The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) today gave its full support to the Serbian journalists’ organisations which have called for a general strike to take part in the action of “general civil disobedience” organised by Serbian students following the tragic accident at the Novi Sad train station, killing 15 people. The EFJ denounces in particular the threats made by the Serbian Minister of Information and Telecommunications Dejan Ristić against the Serbian Coalition for Media Freedom.
More than 80 newsrooms in Serbia are on strike today, in response to a call from the Coalition for Media Freedom. Denying the newsrooms’ ability to take an independent stance, the Minister accused the Coalition of working against the public interest.
The EFJ considers that it is Mr Ristić’s unacceptable political interference that must be firmly condemned. “The Serbian government is clearly deaf to the legitimate appeals of students and civil society,” reacted the EFJ General Secretary Ricardo Gutiérrez. “The minister’s threats against the Serbian Coalition for Press Freedom are an irresponsible attitude towards those who are simply demanding respect for the rule of law and human rights. Journalists will always be on the side of truth and freedom, regardless of authoritarian and repressive regimes”.
As a sign of solidarity, all the participants in the workshop organised by the EFJ in Vichy (France) as part of the Stand Up for Journalism project collectively signed up today to the Coalition’s appeal.
The Serbian Coalition for Media Freedom includes two EFJ affiliates, the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS) and the Branch Trade Union of Culture, Arts and Media Nezavisnost (GS Kum Nezavisnost), and five other organisations (the Association of Media, the Association of Online Media AOM, the Independent Association of Journalists of Vojvodina NDNV, the Business Association of Local and Independent Media Local Press and the Slavko Curuvija Foundation).
Source: EFJ
