19. 02. 2005

MPs EAGER TO “SLAP” JOURNALISTS

BELGRADE, February 19, 2005 – While Criminal Code Bill is getting closer to enter the Parliamentary procedure, this awaited slap to media remains without any response of the appropriate authorities. However, despite the amendments, the Bill still provides the prison sentence for the journalists for libel and defamation. Regardless of the OSCE suggestion that these provisions should be abrogated from the Code, the authorities were not so eager to give up the “whip snapping” of the disobedient journalists who have given them a hard time during past few months criticizing their high wages, benefits and conflicts of interest. Due to existing conflict between the political elite and journalists’ infantry, it is evident that the MPs would greet the new “media provisions” enthusiastically, voting for them sincerely and unanimously. Asked if OSCE could insist on the abrogation of these provisions, the spokesperson Mathias Eick told Belgrade daily Glas Javnosti that this European organization in Serbia had, before all, the advisory character. “We would continue to discuss this issue with the representatives of the Ministry of Information and Justice”, said Eick, adding that it was pointless to leave the provisions on libel in the new Code, when all other European countries had abrogated them from their legislations. One of the countries that have excluded this provision from its Criminal Code is Croatia. The Croatian journalists associations have managed to achieve utter decriminalization of the provisions on libel and defamation, not only for journalists, but for other citizens as well. Commenting on the fact that Serbia had close to 400 filed legal complaints against journalists, president of the Croatian Association of Journalists Dragutin Lucic said: “This is nothing comparing to us. We have several thousand active court procedures. The only difference is that they are usually resolved in our favor.” Few months ago, the Parliament adopted new Act on media with amended previously problematic clauses on libel and damage to reputation. Instead of journalists proving their innocence, now the prosecutor needs to prove their guilt. Even if journalists issue offensive incorrect statements, believing they were true, the complaint is null and void. “One of our colleagues has been recently conditionally sentenced for two months for libeling a private contractor. Although the Appellate Court had confirmed this verdict, it was annulled on personal request of the Minister of Justice Vesna Skare-Ozbolt, Lukic explained.