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From: radiopanik@gn.apc.org
Subject: Radio ZID Sarajewo under attack
Conf: amarc.radio
Date: 10 Feb 95 09:37 EST



Independent Radio ZID under attack in Sarajewo

In January the multicultural radiostation of Sarajewo, Radio ZID, was
informed by the Ministry of Defence that four of the six persons who run this
 radio were no longer under -working obligation+, which means that they were no
 longer excluded from serving in the army. Vlado Azinovic (editor-in-chief),
 Vedran Bajic (deputy-
director), Armin Jamakosmanovi (program-editor) and Adnan Sarajlic (editor of
 entertainment programs) were mobilised. The result of this mobilisation would
 be the immobilisation, the end of radio ZID. For the first time in 1000 days of
 war one of the med
ia in Bosnia-Hercegowina has come under attack of its own government.
Pressed by Radio ZID, the Association of Independent professional Journalists,
 the International Federation of  Journalists and by UNESCO to reconsider the
 mobilisation order, the authorities offered a deal: only two, and later only
 one of the four would
 have to go to the trenches. But this was not acceptable for Radio ZID. They
 demanded a clear statement from the government on the policy towards all the
 media. Was this the end of the system of working obligations for workers in
 institutions of essentia
l importance? Would other editors-in-chief, deputy-directors and editors also be
 mobilized? And in the same proportion, 66%, or all the male staff members? Or
 was this an ironic punishment for radio ZID because they had sofar applied for
 only 6 working o
bligations, in stead of the 32 to which they were entitled? Or was there maybe a
 special reason to target Radio ZID for this drastic measure? So far the only
 written answers have
come from the B-H Army Press Center and from the 102. Motorized Brigade.
The official army statement says that it understands the necessity of people
 doing civil jobs, but stresses that the efficiency of the armed defence has top
 priority. That is clear military logic. The press release of the 102. Motorized
 Brigade is more c
urious: -Do all these working obligations serve to defend our people and
 country? Spoiled sons are getting jobs overnight, and stipendia for completing
 their studies abroad, only to return and make a profit over the backs of us,
 who are defending our hou
ses and gates, our origins and our future. Lots of them may defend Bosnia with a
 song, but if there were less of those defending Bosnia with radiowaves,
 recordplayers and microphones in pubs, there would be more to join us, and we
 would sooner be free. W
hat is needed most is defendce with weapons, but it appeaars that this is left
 to those who have done it for three years now, while the others are defending
 with guitars, songs, neckties, suitcases and fake uniforms. They were, are and
 will always remain
 petty

bourgeois priviliged -gentlemen+.
Maybe this brigade does not like Radio ZID, no problem there are 8 more
stations to listen to. But why then did they come to Radio ZID to ask for 25
 free tickets for the rockfestival they organized a week before they wrote their
 letter? We can understand that soldiers who were on the front for 1000 days
 want to be relieved t
o spend some time with their family. But we don+t believe that they are the one
 who decided to end Radio ZID. Independent media are politics, they determine
 the image of a government both towards its own people, and towards this
 mysterious -international
 community+. In this sense radio ZID is part of the political landscape of
 Sarajewo, although e.g. Studio 99 is more explicitly engaging in political
 information and discussion. Since the Christmas cease-fire the military
 pressure in Sarajewo has subside
d, and this means that there is more room for political differences to come to
 the surface. A part of the ruling party, SDA headed by Alija Izetbegovic and
 Ejup Ganic, is showing signs of
authoritarian, one party rule, using both the military situation and the moslim
 signature as a means to impose its power. The moderate or liberal wing, led by
 Haris Siladzjic takes the liberty of opposing this tendency. And the members of
 the collective
presidency, who are not mebers of SDA, are now openly attacking moves of
 Izetbegovic. In this climate of powerstruggle and manipulations the media play
 a part, both as opinionmakers and as possible allies of one of the factions.
 Radio ZID has never openl
y engaged in this kind of politics, and exactly that may be a reason why it has
 been chosen as a test case to see how the world reacts when it is attacked. On
 the other hand, radio ZID of course does express a clear idea of what kind of
 society they desi
re.

Is Radio ZID dangerous?
Yes, for those who think that Sarajewo can only be defended with military
means. Yes, for those who think that only an exclusively moslim state has a
future in Bosnia-Hercegowina. Yes, for those who think that cultural production
 should be a servant of military and political strategy.
When the B-H government decided that the media play an essential role in the
 defence of a society under siege, and when the authorities so far have
 respected the independence of the media, they recognized that the freedom of
 expression, the right to be i
nformed, educated and entertained are part of the life, the cultural values and
 the human dignity that are under attack. Radio ZID is defending Sarajewo by
 making radio programmes for half a million people. Rock & roll, also for
 soldiers fighting in the
first lines. Lessons and games for children  trapped in cellars and whose
 schools are being shelled. Information and culture for all those who need more
 than just bread, water and wood to survive as human beings. Radio ZID is one of
 the reasons that many
 people around the world don+t stop telling their leaders that Sarajewo and
 Bosnia-Hercegowina should be saved. Not just because it is a recognized
 sovereign state. Not just because agression must not be rewarded. Not just
 because the war is a threat to
good re

lations in the post Cold War world. But because Sarajewo is an example of how a
 society can say no to the destruction of difference, diversity and
dignity. Even, and maybe especially, when it is under attack from national
insanity and international indifference.

Jo van der Spek (published in Croatian in ARKzin #32)
E-mail Radio ZID: radio_zid@zamir-sa.ztn.zer.de)


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          world association of community radio broadcasters
             asociacion mundial de radios comunitarias
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