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Articles - Montenegro

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Montenegro

Government decriminalises speech offences

Last week Montenegro became the latest country in the world to decriminalise libel, reports the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI).

Montenegro

UN RADIODIFFUSEUR INDÉPENDANT EST MENACÉ ET ASSIÉGÉ

Montenegro

INDEPENDENT BROADCASTER THREATENED AND BESIEGED

A popular independent media outlet has come under attack in Serbia following Kosovo's declaration of independence, report the Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

Montenegro

Un donateur néerlandais administrera un Fonds pour les médias serbes

Montenegro

Dutch Donor to Manage Serbia Media Fund

18 April 2006

Montenegro

UN JOURNALISTE MEURT DES SUITES DE BLESSURES PAR BALLES;

Montenegro

JOURNALIST DIES FROM GUNSHOT WOUNDS, EDITOR RECEIVES DEATH THREAT

Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF) is calling on the UN Mission in Kosovo to investigate the slaying of Bardehul Ajeti, a journalist for the leading Albanian-language daily newspaper "Bota Sot" who died on 25 June 2005.

Montenegro

ARTICLE 19 PROMOTES FREEDOM OF INFORMATION IN MONTENEGRO

ARTICLE 19 joined free expression activists from Southeast Europe last week for an international seminar in Montenegro aimed at supporting local efforts to push for more open governments.

Montenegro

LA FIJ CRITIQUE UN RAPPORT DE L'OSCE SUR LE KOSOVO

Montenegro

UN RÉDACTEUR EN CHEF EST ASSASSINÉ

Montenegro

IFJ CRITICISES OSCE REPORT ON KOSOVO

A report by the Organization of Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), which criticises Kosovo's media for inflaming ethnic conflicts last March, sends the wrong message to governments and risks damaging the efforts of press freedom advocates, says the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).

Montenegro

EDITOR MURDERED

Five IFEX members are calling on authorities in Serbia and Montenegro to pursue a thorough investigation into the murder of Dusko Jovanovic, the editor-in-chief of the opposition newspaper "Dan" who was shot and killed in the city of Podgorica on 28 May 2004.

Montenegro

L'OSCE critique le « sensationnalisme » des médias au Kosovo

Montenegro

OSCE Criticises Kosovo Media's "Sensationalist Reporting"

Broadcast media in Kosovo did a great disservice to peace and democracy efforts by partly fueling the ethnic violence which saw 19 people killed in March 2004 and hundreds of Serbian homes set ablaze, says the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE) Representative on Media Freedom.

Montenegro

« PLUS ÇA CHANGE... »

Montenegro

"THE MORE THINGS CHANGE…"

Three years after the fall of former dictator Slobodan Milosevic and the introduction of democracy, the ghosts of Serbia and Montenegro's repressive past still appear to be haunting the country's media, says a new report by the Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM).

Montenegro

DES MÉDIAS INDÉPENDANTS OUVRENT UNE PREMIÈRE PRESSE À IMPRIMER

Montenegro

INDEPENDENT MEDIA OPEN FIRST PRINTING PLANT

Serbia and Montenegro's fledgling media now have a printing plant to call their own, thanks to support from the World Association of Newspapers (WAN). The Association of Private Media, a local consortium of 12 independent newspapers, has recently opened a new printing plant in Belgrade - the first in the country owned by independent media.

Montenegro

DES MÉDIAS SONT INTERDITS APRÈS L?ASSASSINAT DE DJINDJIC

Montenegro

MEDIA BAN IMPOSED AFTER DJINDJIC ASSASSINATION

In the wake of the assassination of Serbian prime minister Zoran Djindjic last week and the imposition of a state of emergency, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on the Serbian government to maintain the free flow of information following news that restrictions have been placed on the media.

Montenegro

UNE CONFÉRENCE SE PENCHE SUR LA DIFFAMATION

Montenegro

CONFERENCE EXAMINES DEFAMATION LAWS

Serbia's defamation laws and their impacts on journalists will come under the microscope this week when legal experts, journalists, judges and government officials meet in Belgrade for a conference promoting legal reform.

