BH Novinari Protest Threats Issued against Journalist

21 March 2008

The BH novinari (BH Journalists) association and the Media Help Line strongly protest the threats that Rajko Bulajic, Director of `Romanija` Forestry Company from Sokolac issued against Darko Momic, reporter of `Press RS` Daily.

Bulajic called Momic on the phone and threatened to `beat him up to pulp` for publishing the information that the authorities filed two criminal charges against him, and said that `he was coming straight to Banja Luka` should Momic write another word about him.

BH Journalists and Media Help Line emphasize that Bulajic`s actions represent clear violation of the freedom of expression and right of journalists to report on matters of public interest.

They add that it also constitutes an attack on the basic principles of democratic and civilized behaviour that should be mandatory for all carriers of public offices.

The two organizations demand from Bulajic to apologize to Momic publicly and from the Ministry of Interior to investigate the case and take measures to protect the reporter, if the need arises.