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Alert

ANEM statement on the bombing of RTS

(ANEM/IFEX) - The following is an ANEM statement on the NATO bombing of
Radio and Television of Serbia (RTS):





**Updates IFEX alerts of 23 April 1999**

BELGRADE, April 24

The Association of Independent Electronic Media in Yugoslavia (ANEM)
strongly condemns NATO's bombing of the Belgrade premises of Radio
Television Serbia in the early hours of Friday morning. This bombing was
carried out at a time when staff were carrying out their normal duties in
the building. This attack on journalists is without precedent and is the
most radical form of repression of the media. The attack resulted in the
deaths of journalists, technicians and other staff, further demonstrating
the tragedy and destruction imposed on Yugoslavia by the continuation of
NATO attacks.

History has shown that no form of repression, particularly the organised and
premeditated murder of journalists, can prevent the flow of information, nor
can it prevent the public from choosing its own sources of information.

ANEM reiterates its call for the earliest possible halt to the NATO bombing
of Yugoslavia and for a peaceful solution to the current crisis. ANEM
particularly calls for an end to attacks on journalists and the media and
expects that the innocent victims of Thursday night's attack will mark the
end of the bombing of media organisations.

ANEM expresses its sincere sympathy to the families of those who died in the
brutal attack on Radio Television Serbia.