Montenegro

DES PROJETS DE LOI SUR LA LIBRE EXPRESSION COURENT DE GRAVES DANGERS

Montenegro

DRAFT FREE-EXPRESSION LAWS IN JEOPARDY

The Association of Independent Media (ANEM), ARTICLE 19, Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) have expressed concerns that a parliamentary coalition which controls two-thirds of Montenegro's municipalities is trying to scuttle three proposed media laws that would improve free expression in the fledgling republic.

Montenegro

LOI SUR LES MÉDIAS VOIT LA CRÉATION D?UN NOUVEAU RADIODIFFUSEUR INDÉPENDANT

Montenegro

NEW MEDIA LAW CREATES INDEPENDENT BROADCASTER

Almost two years after the fall of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic's regime, the Serbian parliament has passed a law that will transform the country's state-run radio and television network into an independent public broadcaster and give it the authority to issue licences to new media, report the Association of the Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) and Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF).

Montenegro

DE RENSEIGNEMENT EST CONDAMNÉ À DIX ANS DE PRISON POUR UNE ATTAQUE CONTRE L?OTAN

Montenegro

FORMER RTS HEAD SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS FOR NATO ATTACK

The former head of Radio-Television Serbia (RTS) has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for failing to protect 16 staff killed in a NATO missile attack in 1999, report B92, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ). On 21 June a district court in Belgrade ruled that Dragoljub Milanovic had caused "grave danger to public security" by failing to evacuate staff from the RTS building before it was hit by a cruise missile on 23 April 1999. Milanovic's lawyer plans to appeal the verdict.

Montenegro

DEMANDENT INSTAMMENT L?ADOPTION D?UNE LOI SUR LA RADIODIFFUSION

Montenegro

CPJ, ANEM URGE PASSAGE OF BROADCASTING LAW

The Committee to Protect Journalists is urging the Serbian Parliament to pass a draft Broadcasting Law that would create an independent licensing agency and transform state-run Radio Television Serbia (RTS) into a public broadcasting service. The law was approved by the government on 4 April and has been passed to parliament for urgent consideration.

Montenegro

LA LOI SUR LES MÉDIAS INTÈGRE DES NORMES DE L?UNION EUROPÉENNE

Montenegro

MEDIA LAW INCORPORATES EU STANDARDS

A proposed media law currently being drafted by the government of Montenegro establishes an important statement of intent by incorporating the principles and legal precedents of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), says ARTICLE 19. The group has published a report suggesting further improvements to the law, which has recently been released for public comment and is slated to replace the 1998 Law on Public Information.

Montenegro

DE LA STATION DE RADIO B92 EST BROUILLÉ; LE DIRIGEANT DE L?ANEM EST MENACÉ

Montenegro

RADIO B92'S SIGNAL JAMMED; ANEM LEADER THREATENED

Radio B92 is urging the federal government in Yugoslavia to pass legislation that would regulate broadcasting, after its radio signal was recently jammed for several days by another unlicensed station, reports the Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM). Radio B92 broadcasts on 92.5 Mhz, which covers part of the city centre and a major portion of New Belgrade. According to ANEM, the interference is being caused by Radio Perper, a station which began broadcasting four months ago from New Belgrade. It broadcasts on a frequency of 92.8 Mhz, with its transmitters turned towards the city.

Montenegro

UN JOURNALISTE PERD LA VIE

Montenegro

JOURNALIST KILLED

Bekim Kastrati, a reporter for the Albanian-language newspaper "Bota Sot", was killed in an ambush on 19 October in Kosovo, report the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters sans frontières (RSF). According to RSF, the journalist was traveling in a car with two other men when they were overtaken by a jeep and fired upon. CPJ says the attack took place in the village of Lausa. One of the men with whom Kastrati was travelling, Besim Dajaku, also died from the attack. He is reported to be either the current or former bodyguard of Ibrahim Rugova, the leader of the Democratic Alliance of Kosovo (LDK), according to CPJ.

Montenegro

SITUATION DE LA PRESSE APRÈS LA CHUTE DE MILO

Montenegro

STATE OF THE MEDIA AFTER FALL OF MILOSEVIC

Since the fall of the Milosevic regime, some advances in Serbia's media sector have taken place, but high hopes were overly optimistic, reports the Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM). In a detailed report entitled "Media in Serbia – Ten Months On" released on 27 August, ANEM states that "it appears that more substantial systemic changes have bypassed the media sphere."

