🚀 go-pugleaf

From the IFEX Communique #6-24

SERBIA: GOVERNMENT THREATENS TO SUSPEND PIRATE RADIO STATIONS

Federal Telecommunications Minister Dojcilo Radojevic threatened
to suspend the operation of all pirate radio stations in the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia), reports the Committee to
Protect Journalists (CPJ). In a statement published on 2 June 1997 in
the daily "Belgrade Politika", "Radojevic said the [radio] stations
could be banned permanently if they failed to submit the documents
required for obtaining a temporary broadcast licence by 30 June."
According to the ministry, there are 333 radio stations and 144 TV
stations in Serbia and 14 radio stations and seven TV stations in
Montenegro operating without a broadcast licence.

According to CPJ, "The Serbian Association of Independent Media
(ANEM) recently complained that broadcasting is regulated at
federal and republic levels by a number of contradictory laws and
regulations," of which ministry officials have taken advantage. It is
unclear what documents the stations must submit and what criteria will
be used to determine who is eligible for a temporary licence. CPJ says
the licensing process is not expected to be fair and independent
broadcasters are convinced the ministry's aim is to impose "selective
bans on a number of politically `difficult' stations on the pretext
that the stations were offered a chance to legalize their operation,
but failed to do so."

** ** **

The IFEX "Communique" is published weekly in English, French and
Spanish by the IFEX Clearing House, Toronto. The facility is
operated by the Canadian Committee to Protect Journalists (CCPJ)
in partnership with the member organizations of the International
Freedom of Expression eXchange (IFEX). Contact the IFEX CH at CCPJ,
490 Adelaide Street West, Suite 205, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 1T2,
CANADA; Tel: (1-416) 703-1638; Fax: (1-416) 703-7034; or E-mail:
ifex@web.net. WWW site: http://www.ifex.org/. "Communique" Editor:
Kristina Stockwood. Subscriptions are available by e-mail and surface
mail. The views expressed in the "Communique" are the responsibility
of the sources to which they are attributed.

___________________________________________________
Bruce Girard             Agencia Informativa Pulsar
Email: bgirard@pulsar.org.ec
http://www.web.net/amarc/pulsar.html
Fono/Fax: +593-2-501 180 o 551 674
Fax en Montreal, Canada: +1-514-221-2009
Av. Atahualpa 333, Casilla 17-08-8489, Quito, Ecuador