The Belgrade Centre for Human Rights is concerned by the atmosphere in which decisions impacting on Serbia’s media scene are reached and implemented and their effect on the realisation of the right to freedom of expression and media and the democratic transition of Serbia’s society. The Republican Broadcasting Agency and its Council are without doubt legally empowered to take decisions on the allocation of radio and television broadcasting frequencies and to apply appropriate punitive measures. However, both they and the Serbian National Assembly, Government and all other participants in the process are also doubtlessly obliged to bear in mind the importance of the media and ensure the independence of regulatory bodies passing such critical decisions.The reputation of these bodies is definitely not enhanced by their arrogant treatment of candidate broadcasters and nightime incursions into TV stations. Such images remind one of the infamous restrictions of media freedoms in the nineties. What amazes is the speed with which physical coercion was resorted to and the unusual alacrity of the police to assist in it – a fervour they usually do not exhibit in enforcing decisions of regular courts.
Of course, the question arises whether the Republican Broadcasting Agency has a reputation that can be undermined at all. It has transpired it does not command either authority or and trust of the public. This does not come as a surprise, considering the difficulties and violations of the law that accompanied the appointment of the Council members. Unfortunately, neither did the MPs nor the representatives of international organisations reacted to warnings issued at the time. The Council’s subsequent behaviour only reinforced the impression that it is arrogant, incompetent and anything but independent. All this corroborates that mistakes made during the establishing of an institution can be fateful and very difficult to rectify.
The Belgrade Centre for Human Rights again calls on all participants in the process to strictly abide by national laws and international standards, bearing in mind the sensitivity of the issue and the fragile foundations and achievements of democracy in Serbia. Decisions reached today will mark the future of Serbia’s whole public scene.
