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OSCE condemns attack on journalist in Bosnia and Herzegovina
SARAJEVO 17 August 2000
SARAJEVO, 16 August 2000 - The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina expresses its deep concern over the attack on Srpsko Oslobodjenje journalist, Ljubisa Lazic, on the premises of Radio Srpsko Sarajevo on Saturday, 12 August, by Marko Asanin, president of the Regional Board of the Srpsko Sarajevo SNSD.
Lazic suffered serious injuries, confirmed by the hospital to where he was taken after the incident. In a statement to the OSCE FreeMedia Helpline, Mr. Lazic alleged that this attack was the culmination of a series of threats and harassment by Mr. Asanin, who at one point tried to have the local media excluded from sessions of the assembly of Srpsko Novo Sarajevo municipality. Mr. Lazic also alleged that Mr. Asanin had insisted media report only the position of his political party, the SNSD.
Mr. Lazic told the OSCE Department of Media Affairs (DMA) that the local police have filed charges against Mr. Asanin and two alleged accomplices. He is satisfied so far with the police response to the incident. Mr Lazic has stated he intends to press criminal charges against all three.
The FreeMedia Helpline, established in November 1999, provides assistance to journalists who have been threatened, harassed or assaulted as a consequence of performing their professional duties.
For more information on the FreeMedia Helpline, please contact the OSCE Mission at 033/292-228 or by the Internet at freemedia@oscebih.org .
For more information, please contact Luke Zahner, Spokesperson, OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, 033/292-222 or 066/144-311.
Lazic suffered serious injuries, confirmed by the hospital to where he was taken after the incident. In a statement to the OSCE FreeMedia Helpline, Mr. Lazic alleged that this attack was the culmination of a series of threats and harassment by Mr. Asanin, who at one point tried to have the local media excluded from sessions of the assembly of Srpsko Novo Sarajevo municipality. Mr. Lazic also alleged that Mr. Asanin had insisted media report only the position of his political party, the SNSD.
Mr. Lazic told the OSCE Department of Media Affairs (DMA) that the local police have filed charges against Mr. Asanin and two alleged accomplices. He is satisfied so far with the police response to the incident. Mr Lazic has stated he intends to press criminal charges against all three.
The FreeMedia Helpline, established in November 1999, provides assistance to journalists who have been threatened, harassed or assaulted as a consequence of performing their professional duties.
For more information on the FreeMedia Helpline, please contact the OSCE Mission at 033/292-228 or by the Internet at freemedia@oscebih.org .
For more information, please contact Luke Zahner, Spokesperson, OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, 033/292-222 or 066/144-311.