N1 called Serbian Internal Affairs Minister Ivica Dacic to launch an investigation into the assault on an N1 crew at the protest in Vrbas.
An N1 assistant cameraman was injured when SNS supporters and activists pelted protesters, separated by a riot police cordon which did nothing to stop the assailants.
Bozic called Dacic to launch proceedings to identify the police officers who failed to react, identify the people who assaulted the N1 crew and the protesters and inform N1 about the steps and measures taken to protect journalists and media crews at future events.
This is News Director Igor Bozic’s letter to the minister:
Minister Dacic, I am addressing you over last night’s serious incident in Vrbas when an N1 TV crew was assaulted while the police officers present at the site remained completely passive and did nothing to protect them.
Our assistant cameraman was doing his job when he was hit by stones thrown from the direction of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) offices. Also, fireworks were fired at the N1 journalists and protesters, tools were thrown along with stones – all of that in front of the police. Despite the evident dangers and obstruction of the journalists and crew members who wore visible insignia the police did not react nor did they try to identify and process the perpetrators. I recall that the night before our crew in Vrbas was blinded by lasers pointed at both the camera and reporter with verbal abuse and open threats hurled at them, including calling them Ustasha (WW 2 Croatian Fascists). Masked men showed our female reporter the throat cut hand gesture.
This was not an isolated incident. At the Vidovan protest (in mid-June) our cameraman’s assistant, although wearing clearly visible press insignia and having identified himself to the police, was struck twice by a police officer wielding a baton. We didn’t get a reply from the authorities then, nor was anyone held accountable.
We demand that the Internal Affairs Ministry immediately:
- Launch an investigation to identify the police officers who failed to react last night;
- Take measures to identify and process the men who assaulted the N1 crew and protesters;
- Inform us about the steps and measures taken to protect journalists and media crews at future events.
We will inform the relevant local and international organizations dealing with protecting freedom of the media and the security of journalists about this case as we have about previous incidents.
I expect an immediate reply from you along with concrete steps in line with the law.
Source: N1
