26. 09. 2004

Vojvodina journalists protest

NOVI SAD, September 26, 2004 (Beta) – The Independent Association of Vojvodina Journalists has protested at the use of vilification in the campaign for the second round of local government elections. The association appealed to media to stop broadcasting election promotions using hate language. “We remind the media of the fact that selling air time does not relieve them of their responsibility for the material broadcast. The language of hate, insult, vilification and primitivism is not permitted in any media at any time, including paid time,” said the association in a statement. The association alleges that members of the Serbian Radical Party are using hat language excessively. “Once again we are hearing about global conspiracies, foreign mercenaries, fifth columnists, and insults directed at non-Serbia nations. We seem to be living in 1994, not 2002. Naively, we thought that time was long go,” said the association, adding that the right to free expression carried with it certain obligations and responsibilities. “The Independent Association of Vojvodina Journalists urges public officials, and above all the prosecution, to respond in the line of duty to the language of hate, racism, nationalism and chauvinism being used in the election campaign,” said the statement.