Dozens of journalists staged a protest in Sarajevo, on Monday, against increasing pressures, violations of media freedoms and everyday threats against journalists – the latest of which was an alleged attack on Radiosarajevo.ba editorial last Friday, when two persons presenting themselves as FC Sarajevo fans allegedly forced the portal's editor to pull the text regarding an arrest of the club's fan in Belarus.
“After all these attacks, which are not adequately sanctioned, I'm afraid journalists would become the subject of a certain form of self-censorship. I fear many colleagues would want to get themselves and their families out of harm's way when they feel that there is no protection in society. Without free media there is no democracy in the society,” said Fedzad Forto, secretary-general of Bosnia's Association of Journalists.
Long trials, inadequate sentences or no indictment at all have made attacks against journalists a socially acceptable norm, but an attack on journalists, is an attack on the public, Milenko Vockic from the Radio Free Europe, said.
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“If the violence starts, if the streets are not contained, if threats start editing newspapers, portals, televisions, then we are a society in chaos. I hope we're not there, yet, but this has already gone too far,” Milenko Vockic. said.
Tougher sanctions and amendments to the Criminal Code are the basic journalist requirements.
They all agree that state institutions must take the protection of the journalistic profession more seriously. Creating laws that would qualify an attack on a journalist as an attack on an official is the first step, protest participants said.
“The relationship between the media and media leadership is essential. If the media will not support their own journalists, these journalists have no chance of surviving,” said Mehmed Halilovic, a former media ombudsman for Bosnia's Federation entity.
“This protest gathering is also the support for my colleagues Gordana Katana from Banja Luka, for Meliha Smajkic from Mostar, for Nevres Dedic from Mostar, for Vladimir Kovacevic, for all the colleagues who've been attacked in the past years. This society must send a message condemning the attacks on journalists,” Faruk Vele, editor of Radiosarajevo.ba portal said.
The Friday incident was also condemned by Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatovic who said: “It is important to give a clear signal that attacks against journalists are always attacks against democracy and will not be tolerated.”
“In the face of increasing pressure, there is a need for strong action to counter hostility against journalists and ensure media freedom. It is therefore crucial that national authorities take all measures to allow them to operate freely and safely. As human rights commissioner, I continue to remind them of this obligation, and I stand by all journalists facing attacks or threats,” Commissioner Mijatovic said.
