19. 12. 2012

WALL OF SILENCE

Belgrade, December 19, 2012 (Danas) - With new amendments to the Criminal Code, journalists have been deprived of the status of officials, since this article has been deleted from the Proposed Criminal Code, which the Serbian Government forwarded to the Parliament for adoption. For putting a journalist in danger while on assignment, a punishment of one to eight years in prison was prescribed.

There is no explanation for such decision of the government. The murders of journalists Slavko Curuvija, Dada Vujasinovic and Milan Panic have remained unsolved, as well as numerous cases of nattacks on journalists in the last decade, like the most recent case of physicall attack on B92 journalist Tanja Jankovic in Vranje and her family members, as well as continuous threats made to journalist Brankica Stanovic.

One among many unresolved cases of attacks on journalists is also the one on Dejan Anastasijevic back in 2007. What is worrying is the fact that the penalty policy of the state for attackers on journalists is not consistent, since the police are not efficient enough in finding the perpetrators, nor has the reformed judiciary been standing out, as the proceedings are slow and long, and even when they are brought to an end, the penalties are less then symbolic.

Threats to journalists and media have become a common thing. Needless to say that various extremist organizations have made their lists of unfitting media. The state, namely the prosecutor's office, have remained silent to threats. It practically means that journalists in Serbia may be abused and beaten by almost anyone today.