
The SafeJournalists Network and the Coalition for Media Freedom said Wednesday they are concerned by the continuous threats and pressure on the media over the past few days and demanded that all cases be resolves as soon as possible because experience has shown that “the non-reaction of institutions results in more intense pressures and even physical attacks on journalists.”
A joint statement said journalist and executive director of the Independent Association of Vojvodina Journalists (NDNV) Ana Lalic received a series of insults and threats that she would be slaughtered in central Novi Sad over her publicly stated position on the construction of a church in the Novi Sad settlement of Liman. Death threats were also sent to members of her family.
At the same time, a series of threats and insults were also sent to N1 TV journalist Ksenija Pavkov from Novi Sad, as well as to a journalist of the local 021 radio and portal, via social networks, for reporting on the protest in front of the Social Services Center in Novi Sad regarding the institution’s decision to temporarily deprive Ana Mihaljica of custody of her three children.
The statement noted that Sport Klub journalists Nikola Stamenic, Nikola Jankovic and Branko Spasojevic were also targeted by threats for reporting on sports events, and that investigative journalist Milivoje Pantovic has been exposed to targeting and pressure for quite some time, which has greatly affected his work.
They added that FAR portal journalist from Dimitrovgrad Slavisa Milanov was subjected to unnecessary harassment by the police in the city of Pirot, while In Media journalist Verica Marincic was literally forced out of the local government building in the town of Indjija by a security guard who applied force.
“We demand that the competent authorities create a safe environment for the work of journalists, by starting to sanction those who threaten them. The biggest problem is impunity for threats and attacks on journalists. When those who threaten the safety of journalists are punished, the state will send a clear message of what is prohibited and thus discourage further threats and attacks against journalists,” said the media associations.
The Coalition for Media Freedom comprises: The Association of Media, The Association of Online Media (AOM), The Independent Association of Vojvodina Journalists (NDNV), the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS), The Business Association of Local and Independent Media “Local Press”, the Slavko Curuvija Foundation and Branch Trade Union of Culture, Arts and Media “Nezavisnost”
The SafeJournalists Network comprises: Association of Journalists of Kosovo; Association of Journalists of Macedonia; BiH Journalists Association; Croatian Journalists’ Association; Independent Journalists Association of Serbia and Media Trade Union of Montenegro