<nettime> Government Launches Final Crackdown on Studio B: ANEM press release

["nettime's_roving_reporter" <nettime@bbs.thing.net>]

----- Original Message -----
From: <mediawatch-owner@freeb92.net>
To: <mediawatch@freeb92.net>
Sent: Tuesday, March 07, 2000 10:09 AM
Subject: Government Launches Final Crackdown on Studio B: ANEM press release


> ANEM press release
>
> GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES FINAL CRACKDOWN ON STUDIO B
>
> Belgrade, March 7 2000 - In the wake of yesterday's three-pronged attack
on Studio B, ANEM -- the Association of Independent Electronic Media --
warns that the government, in an attempt to silence the most influential
non-government broadcaster in Serbia, on whose frequency Radio B292
broadcasts as part of the professional cooperation between ANEM and Studio
B, has launched its final attack on this station.
>
> In the face of the attack on Studio B, and the violation of the
fundamental right to freedom of expression it represents, ANEM calls on all
those who believe in freedom of expression, democracy and peace to stand up
and defend these principles. ANEM further calls on all those democratic
forces that advocate peaceful democratic change in Serbia - trade unions,
pensioner and teacher unions, students, media, civic groups, and political
organizations - to engage in an active campaign to defend Studio B and all
other independent media under state repression.
>
> In the past 24 hours, Studio B first had its transmission equipment stolen
by attackers wearing police uniform. The two Studio B transmitter guards in
situ were seriously injured during the incident. The only reaction from the
police at the time of press, in addition to announcing that an on-the-spot
investigated had been carried out, has been to denounce the independent
media for 'falsely and deliberately accusing the police' of being
responsible for the transmitter incident. The police has so far failed to
condemn the raid or declare that they will bring the perpetrators to
justice.
>
> Within hours of the transmitter attack, Studio B and its general manager
and chief editor, Dragan Kojadinovic, were fined the maximum penalty of
450,000 dinars (75,000 DEM) under the Public Information Act, although the
disputed comment was voiced during a live program without the possibility
for the anchor to interrupt the guest. The charges against Mr. Kojadinovic
were motioned by police Major General Branko Djuric.
>
> Two hours later, Yugoslav Minister of Telecommunications and high ranking
official of JUL (Yugoslav United Left) Ivan Markovic issued Studio B with an
order to pay Serbian Telecom within seven days the amount of 10,755,314
dinars [1,700,000 DM according to the official rate of exchange] in
frequency fees, for both its radio and television channels.
>
> The frequency fees referred to in this order were introduced by the 1998
Decree on Fees for the Temporary Use of Radio Frequencies and Television
Channels, which is NOT applicable to the holders of permanent licences, as
is the case of Studio B. It would therefore appear that, as there are no
legal grounds for this order, the fee demands are politically motivated.
>
> It would further appear that the tried and tested strategy to silence
media (as has been the case with Dnevni telegraf, Evropljanin and the ABC
Grafika printing house) by bleeding dry their financial resources through
para-illegal fines is now being applied to Studio B.
>
> ANEM reminds that a motion for the investigation of constitutional and
legal grounds of the said Decree was submitted in 1998 to the Constitutional
Court but the Court had, at the time of press, failed to respond.
>
>
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