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Highlights
• While the international community tries to combat convinced that the world is launching a campaign of unprofessionalism in the Republika Srpska media, terrorist violence and chemical warfare against the with sharp critique and warnings of possible jamming, RS RS media fight back with their own version of reality. • Investigative Journalism - The Werewolf Team of Audiences of Srpska Radio-Television, and readers of Slobodna Bosna Glas Srpski, in the past fortnight, could by now be • Monitoring Report Opens A Correspondence Column
A review of the B&H media published by Media Plan and the Institute for War & Peace Reporting Volume 3 • Issue 2 Monitoring Report July 26 1997 ′′′DOGS OF WAR′′′ SFOR’s New Image in the RS Media
The RS state media responded to unknown kinds of insect… a type of In response to the Office of the High international criticism with a barrage of mosquito that moves sluggishly in bitter Representative’s statement that ‘SRT journalistic excesses. International cold, but still survives.’ creates a paranoid atmosphere with its support for the beleaguered RS president, selection of quotations from RS officials, SRT’s Brcko studio explored the Biljana Plavsic, and SFOR’s ‘Tango’ and its own commentary.’ STV retorted theme on July 15, when reacting to operation in Prijedor fitted neatly into ‘TV statements are not the same as the ‘Tango’: the killing of Simo Drljac, and Srpska Radio-Television’s concept of a killing and arrest of innocent people in a the arrest of Dr Milan Kovacevic. SRT global campaign against Serb nationhood. country and among a nation whose Brcko commentator Nedjo Djurevic, This concept received its most emotive hospitality has been brutally abused’ calling SFOR ‘Al-Capone mobsters’ and colouring from the media of the divided (17/7). ‘dogs of war’ went on to visualise an city of Brcko, already hotly involved with international conspiracy of ‘mobsters Below are samples of SRT journalism the issues of voter registration and return. from Masonic lodges’. ‘Not satisfied with in the monitored period: Events of the last fortnight roused them the NATO bombardment of the Serbs, to war-time levels of animosity, and grenades strengthened with uranium, Selection of Quotations: SRT asked xenophobia and paranoia - currently which are causing people throughout the its own staff to provide comments on the unrivalled in any other town of BiH. RS to suffer radiation sickness’, these station. The result could be heard on the Insect Warfare ‘gangsters’ are now using ‘secret lists and July 16 newscast: a lengthy compliment hysterical killings’ to ‘create a feeling of on the ‘heroism’ and professionalism of SRT journalists. SRT ran, on July 18, a Srpska Television told viewers on July collective guilt among the Serbs, and to selective vox-pop of Prijedor salesmen 17 that chemical warfare was being waged force them to bow their heads in refusing to sell ‘even chewing gum’ to against the RS by the international acceptance of…a united Bosnia.’ internationals ‘who want to destroy us - community. The presenter read out an Srpska TV’s July 15 commentary on so we will never serve them.’ SRT Brcko, article (by Goran Maunaga) titled ‘Tango’ was also picturesque: ‘The crisis on July 14, aired citizens protesting ‘at the ‘Scientific Militarism’, from the June 8 concerning the state leaders of the RS is pursuit of the Serb nation’, (as the issue of Javnosti. (Printed by Glas Srpski, being constantly expanded in the kitchens reporter described ‘Tango’). ‘Why and for this weekly magazine was founded in of the international community, whose what reason are they killing only us, 1992 by ‘the government of the RS’). The chefs are mixing directly in RS internal without trial, without any possibility of article spoke of: ‘Instant danger from affairs, using the conflicts at the head of defence… under the law of force?’ All poisonous materials sprayed from the RS to impose their will on the state quotes matched SRT’s own commentary. aircraft… on a daily basis…a multitude of institutions and..to drown the RS in a beetles and reptiles as well as a variety of unified BiH.’
