

AIM Banja Luka, 19 November, 1996

Violent measures against independent media in Republica Srpska entered the phase of judicial prosecution of journalists. In the beginning of this month, in Doboj, a trial ended to editors of independent weekly Alternativa, Pavle Stanisic and Zivko Savkovic. The Editor-in-Chief was released of charges, and the editor Zicko Savkovic was proclaimed guilty for the criminal act of slander pursuant Article 80 of the Criminal Law of RS and sentenced to a month in jail. The Court transformed this punishment into a suspended sentence lasting a year during which Savkovic must refrain from the same and similar acts or unconditionally serve the sentence in jail.

The role of private plaintiffs was played by Minister for the issues of veterans in the Government of Republica Srpska, Vojislav Radiskovic, and Director of the Post Office in Doboj, Dusan Panic. According to them, the indicted editors of Alternativa, by publishing news that Radiskovic and Panic had attended the meeting of the local Board of the Serb Democratic Party (SDS) in village Grabovica near Doboj at which it was decided to prevent the promotive gathering of the Socialist Party, in fact publicized untruth which was an insult and tarnished their reputation, and in this way committed the criminal act of slander.

Between the two unequal parties in this litigation, the "independent" court took sides with the more powerful one: the private complaint of the Minister and his party colleague immediately went into procedure, while much more complex and severe criminal cases were put aside. Connoisseurs of the situation in judiciary of Republica Srpska and the Court in Doboj claim that hundreds of indictments for the most severe crimes are not dealt with by the judges out of fear, and as an example stress the criminal charges against deputy and priest Savo Knezevic from Teslic, who shot from an automatic rifle at the gathering of support to peace organized by the Socialist Party on the occasion of signing of the Dayton accords. But, this time, as becomes an efficient court, the trial to the two editors was completed in a very short time. Delay of publication of the verdict of three days which followed cast a shadow on impartiality of the court. This legal exception was used for "adjustment" of the verdict at a "certain instance", due to which the indicted and numerous representatives of the public who followed the course of the trial were able to assume what the verdict would be like.

What the attitude of the state towards freedom of speech and independent media in Republica Srpska would be like was clearly shown to the public a year after Ekstra magazin, the first privately-owned and independent journal in RS, had appeared. This weekly from Bijeljina, founded with the ambition to critically cover political and social developments, was closed down on 20 March 1995 with the explanation that with its writing it was "diminishing fighting morale" and "threatening stability of Republica Srpska". In September that same year, the Supreme Court nullified the decision on closing down and Ekstra magazin re-appeared with the slogan: "The first prohibited journal in Republica Srpska".

After the decision of the Supreme Court, state censorship from Pale did not disturb independent media. In Banja Luka, Novi prelom, Nezavisne novine were published regularly, and after signing the peace accords, Alternativa appeared in Doboj and Panorama appeared in Bijeljina. The merit for the appearance and regular publication is deserved by the opposition parties which financially assisted them and kept them under their umbrella. Not knowing the real power of the opposition parties gathered around the Socialist Party, the ruling SDS was forced to turn a blind eye on the independent journals and tolerate open and argumented criticism of the mechanism of its rule.

After its sweeping victory in September elections, the attitude of the SDS towards independent media changed. After the indictment against the editors of Alternativa in the beginning of October, state printing works of Glas srpski in Banja Luka refused to print all publications of Nezavisne novine due to "technical reasons". This meant automatic closing down of the daily Nezavisne novine the publication of which had started at the time of the election campaign and which was the only competition to the state-controlled daily Glas srpski. After that, printing of Novi prelom and Alternativa was cancelled. The only printing works in Republica Srpska remains reserved for printing state-controlled newspapers and media of coalition political parties inclining towards the ruling SDS. "This is a scenario of stifling independent media by the state and political leadership for which existence of free expression and thought is inconvenient. The decision on refusing to print these media was made in Pale", the unexpected move of the printing works was commented by Zeljko Kopanja, editor-in-chief of Nezavisne novine.

Radio Krajina also resisted the acts of perfidious stifling, as the only independent radio program which was broadcast from army premises in Banja Luka, and which was headed by colonel Milutin Milutinovic, who is in fact the head of the Information Service of the Main Staff of the Army of RS. Although directly linked to the Army and under its auspices, this radio station manifested an enviable level of professionalism and was quite popular. Not even after a whole year of incessant broadcasting did Radio Krajina succeed in getting a channel and an approval for operation from the competent Ministry of information. "I had to change the channel sometimes several times a day because local privately-owned radio stations interfered with our program", colonel Milutinovic says about his editor's problems. As Milutinovic testifies, Radovan Karadzic in person was engaged on stifling Radio Krajina, claiming that it was destroying his state. Karadzic's intention was effectuated on 13 November when the police broke into the premises of Radio Krajina and took its transmitter. The conflict between the military and the state leaders was used as the immediate cause, which was brought about by establishment of the General Staff headed by major general Pero Colic, which meant abolishment of the Main Staff and retirement of its members. Unforgivable sin of Radio Krajina was broadcasting the statements issued by the replaced Main Staff.

Closing down of Radio Krajina by the police and the verdict for the editor of Alternativa announce a time of difficult temptations for independent media in Republica Srpska and journalists who value the dignity of their profession. For the sake of disciplining the disloyal, the next step could be planting explosives into editorial offices, vehicles and homes of journalists according to the already tested recipe applied in the election campaign in which hard-core SDS members punished their political opponents by beating them up and intimidating them with explosives and bombs. In the mechanism of ruling the people, spreading fear is one of the ways to create obedient, submissive and loyal subjects.

Recent signature of Momcilo Krajisnik on Paris Principles of civilian consolidation of the peace process in B&H which implies assuming responsibility for "establishment of true democracy including promotion of free media and freedom of expression", should not raise hopes too high. Irresponsible authorities have always hidden behind "irresponsible individuals and groups against whom measures will be taken".

(AIM) Branko Peric

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