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101 incidents reported to FreeMedia Help Line in Bosnia and Herzegovina
SARAJEVO 10 August 2000
SARAJEVO, 10 August 2000 - Fifteen new incidents of possible violations of journalists' rights were reported to the FreeMedia Help Line between 22 June and 10 August 2000. This brings the total number of cases reported to 101 since the Help Line was established in November 1999.
There were seven cases of explicit threats, two physical attacks, two journalists charged with
defamation, (the OSCE will monitor these cases for any irregularities) and one case of denial of access to information. In addition, two cases were registered as interference, and one was categorized as harassment.
Twelve of the 15 incidents occurred in the Federation of BiH, while three cases were reported from the Republika Srpska. Forty percent of the violations reported between 22 June and 10 August were committed by known individuals; 33 per cent were anonymous threats or other forms of intimidation.
Government authorities or other public officials reportedly committed 15 per cent of these cases.
It is worth noting that the aforementioned figures do not necessarily represent the actual situation concerning the status of journalists' rights in the Federation and in the Republika Srpska, as only reported cases are recorded. However, the OSCE FreeMedia Help Line is only one of the means used by OSCE to monitor the status of freedom of media in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina encourages all journalists who have been threatened, intimidated, harassed or have in any way experienced interference in the performance of their duties to contact the Mission directly at its Help Line numbers: tel.: 071-292-228 or 071-292-305; fax: 071-667-988; e-mail: freemedia@oscebih.org
FreeMedia recognizes the need for confidentiality for journalists under threat. No identifying details of incidents will be released if the journalist requests it.
For more information, please contact Sanela Tunovic-Becirovic, deputy spokesperson, OSCE Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, tel.: 033/292-338 or 066/164-758.
There were seven cases of explicit threats, two physical attacks, two journalists charged with
defamation, (the OSCE will monitor these cases for any irregularities) and one case of denial of access to information. In addition, two cases were registered as interference, and one was categorized as harassment.
Twelve of the 15 incidents occurred in the Federation of BiH, while three cases were reported from the Republika Srpska. Forty percent of the violations reported between 22 June and 10 August were committed by known individuals; 33 per cent were anonymous threats or other forms of intimidation.
Government authorities or other public officials reportedly committed 15 per cent of these cases.
It is worth noting that the aforementioned figures do not necessarily represent the actual situation concerning the status of journalists' rights in the Federation and in the Republika Srpska, as only reported cases are recorded. However, the OSCE FreeMedia Help Line is only one of the means used by OSCE to monitor the status of freedom of media in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina encourages all journalists who have been threatened, intimidated, harassed or have in any way experienced interference in the performance of their duties to contact the Mission directly at its Help Line numbers: tel.: 071-292-228 or 071-292-305; fax: 071-667-988; e-mail: freemedia@oscebih.org
FreeMedia recognizes the need for confidentiality for journalists under threat. No identifying details of incidents will be released if the journalist requests it.
For more information, please contact Sanela Tunovic-Becirovic, deputy spokesperson, OSCE Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, tel.: 033/292-338 or 066/164-758.