Montenegro

UN JOURNALISTE ASSASSINÉ; L?ANEM DÉNONCE LA VENTE DE LITTÉRATURE ANTI-SÉMITE

Montenegro

JOURNALIST KILLED; ANEM CONDEMNS SALE OF ANTI-SEMITIC TRACT

Milan Pantic, a journalist with the Belgrade daily "Vecernje Novosti", was killed in a brutal 11 June attack in the central Serbian town of Jagodina, according to Reporters sans frontières (RSF) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Pantic was entering his front door, after fetching a loaf of bread, when attackers grabbed him from behind, broke his neck and struck him several times in the head with a sharp object, "Vecernje Novosti" told CPJ. He reported extensively on criminal affairs, including corruption in local companies, and had received numerous telephone threats in response to his articles, says CPJ. Pantic was the first journalist killed in Serbia since the fall of the Slobodan Milosevic's regime last October, notes RSF.

Montenegro

HAINEUX; LE CPJ RÉCLAME UN PLUS GRAND APPUI AUX JOURNALISTES INDÉPENDANTS

Montenegro

ANEM PROTESTS HATE SPEECH IN MEDIA; CPJ URGES MORE SUPPORT FOR INDEPENDENT MEDIA

The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) has strongly protested the practice of making space available for hate speech in the print media "under the pretext of openness towards the readers and obligation to publish their letters." The association's remarks come in response to a letter by Borislav Bogdanov, published in the Belgrade daily "Glas javnosti" on 13 May, about a televised discussion of documentary films on the theme of "Truth, Responsibility and Reconciliation." According to ANEM, Bogdanov tried to discredit the programme's guests on religious and national grounds, declaring that Serbs were being "naive once again" for allowing a person of "Roma descent and Muslim religious background in the very capital of the Serb people" to dispute "the primacy of the Serbs in Kosovo." ANEM calls on the media in Serbia to adhere to professional and ethical standards, to prevent attempts to re-introduce hate speech as an acceptable mode of communication and to avoid participating in defamation or discrimination through publishing such letters. For more information, see www.b92.net.">http://www.b92.net">www.b92.net.

Montenegro

IPI URGES REPEAL OF DEFAMATION LAWS, EX-TV DIRECTOR HELD IN NATO CASE

The Serbian government should repeal repressive defamation laws and amend Criminal Code provisions that restrict freedom of expression, say the International Press Institute (IPI) and its affiliate the South East European Media Organisation (SEEMO). In a new report, entitled "Articles in Bad Faith: Criminal Defamation Laws in Serbia," the organisations note that defamation should be dealt with under civil rather than criminal law. They add that so-called insult laws have been used by repressive regimes, including the previous Yugoslav administration, to silence critical reporting and stifle dissident views. According to SEEMO, "the first and most important step for the new administration is to create a climate in which a free and independent media can flourish." IPI adds that repeal of the defamation provisions would "send a strong message to other countries that there is no place for these repressive laws in a democracy." The report is available at http://www.freemedia.at/r_serbialegislation.htm.">http://www.freemedia.at/r_serbialegislation.htm">http://www.freemedia.at/r_serbialegislation.htm.

Montenegro

LES JOURNALISTES ONT-ILS ÉTÉ SACRIFIÉS DANS UN BOMBARDEMENT ?

Montenegro

WERE JOURNALISTS SACRIFICED IN 1999 TV BOMBING?

On 26 January, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) repeated its call for Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica to hold a "public and independent inquiry" into the deaths of media workers at Radio Television Serbia (RTS) during the war with NATO. On 23 April 1999, 16 media workers were killed when NATO forces bombed RTS. According to Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) and IFJ, on 23 January, UN war crimes prosecutor Carla del Ponte stated that Slobodan Milosevic's authorities knew in advance that Serbian state television would be bombed. IFJ reports that the families of the victims are taking legal action against the station's management on the suspicion that the latter knew the building was a target, but kept the station open anyhow. "If [del Ponte] is right, there is a scandal here that must be uncovered," says the IFJ. "The question must be asked whether the lives of TV workers were deliberately sacrificed to make a propaganda point for the Milosevic regime."

