Serbian journalists targeted by bombings

Unidentified attackers threw a Molotov cocktail into the backyard of the director of the recently formed daily newspaper Informer, and destroyed his father’s car Oct. 16, reported Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

Informer director Damir Dragić said in a B92 article that the firebomb on his property was an attack on his paper’s editorial policy.

Dragan Vučićević, the Informer’s chief editor and owner said his reporters and editors would not be intimidated by violence, B92 reported.

Dunja Mijatović, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media told one online news source “this attack could have proven fatal to Mr. Dragić or members of his family. I am happy that no one was injured but I am very disturbed that journalists in Serbia are frequently threatened for their reporting. Any attempt to intimidate the media must be met with strong condemnation. In this respect, I welcome the clear words of support to the newspaper coming from the highest officials in the country.”

A similar incident occurred Oct. 23 when an unknown offender threw a Molotov cocktail onto Biljana Vujovic’s terrace, Hetq Investigative Journalists Online reported. Vujovic, a TV Kipernikus presenter, extinguished the fire.

The South Eastern European Media Organisation (SEEMO) demanded an investigation into the attack on the Serbian journalists.

“I urge the Serbian police to investigate this and previous assaults on journalists and bring the perpetrators to justice,” said SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic in an article on the organization’s website.

By Nina Pantic.