prijava
BANJA LUKA/SARAJEVO, February 2 (FENA) - The Government of the entity of Republika Srpska, on the initiative of entity president Milorad Dodik, is preparing a set of laws, mostly in the field of media activity, which would systematically narrow the democratic space and threaten the small number of remaining free media in Republika Srpska said the president of the Club of Journalists Banja Luka, member of the BH Journalists Association Siniša Vukelic, in an interview with FENA.
"We consider it extremely dangerous. The law on the criminalization of defamation, on the basis of which a journalist, critic, politician and every citizen can end up behind bars, is extremely dangerous and will encourage self-censorship in the media," warns Vukelić.
He states that the adoption of laws expanding the number of criminal offenses against the "constitutional order" in Republika Srpska is also foreseen.
"We don't know exactly what this is about, but even that can significantly narrow and limit freedom of speech in Republika Srpska," says Vukelić.
He further warns that a law on spreading fake news is also being prepared.
"We think that the basic motive is not to prevent fake news or disinformation but to limit or reduce the number of true, accurate news which is what bothers this government the most. Furthermore, a law on the Internet is being prepared. We also do not know what it will be about, and according to our latest information, an amendment to the Law on Information in RS is also being prepared," said Vukelić.
In addition, he added, they already have previous announcements that the law will be changed according to which non-governmental organizations that receive donations or grants from abroad will have to wear the label "foreign agent".
"I think that this is, in fact, a strategic and systemic plan to stifle the remaining independent media, to push for self-censorship and to simply stop writing about what the Republika Srpska authorities do not like. They don't give up on that, even according to certain information they tasked people outside the government to write those laws, which we consider really bad. Also, it was announced that they will go according to the urgent procedure, which means that there will be no room for any changes or additions, which means that they are in a hurry," warns Vukelić.
The Club of Journalists Banja Luka, the Capital.ba portal and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation will organize a conference on February 7 in Banja Luka, where colleagues from Sarajevo, Serbia and Croatia will come, where they will present their views on what is already quite clear, "that we don't even want to sit down at the table and unpack the Law on Defamation or the Criminal Code, because we think that the motives for changing them are completely clear to us".
Also, several non-governmental organizations will sign a joint declaration that they will send to international representatives and government representatives with their views on this initiative that has been announced and is already being implemented.
The action of the Association/Association of BH Journalists to sign an online petition against the criminalization of defamation in the RS is ongoing. For now, Vukelić has no information on who all signed the petition because the survey is still active.
"However, what we are glad about is the support from the European Federation of Journalists. The president of the European Federation, Maja Sever, will also come to our conference and talk about their views," concluded Vukelic in an interview with FENA.
(FENA) S. R.