Montenegro

L?ANEM RÉCLAME LA RÉVISION DU STATUT DES MÉDIAS; AUTRES NOUVELLES

Montenegro

ANEM CALLS FOR REVIEW OF MEDIA, OTHER NEWS

The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) is calling on Serbian and Yugoslav authorities to carry out a legal audit of media outlets that demonstrated a Milosevic bias in their reporting. "Certain privately-owned quasi-state media were primary levers of Slobodan Milosevic's power during his autocratic regime," states ANEM. At a time when most independent media groups were banned or blocked from functioning, these media groups profited from enormous privileges which enabled them to build a strong national and financial base. These same groups have now "attempted to fawn on the new authorities as they did the previous authorities, while seeking to attract foreign investment by putting themselves forward as strategic partners for foreign corporations in order to use these connections to preserve their illegally achieved positions," warns ANEM. ANEM thus calls for "a complete review of the operation of these private telecommunications monopolies," and urges all foreign investors to "display extreme caution before investing in private companies and similar organisations whose power was built illegally under the protection of the autocratic regime."

Montenegro

FILIPOVIC EST CONDAMNÉ À SEPT ANS DE PRISON

Montenegro

FILIPOVIC RECEIVES SEVEN-YEAR PRISON SENTENCE

Many members of the IFEX community have responded in outrage to the news that Serbian journalist Miroslav Filipovic has received a seven-year jail sentence for "espionage" and "spreading false information." On 26 July, Filipovic, a correspondent for the independent daily "Danas" and Agence France-Presse was sentenced by the Nis military court. The journalist was arrested and detained twice in the month of May by the security police. First charged on 13 June, "the indictment was based on articles about the activities of the Yugoslavian army," in which he "had notably gathered testimonies by members of the Yugoslavian army, condemning Serbian acts of violence in Kosovo," reports Reporters sans frontières (RSF).

Montenegro

DES MÉDIAS INDÉPENDANTS ET D?OPPOSITION PREND DE L?AMPLEUR; AUTRE NOUVELLES

Montenegro

REPRESSION OF OPPOSITION AND INDEPENDENT MEDIA ESCALATES, OTHER NEWS

State violence against opposition activists is escalating, says Human Rights Watch (HRW). Whereas police harassment and beatings were previously "limited mostly to detention and interrogation," an increasing number of students and activists have been beaten in recent weeks by police or "thugs" believed to be acting on behalf of Serbian authorities. "Since June, opposition activists face not only detention but also physical violence," reports HRW. Representatives of Otpor (Resistance), an anti-government group which the government has repeatedly referred to as a "fascist" and "terrorist" organisation, are being beaten for carrying Otpor information or the Otpor symbol. Otpor, which has rapidly gained in popularity and support, "has repeatedly demanded free elections in Serbia and carried out street actions ridiculing the government's policies," says HRW.

Montenegro

S?ATTIRENT LES CRITIQUES À LA SUITE DU RENFORCEMENT DES CONTRÔLES SUR LA PRESSE

Montenegro

UN PRESS CONTROLS CRITICIZED

The United Nations mission in Kosovo announced new media controls on 17 June, prompting criticism by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and World Press Freedom Committee (WPFC). Bernard Kouchner, head of the UN Administration in Kosovo (UNMIK), has appointed a Media Commissioner with a wide range of powers to fine, close or suspend publications.

Montenegro

INTERNATIONAL PRESS FREEDOM CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED IN SERBIA

On 30 March 2000, freedom of expression groups, journalists, publishers and broadcasters launched the international campaign "Prime Time for Freedom" for the defence of independent media and free journalism in Serbia, announced the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM).

