14. 10. 2004

Vojvodina journalists object to Radical pressure

ZRENJANIN, October 14, 2004 (Beta) – The Independent Society of Vojvodina Journalists has objected strongly to pressure applied by the Serbian Radical Party on weekly Zrenjanin. The Radical Party’s committee in Zrenjanin has criticised the weekly for publishing articles on war crimes, claiming that these satanise the majority population of Vojvodina. The party also asserts that a regional weekly should not deal with political issues and dedicate two thirds of its pages every week to vilification. Writer Edi Darusi said that he has received frequent threatening phone calls and other warnings, telling him to “be careful”. The Independent Association of Vojvodina Journalists says that Darusi’s articles have been misinterpreted. The association has appealed to the appropriate authorities to protect the writer and the weekly from threats and to identify the anonymous individuals who are responsible for them.