EFJ Concerned Over Developments in Croatian Media Scene

25 January 2006

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) sent an open letter to the President and the Prime Minister of Croatia, the President of the European Commission and the leadership of the Croatian Radiotelevision at the beginning of this week, to express their concern over the events surrounding Croatian journalists at the end of 2005.

The letter emphasizes the case of Tihomir Ladisic, Editor of HRT�s �Otvoreno�, who was suspended last Autumn because of the documents he presented on the role of Croatian armed forces in the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Due to the inability of HRT Programming Council to reach a clear conclusion on this case, the suspension was prolonged and Ladisic still waits to be informed about his future engagements. EFJ supports his return to the position from which he was suspended.

Furthermore, the letter mentions the threats and attacks on the editorial policy of the public broadcaster by ruling HDZ�s Members of Parliament, especially against �Latinica� show on the political heritage of former President Franjo Tugjman, during the parliamentary debate on the HRT Annual Report for 2005.

Finally, EFJ expressed its concern over the case of Drago Hedl, Editor with Feral Tribune weekly, who is under police protection because of the death threats he received for his reporting on crimes committed in Osijek during the war.

EFJ condemns the rising political pressure on the public broadcasting service, invites HRT to implement all the necessary measures to reassure the Croatian public that it is, indeed, a public service broadcaster. The Government of Croatia is asked to issue a public statement confirming the independence of HRT, condemning all forms of threats and pressure against journalists and commit to respect their right to work free of all types of pressure.