11. 03. 2005

JOURNALISTS NOT SAFE

PRISTINE, March 11, 2005 – International Journalists Federation (IJF) expressed concern for inadequate safety of journalists and media staff in Kosovo. IJF warned the Kosovo authorities of the insufficient police protection of the journalists in the case of bomb threats made to the Radio Television Kosovo and other media in Kosovo, after the last week’s resignation of the former Kosovo Prime Minister Ramus Haradinaj. “Despite the fact that the police was informed of the threats, appropriate safety measures were not taken”, the Association said in the statement, noting that the police had, however, left it up to the RTK management to carry out necessary measures. “The management had decided to evacuate most of the staff, requesting the volunteers to risk their lives so as to continue the program broadcasting”, said in the statement. RTK employees told Beta News Agency that this media house received the anonymous phone call on Monday evening, March 7, followed by the bomb threat on the next day. After the threat was made, the RTK and Radio Kosovo building were under heightened protection measures, and the police was notified. However, Beta was later told that there was no evacuation of the staff on March 8, or new bomb threats received.