Montenegro

LE GOUVERNEMENT MENACE LES MÉDIAS

Montenegro

GOVERNMENT THREATENS INDEPENDENT MEDIA

On 10 February, Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia Vojislav Seselj "threatened violence" against independent journalists in Serbia, accusing them of killing Yugoslav Defence Minister Pavle Bulatovic, report Human Rights Watch (HRW), Reporters sans frontières (RSF), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), and the Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM). Bulatovic was killed in a Belgrade restaurant on 7 February, and no one has yet been convicted for the murder. Seselj accused independent journalists of being guilty of treason "worse than any criminals" and of being accomplices with the West, says HRW. ANEM reports that earlier this year the Federal Minister for Telecommunications Ivan Markovic also accused some of the most prominent independent media in Serbia of being "weapons in the hands of NATO." According to ANEM, Seselj "announced that the state would use all means at its disposal to do away with independent journalists." Specifically, Seselj targeted the radio station B292, claiming that the group had received American money and was hiding foreign spies, says IFJ. ANEM states that in addition to invoking various laws, the Deputy Prime Minister "warned of the possibility of summary executions."

Montenegro

LE PHÉNOMÈNE DU DISCOURS HAINEUX PREND DE L?AMPLEUR

Montenegro

HATE SPEECH ON THE RISE

Hate speech is becoming increasingly prevalent in the media in Kosovo, Reporters sans frontières (RSF), Greek Helsinki Monitor (GHM) and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)'s Representative on Freedom of the Media report. On 2 October, Veton Surroi and

Montenegro

REAL RADIO B92 BACK ON AIR

On 2 August, the award-winning independent Radio B92 in Belgrade came back on the air under the new name of B2-92 four months after being taken over by the Serbian government, reports the Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM). Not only did the government take over the station after Yugoslav telecommunications authorities banned Radio B92 on 24 March, it began broadcasting on the same frequency and installed a government supporter at its head on 2 April. The station continued to broadcast on the Internet through ANEM's Radio and Television Networks until the takeover. According to B2-92, its news "is produced by the real team of Radio B92, all of whom refused to work for the new government management currently using the B92 name and frequency, and [B2-92] is broadcast on the third frequency 99.1 FM of the Belgrade municipal station Studio B." Actions against the real B92 led to a massive international campaign. The launch of B2-92 "is part of a broader campaign to restore Radio B92 to its listeners and its rightful owners - its staff," says B2-92. The campaign will continue with public actions in Belgrade, cyberspace and worldwide. For more information, visit B2-92's website at:

Montenegro

MENACER LES MÉDIAS ET LA LIBRE CIRCULATION DE L?INFORMATION

Montenegro

MILITARY CONFLICT CONTINUES TO THREATEN MEDIA AND FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

Journalists from Kosovo, many of whom had fled after being expelled from their offices and homes, have reassembled to launch their professional association, the Alliance of Kosova Journalists, from headquarters in exile in London. Committees of Alliance members have also now been established in Albania and in the Republic of Macedonia. The International Federation of Journalists, which has set up a global appeal on behalf of Kosovar journalists and media staff, explains that "the Alliance will ensure that when the peace comes, journalists and independent media will be in the forefront of the campaign to bring democracy and respect for human rights back into Kosovo."

Montenegro

FREE B92 LIVE INTERNET BROADCAST PLANNED FOR B92 ANNIVERSARY

To promote democracy and the "enduring free spirit" of Radio B92 from Belgrade, a 24-hour live Internet broadcast called Free B92 - NetAid will take place on 15 May, on Radio B92's 10th birthday.

Montenegro

DES INSTALLATIONS DE RADIO ET DE TÉLÉVISION SONT BOMBARDÉES

Montenegro

RADIO AND TV STATION BOMBED

Journalists, technicians and other staff were killed when the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) bombed the Belgrade premises of Radio Television Serbia (RTS) early on 23 April, report the Association of Independent Electronic Media in Yugoslavia (ANEM), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). ANEM notes that the bombing occurred when staff were carrying out their normal duties in the building and says "this attack on journalists is without precedent and is the most radical form of repression of the media." Furthermore, ANEM "reiterates its call for the earliest possible halt to the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia and for a peaceful solution to the current crisis," and "calls for an end to attacks on journalists and the media."

Montenegro

LES MÉDIAS SONT CONDAMNÉS EN VERTU D'UNE NOUVELLE LOI

Montenegro

FREE2000 FORMULE DES RECOMMANDATIONS SUR LE KOSOVO

Montenegro

PURGE DES UNIVERSITÉS SERBES