BOSNIA - ATTACK ON JOURNALIST IN EASTERN REPUBLIKA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SARAJEVO 000353 SIPDIS EUR/SCE FOR FOOKS, MCGUIRE; NSC FOR HELGERSON E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/18/2019 TAGS: PHUM PGOV BK SUBJECT: BOSNIA - ATTACK ON JOURNALIST IN EASTERN REPUBLIKA SRPSKA Classified By: DCM Judith Cefkin, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: On March 18, a Federation Television journalist, reporting on allegations of corruption in Trebinje, was physically attacked while filming the Serb Orthodox Church there. The local mayor and Serb Orthodox bishop (both Dodik allies) immediately blamed the victim, and Dodik himself was quick to back them up. International community, including the Embassy, and civil society activists condemned the incident, and opposition Serb parliamentarians sided with the international community in criticizing the local officials and Dodik. The incident is part of a worrying trend of increased attacks on journalists, and a demonstration of the intersection of corruption, religious influence, and local "dirty dealing" which, accompanied by ethnic tension, undermines trust in local government throughout Bosnia. End Summary. Church and State vs. Media and NGOs -------------- ¶2. (C) Trebinje's long-term record of governance is badly flawed, incorporating both war crimes and corruption issues. Until March 31, 2005, Trebinje was one of a handful of municipalities subject to the Lautenberg amendment ban on local governments deemed to be supporting or hiding war criminals. Returnees to the area have a long history of alleged harassment and intimidation. Trebinje, moreover, has long been understood by most political observers to be run as a joint fiefdom of Mayor Dobroslav Cuk and Vladika Grigorije, the Serb Orthodox Bishop of Zahumlje and Herzegovina. Both figures have "run hot and cold" in their relations with RS Prime Minister Dodik, depending on Dodik's willingness to provide requested financial support, though Cuk is a member of Dodik's political party. Currently, both have good relations with Dodik. Local tales of corruption, and imperious behavior by both figures and their relatives, has served to stir up criticism even within ethnic-Serb circles. Criticism Begets Threats... -------------- ¶3. (C) These ethnic-Serb critics, both locally in Trebinje, and in Banja Luka, are the political "have-nots" of today's Dodik-dominated RS. FTV journalist Slobodan Vaskovic (who is also editor of Banja Luka-based "Stav" magazine),along with Nikola Sekulovic, President of the Movement for Trebinje, and "Stav" Magazine manager Dragomir Babic have long been critical of Dodik's administration generally, and his politico-religious allies in Trebinje in particular. Recent criticism of Cuk and Grigorije met with public condemnation by both leaders, and threats from unknown persons to Vaskovic, Sekulovic, and Babic personally. Grigorije even is rumored to have threatened excommunication. ...And Threats Give Way to Violence -------------- ¶4. (SBU) While filming outside the Serb Orthodox Church in Trebinje on March 18, an FTV crew composed of Vaskovic and his cameraman was attacked by Vladika Grigorije's driver (Cako Spajic) and the Vladika's counsin, (Slaven Duric). According to Vaskovic, the pair threatened the FTV crew, attempting to break their camera and take their equipment. Conflicting reports suggest a local special police unit may have briefly taken the camera from the FTV crew. After the incident, Vaskovic and his cameraman went to the offices of Sekulovic's NGO, "Movement for Trebinje," where they gave their statement to police. A group of 20 unnamed persons reportedly assembled outside the office, and tried to force their way in while the statement was being given, but were prevented by police. Following the statement, police escorted the FTV crew out of Trebinje (perhaps demanding that they leave). A few kilometers after the police escort left them on the road to Mostar, the FTV crew's car was stoned near Ljubinje. Reaction from Internationals Good... -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Both international and civil society organizations were quick to issue statements in support of media freedom. OHR was first to react, condemning the attack on journalists and calling on local authorities to protect the media. Post SARAJEVO 00000353 002 OF 002 issued a strong statement condemning the attacks, and noting the alarming upward trend in attacks on journalists, as documented in our annual Human Rights Report. Post called on local authorities to similarly condemn the attacks and hold responsible parties accountable, as failure to do so represents a failure to fulfill Dayton Accord principles and other international commitments. The OSCE and the European Union Police Mission (EUPM) reacted on similar lines, though EUPM limited its statement to noting that its police monitors were present. Transparency International of BiH condemned the incident and characterized it as "further proof of the dangers faced by those who tell the truth." Centers of Civic Initiatives (CCI) said RS authorities should be held responsible for the attacks if they fail to protect basic freedoms. RS Police Director Uros Pena was measured in his comments, saying that "RS police will provide protection to all who request it, and have made an initial report on the incident which is being reviewed." ...And Ground-breaking Among Serbs -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Reacting to these developments "in character," Cuk, Grigorije, and Dodik claimed the victim was the culprit, and either avoided discussion of Sekulovic, Vaskovic, and Babic's central claims of corruption, or dismissed them as baseless. In fact, Dodik claimed the "citizens of Trebinje were provoked to attack reporter Vaskovic because he did not let them conduct their prayer." He further suggested that Vaskovic may have stopped somewhere on the road to Mostar, and broken his own window. Mayor Cuk said in a March 19 press conference that Vaskovic and Sekulovic were motivated by some questionable backer (read: Bosniak) who would benefit from Trebinje's instability somehow, and claimed that the FTV crew had "tried to break into the church." This ran counter to the Orthodox Church's own statement, which said that the reporters were "filming the church without permission and blessing, and by their behavior disturbed believers." However, in a subsequent message, Grigorije personally spoke about the matter, equating his critics with the devil. "The evil and the devil want to confuse us, so they are afraid." All objective coverage of the incident suggests the reporters were simply filming the location. ¶7. (SBU) Other Serb political leaders, in contrast to Dodik, spoke out in defense of journalistic freedoms. Babic, reacting from Banja Luka, claimed Dodik's statements pinning blame on the reporter "verge on insanity, and indicate that he is deeply involved in all this." Democratic Party President Dragan Cavic condemned the attacks, saying "no one has the right to express their dissatisfaction with journalists' reporting by physical attacks." Cavic called on RS Ministry of the Interior to launch an investigation and deal appropriately with any illegal acts. The Party for Democratic Progress similarly condemned the attack on the FTV crew and noted that RS authorities are obligated to ensure safe conditions for the media to work in. Comment: Symptoms of the Illness -------------- ¶8. (C) The incident described above is evidence of a worrying development in the sense of impunity political leaders demonstrate when dealing with critics from the media and civil society. For some time now, Dodik's vulgar attacks on journalists who criticize him has set such a tone. The fact that such tactics manifest themselves on the local level in the RS should surprise no one. ENGLISH