MONITORING REPORT, JULY 26, 1997 2 Camera Work: During a 75-second Mongolians, and other exemplary silence, STV’s camera panned in on international experts, of spiritual beauty MONITORING REPORT posters of Karadzic being displayed and fascinating education, such as Alex apparently everywhere - ‘like the dawn, in Ivanko, Duncan Bullivant, David Foley Published by the new, picturesque clothing’ as the or Simon Hazelock’ (16/7). Institute for War & Peace Reporting and presenter concluded at the end. (18/7). Media Plan On the other hand, the reporter who SRPSKA RTV , RTV BIH, Project Director: Zlatko Dizdarevic covered a Bijelina rally in support of HRVATSKA RTV HERCEG- Editorial Team: Zlatko Dizdarevic, Biljana Plavsic, and maintained that ‘only BOSNA Aleksandra Scepanovic & Marina Bowder 2% of residents’ were present, was Monitoring Team: MEDIA PLAN refuted by the camera panning over a massed crowd (15/7). Monitors of TV BiH in the past IWPR is an independent conflict- fortnight, unlike those watching Srpska monitoring and media-support charity Terminology: ‘Alleged’ and ‘so- TV, had comparatively little to report in working to inform the international debate called’ are correctly prefixed to the words on conflict and provide a platform and other the way of journalistic slip-ups. However, support for voices of moderation caught in ‘war criminal’ - but only when the TV BIH is not free from Srpska RTV’s conflict. criminal in question is Serb. ‘Professor’, habit of mixing of redundant rather than ‘President’ is now a frequent commentary with news. ‘There is no title for Biljana Plavsic. Attempts in Banja doubt at all that the events in Sandzak Luka to terrorise the international (where Bosnjak locals have been community were apparently spontaneous demonstrating against harassment by the ‘explosions and detonations’. Belgrade regime) were projected in the Media Plan is an independent organisation Sourcing: Ljubisa Savic-Mauzer, cabinet of Slobodan Milosevic’… ‘It monitoring, training and developing the would be an injustice in the eyes of God Bosnian media. president of the Bijelina Democrats, led a group who hurled eggs at SRT’s Bijelina if Slobodan Milosevic does not end in studio (16/7). Three days later STV’s The Hague’ (July 19). MEDIA PLAN presenter read out a list, obtained from Srpska TV followed Momcilo Krajsnik ‘well-informed sources’ of suspected war- devotedly during the monitored period, criminals: Radoslav Brdjanin, Vojo giving him the most favourable camera Kupresanin, Predrag Radic (all Plavsic shots, often ensuring that only his side of Monitoring Report is free of charge, and reprinting with credit is encouraged. IWPR supporters), Ljubisa Savic-Mauzer, and a conversation was heard and only his and Media Plan gratefully acknowledge the Biljana Plavsic. face seen. TV BiH often takes the same support of the Swedish International Creativity: As the crisis sparked off by approach to Co-President of the Council Development and Cooperation Agency of Ministers Haris Silajdzic, citing him at (SIDA) for support for this project. Other Plavsic’s dismissal of RS Minister of Internal Affairs and chief of police every opportunity. In the monitored media training, development and research period he was shown making six lengthy projects carried out by Media Plan and Dragan Kijac, escalated, SRT ran, from a IWPR in Bosnia are supported by the village near Rogatica, the news of ‘a special announcements on various European Union, US Information Agency, Muslim terrorist group prevented in its different topics, which definitely made National Endowment for Democracy and aim of spreading chaos and panic among him TV personality of the fortnight. Winston Foundation for World Peace. householders.’ STV showed Serb police In Monitoring Report’s view, a serious removing a grenade from the pocket of defect of TV BiH’s scheduling is its daily Bosnia: an unidentified body in an unidentified and, from a Bosnjak viewpoint, Obala Kulina bana 4/I, 71000 Sarajevo, tel/fax: place. Viewers were left with a vision of overwhelmingly patriotic, promotive spot (387 71) 667 734/5 Serb police doing their duty and for the BiH army, run before every main E-mail: safeguarding civilians. As far as [email protected] newscast at 7.30 pm. It sets the tone for a [email protected] Monitoring Report can ascertain, the newscast that to some extent justifies entire story was a fabrication. Bosnian Croat complaints that TV BiH fails to cater for the Croat members of UK: White and Spiritually the BiH Federation. Lancaster House, 33 Islington High St., London Beautiful N1 9LH Medzida Buljubasic was the editor and E-mail: [email protected] presenter of ‘God’s Messenger (the Biljana Plavsic’s request to the prophet Muhamad)’s Birthday.’ This international community to impose a festival was top news for 4 days in a row, US: protectorate (6/7) on RS media was seen from July 16 to July 19. Egyptian Box 2617, New York, NY 10185, by SRT to be ‘synchronised immediately tel: (1 212) 688-1451, fax: (1 212) 371-4054 president Mubarak’s congratulations to E-mail: [email protected] an army of enthusiastic racially-correct BiH president Alija Izetbegovic took first Western speakers in Muslim Sarajevo, place on July 16, while Buljubasic told orchestrated by well-known local Muslim viewers on the 18th that ‘Congratulations For back issues and other information, visit trouble-makers, created among our on the occasion of the birth of God’s our Web site: people the fearful impression that, as of http:/www.demon.co.uk/iwpr/iwpr.htm Messenger were sent to the high tomorrow, Srpska Radio-Television will functionaries of the Federation and BiH’. be run by a bunch of Arabs, blacks,
MONITORING REPORT, JULY 26, 1997 3 How appropriate Croat and Serb BRCKO: Whether because elections from their basic democratic right to vote functionaries might have found such are nearing, or for other reasons, some of in the elections because their refugee greetings, she did not say. the most colourful quotations of the documents are dated later than 31/7/96.’ monitored period are from the media on Gavric did not add that people whose TV BiH, like most of the Sarajevo- the RS side of Brcko’s divide. Brcanski registrations are cancelled are still able to based media (with the exception of Pogledi, the fortnightly paper which has vote at their pre-1991 locations, and ‘MN’ Oslobodjenje) failed to notice the pending provided plenty of material for seems not to have investigated the point removal of three Gorazde Party for Monitoring Report’s previous issues, (research would have necessitated one Democratic Action (the ruling SDA) again deserves mention: phone-call to the local OSCE). representatives from the candidate list. OSCE removals of Croatian Democratic The SFOR action to arrest two war On June 16 there was a further article Union (HDZ) and Serb Democratic criminals in Prijedor, was the 17/7 issue’s from ‘MN’. ‘Deprived of the Right to Party (SDS) candidates from the list are cover page story, titled ‘SF-OR-UK’. Vote’ on the protest meeting by citizens always news. (Compare the Sarajevo daily (‘Oruk’ in the local language resembles of Serb Brcko. More than 500 people Dnevni Avaz: whose July 20 headline ‘ugh’ in English). Vida Tesic wrote the went spontaneously on to the streets to ‘THE HDZ STOLE 15 000 VOTES’ ran commentary: ‘And you, gentlemen, protest, in front of the OSCE office across all 5 columns of the title page.) having barely exchanged your (first letter) ‘because the basic democratic right to I for S, have turned to punitive vote had been taken from them’ said TV BiH might argue that it is trying to expeditions. With the blood of Simo ‘MN’. compensate for its counterparts among Drljaca you have spread terror the Bosnian Croat media, whose line throughout the RS, and with the ′′′ tends to be somewhat harder. For Oh, Investigative shamefully plotted arrest of Dr Mico example, Croat Radio-Telvision Herceg- Team of Slobodna Kovacevic, you have opened the hunting Bosna thought ‘The unequal treatment, ′′′ season for Serb heads.’ Bosna’ on the part of the international community, of Bosnjak and Croat This fortnight, however, Brcanski TV Uno-Sanski Canton (TV USK) refugees, is surprising. While the Muslim Pogledi was outdone in pathos by SRT carried reactions to an article by refugees swallow up whole truckloads of studio Brcko’s commentator Nedjo ‘Slobodna Bosna’ (titled ‘Is General Atif humanitarian aid, Croat refugees suffer Djurevic: Dudakovic Behind the Bihac Mafia’, July sanctions (7/7).’ Meanwhile, the death of The Serbs on the left side of the Drina 13), on its main newscast of July 17. A Mate Boban, founder of the short lived are guilty just because they did not want statement from the ‘Club of Patriotic Herceg-Bosna state, considered by …to pray to Allah instead of God.. What leagues’ of the municipality of Cazin, was Bosnjaks to be a war criminal, was are the soldiers of SFOR really after, who read out in full by presenter Gorica commemorated with ‘Croat Knight’ ‘A on the roads of the RS and the entrances Catakovic. The club members wrote: ‘We great son of Croatia, who freed and to Brcko and in the luckless city itself are observing these days how the so established the Croat idea in BiH’ (8/7). pressure the Serbs with their vehicles and called ‘free press’ especially Slobodna Bosna, But by showing genuine impartiality, maltreat the Serb police? In their hunt, it is publishing articles about our General RTV BiH might woo back the Croat is possible that the road which has led and our heroes of this war..Do not touch leaders of the Federation, who are now towards latent peace in the post-Dayton our General and our heroes, for we are appearing almost daily on the Republic of period will change direction. Then the ready to fight all of Europe, if our Croatia’s state media. Stabilisation Force will be able, without generals call on us to do so. We are well aware of how and in what way we were The Dual Faces of concealment, to bear their true name of dogs of war’ (15/6). slaughtered, raped and robbed..The Mostar & Brcko ingenuity of General Dudakovic, together Among RS media outside Brcko, Glas with the courage of Hamda/Tiger, Emin MOSTAR: The divided city’s most Srpski was exceptionally interested in the Pivic, and the Buzim brothers, made the hotly contested issue of the monitored divided town: the articles of a journalist victory of the Bosnjak Corps of the Bihac period was the unification of the signed ‘MN’ covered Brcko news in region possible..They are not Mafia. They Hercegovacko-Neretvanski Cantonal depth. Brcko Supervisor Robert Farrand are all the good, brave, honest and clever police. Croat HTV Mostar said, on July 7 recently announced that returnees must men’ - at this point the presenter nearly - ‘The Muslim side did not today allow an carry RS documentation, although it will wept -‘this nation has. You have stricken agreement about the constitution of the be valid only until the final arbitration a blow, under the cover of bloody, steely police in the Hercegovacko-Neretvanski decision. ‘MN’ seemed to appreciate the democracy, against your own suffering Canton.’ On the same day, on the other decision, contributing an article titled people..can’t you ever have enough of side of the city, TV Mostar was telling its ‘Return, With the Acceptance of Loyalty Bosnjak blood? Don’t be werewolves and audience- ‘An agreement has still not to Srpska’ (July 20 -21). lap the blood of your own people. Where been reached. The main reason is Croat ‘Satisfactory Response of Citizens’ have you strayed to, oh investigative team reluctance to accept that the police be (July 11), was another ‘MN’ article. This of Slobodna Bosna?’ constituted according to the 1991 census’. quoted Teodor Gavric, president of the Viewers were not given any idea of the Brcko Local Elections Commission. contents of the original article. ‘These citizens are pointlessly excluded Incidentally, the issue of Slobodna Bosna containing the article sold out completely - local rumours suggest it was burned.
