Posstovani,
U prlogu imate saopsstenje za javnost Drusstva novinara Kosova i Metohije.
Srdaccan pozdrav,
Tijana Arsich - Sekretar DNKiM.
The Association of Journalists of Kosovo and Metohija and Association of Journalists of Serbia are warning on appearance of censorship, political partiality and unprofessional behavior of Radio and Television of Kosovo (RTK).
Editors of RTK interrupted with no explanation in regular broadcasting time on 23 March 2011 in 18' the show "Slobodno srpski", of the author Budimir Nicic. This kind of "technical intervention" in the programme of the media institution that intends to become a public service do not happen often in the world and proves power of individuals or individual to use the principle "I don't like this" and edit the programme of public service broadcaster.
The show „Slobodno srpski" in which guest was Momcilo Trajkovic, politician and witness of 17 March riots in 2004, was delivered three days in advance and addition was full transcript of the show. This fact leads to the point that some of politicians or powerful people did not like the show and gave the order to interrupt it and "give the viewership something that suits them". After interruption of the show, programme was continued with classic music and soon after patriotic songs.
In explanation sent to the author Budimir Nicic with reasons why the show was stopped was said „that if someone speaks about the crimes against the Serbs, than it should be spoken about crimes of Serb over the Albanians." Association of journalists is of the opinion that good analyses of RTK programme is more than welcomed and will result with unilateralism in portraying the past on public service TV. Balance and search for analogy in the past based on the principle "Look what they did to us" or "what happened to you is because of our victims" is dangerous and initiates hate and evil. The management of RTK is looking for justification of 17 March riots in 2004 and is asking from the author to emphasize that reason for riots are actually crimes that Serbs did over Albanians?
In the part of explanation of the Management that refers to the views of the politician Momcilo Trajkovic, was said "we all knew his accusations" and "we all know his interest". The Association is warning the public service, that should be the mirror of pluralism and different opinions, cannot use this kind of totalitarian statements. Who intends to become in one society a person that will say and decide that we "know everything"? It seems that RTK knows what we all know! By presenting the interest of the viewers, author of the show and already mentioned pluralism we are asking for „Slobodno srpski" to be back on RTK.
Key question in this issue is accusation that journalist didn't respect the other side. What is the other side of 17 March 2004, who is the other side, where shall we look for it, why there is no other side of the terrible crime that happened in peace? These questions do not have answers, no trial processes for organizers of riots and what is the most important, for us professionals, there is no investigative journalism that RTK could enforce/initiate. Maybe this is a good chance that someone dare and search for the answers on these questions because exactly the report on drowning of the children broadcasted on RTK was the trigger for 17 March riots.
The Association thinks that journalist Budimir Nicic did not violate professional standards and is warning expert and even wider public on a dangerous censorship, influence of politics and interruptions on RTK. This problem, among many others, clearly leads to the fact that relations of RTK with new TV channel in Serbian language (guaranteed by International documents on Kosovo) should be reconsider.
President of the Association of journalists of Kosovo and Metohija
Zeljko Tvrdisic