MONITORING REPORT, JULY 26, 1997 4 Media Re-Shade the BiH praising him as ‘A Man For Difficult interview with Vecernje Novine, in which Times’ (headline), but adding ‘Among he said that Brcko could not belong to Map Croats themselves..there are those the Federation, but might be neutrally who..urge that he insisted on the division placed under BiH as a state, as ‘Brcko for Journalists in the former Yugoslavia of BiH and the so-called humane the Serbs’ (15/7). seem uncertain from time to time of resettlement of Croats from central Brcanski Pogledi has lately been where current boundaries lie. Often their Bosnia, and blame him for unsatisfactory advertising its serial on war criminals - all mistakes suggest simple confusion: cooperation with the Muslim leadership. Bosnjaks or Croats, termed war-criminals occasionally possible territorial Evidence will show what Mate Boban according to the paper’s own criteria. speculation. could have done differently.’ When this was banned by the Brcko Monitors have noticed that Srpska Supervisor, the paper promised readers RTV news from the ‘Muslim-Croat’ What’s on: Electronic that ‘the serial “Criminal” will be printed Federation is always pasted in the news- Media in full in your and our newspaper as soon bloc ‘From Abroad’, while football as conditions are right’. Meanwhile the players from the Federation of Yugoslavia Tuzlansko-Podrinski Canton (Eastern meetings of the local Cetnik association are ‘our representatives’, ‘our selection.’ Bosnia) TV (TV TPK): turned a concert were covered, as usual, and novelty was On TV BIH the latest news from by the Sarajevo Philharmonic into an provided by a letter from the Chicago Sandzak was at first placed in the opportunity to promote the SDA, which Cetnik association (17/7) domestic news bloc (12/7), before being had sponsored the concert - even transferred, together with the Brcanski Pogledi editors made no omitting to mention the same of the Montenegro leadership conflicts, to the attempt to conceal their view of special-guest conductor who visited from ‘From Abroad’ section. registration as a demonstration of Vienna. The composer, Asim Horozic, patriotism: ‘CONGRATULATIONS Dnevne Nezavisne Novine (Daily who was being performed for the first AND THANKS TO CITIZENS ON Independent News, RS): has a ‘Domestic time in Tuzla, was also neglected (9/7). THE EXCEPTIONAL TURNOUT News’ (supposedly BiH news) section, TV Zenica (central Bosnia): The FOR REGISTRATION’ (17/7). which, in the July 12-13 issue, covered opening of Zenica’s new plumbing events in Banja Luka, Mostar and system manged to become a promotional Zvornik. Confusingly, however, Pristina Media News: spot for the SDA. (Serbia) and Podgorica (Montenegro) were included as well. On July 7, Sarajevo TV TPK’s presenter said that the Serb A historic moment on Sarajevo-based and Belgrade both got into the ‘Domestic police ‘did not want’ to guarantee safety Independent TV Hayat: the programme News’ and the ‘Ex-Yugoslavia’ news to the Serb Civic Council on its visit to ‘Voice of America’ was broadcast live simultaneously. the Brcko zone of separation; a free from Washington by satellite for the first interpretation of reporter time on July 21. The two Washington- Croatia TV’s ‘Motriste’ of July 8 held based presenters, Ivica Puljic and out little hope for Croat refugees Mirsad Arnautovic’s statement that Dzejlana Pecanin-Alison are conducting returning to the Federation town of ‘they were not able’ (17/7). interviews with opposition party leaders Zepce: ‘It looks like part of a future Srpska RTV: ran a BBC programme on a daily basis. Muslim mini-state’ said the reporter. quoting the Office of the High TV Zenica reported that there are 26 Representative’s sharp criticisms of the media in the Zenicko-Dobojski Canton, Media of the RS media, for unprofessional reporting employing 80 journalists, 12 of whom are Fortnight: (22/7). However, this station did not qualified. include the quote ‘Pale television is the TV TPK announced on July 17 that it Split-based paper Slobodna Dalmacija, biggest spreader of lies in the whole of Europe.’ was ceasing to broadcast TV BiH’s main widely read in Croat-controlled areas of Dnevnik, owing to the poor quality of the Federation BiH was more focused than transmission it received. Monitoring most Federation media and all Bosnian What’s in: The Press Report called TV BiH to ask its opinion: Croat media on events in the RS. It the staff member who took the call had carried agency information from several Glas Srpski: (on the burning of its July no idea that the Dnevnik had ever been sources on all Plavsic’s conferences, and 19 issue by anonymous persons, in front broadcast by TV TPK, and commented, quoted her criticisms of the Pale leaders of the city hall in Banja Luka). ‘Even in ‘But, of course, this is a cowboy state.’ as ‘Leeches Sucking Blood’ (7/7). It also our dreams we never expected that at the quoted an interview which Alija beginning of the 21st century a Serb Izetbegovic gave to the independent paper, written by obviously Serb Letters to the Editors Belgrade-based weekly magazine NIN in journalists, could be burned on a bonfire of Monitoring Report which he accused Croat extremists of still lit by Serb hands’ (20/7). nurturing dreams of annexing BiH to a Monitoring Report would like to print (SRT’s board comment‘The Only Serb so-called Great Croatia. ‘Croat Illusions’ your reactions to our issues, on a regular Daily Paper’). (date). Slobodna Dalmacija was more basis. Last fortnight’s issue produced so objective than the Bosnian Croat media Glas Srpski: headlined Belgrade (now many reader responses that we felt in its obituary for Mate Boban (8/7), American) lawyer Nikola Kostic’s compelled to open a correspondence
MONITORING REPORT, JULY 26, 1997 5 column for your suggestions and Mostar have been in existence for a long comments. Monitoring Report reserves time…and a long time ago the world the right to edit your letters if space is a realised on which side to look for light, problem. Some letters we received in the and where to intervene and put pressure. past fortnight are below: Mildly speaking, it is regrettable to balance a medium which according to all standard thinking..reached desirable LOUSY LANGUAGE standards of media freedom, and Professor Dave Parnas, openness, with a medium that is a classic Ontario, Canada: Who are the mouthpiece of the HDZ... Someone authors of these reports? What are might now try to view RTV Mostar, in their qualifications?’ the inexact and outdated style of certain circles who believe that Mostar is an ‘Reading the loaded, inflammatory and arena of squabblers, and that guilt is equal imprecise language that fills this report on both sides of the Neretva. Otherwise, (“lousy”, “slavish”, “mouthpiece” and the monitoring is welcome, whoever other such words), I thought that the produces it. Our warm recommendation report’s comment on SRT, “There was is that evaluations should be all-inclusive, no attempt at an independent, objective and not based on a hunt for analysis of either position” described this deficiencies…We feel the Monitoring report as well. Report wants to be both a prosecutor and a judge, and it loses respect in our eyes I thought that the authors of these because of the cynical message closing reports would set an example for their the final issue: ‘Are you worried that your colleagues by showing high journalistic paper or station wasn’t mentioned above? standards. I thought that they would Don’t worry, it probably will be.’ provide objective data and balanced opinions. I was disappointed.
On June 18, in ‘Ogledalo’, Medina NAMING NAMES Delibasic of TV Zenica, pointed out that Semir Tanovic, Glendale, New Monitoring Report’s last issue wrongly York, USA described her as calling Banja Luka a ‘tragic city’ when she in fact called it a ‘This is a fantastic report. I only wish it ‘sad’ city. Monitoring Report would like mentioned the names of all the reporters to apologise to her for this whose stories were referred to. If names misunderstanding. of the journalists and editors had been mentioned, the report would have had a bigger weight, it would also identify the creators of false news. Many of them COMING NEXT FORTNIGHT: were involved in creating the false news • and hatred mongering (as mean and Independent- or Just incriminating as Goebbels’) in the Non-Controversial: beginning of the war. This would create a INDEPENDENT MEDIA IN basis for moral and professional BIH responsibility (in some cases even a criminal responsibility) for the future, • Profile: once the sobering up starts.’ A RECENTLY-FOUNDED INDEPENDENT (RS) DON’T BE CYNICS MEDIUM. Alija Behram, on behalf of RTV Mostar, FBiH We are taken by surprise by descriptions that are neither founded nor The editors welcome well-argued and therefore suspect that correspondence from all our this might be an intentional fraud readers. Contributors will not be produced by the haters of this identified without their prior medium…we don’t want to comment on permission. the persistent attempt to level the media Please send all comments to in Mostar. a light and a dark side of [email protected]