SNSD – new encounter with the opponents

Sarajevo, September 18, 2010. – Transparency International Bosnia and Herzegovina (TI BiH) strongly condemns the attack on Almir Terzic, Oslobodjenje journalist and an active member of the TI BiH, by SNSD representative.

Following a series of articles published in daily newspapers Oslobodjenje, Zeljko Kuzmanovic, member oft he House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly, and a representative of Savez nezavisnih socijal demokrata (SNSD) and the candidate at upcoming elections, verbally attacked Almir Terzic on September 16^th. Kuzmanovic told Terzic that “if he publishes another article with negative connotations about him by October 3^rd, he will cometo his desk office and slap him, even if he goes in prison for doing that”.

This is just another one of the attempts to suppress criticism of authorities, especially before the upcoming elections, and at the same time, it is an attempt to secure obedience of the media during the election campaign, a practice which contradicts all the principles of fair and democratic elections. This type of behavior, coming from the representative of parliament, is not only violation of basic human rights of the journalists, but also shows unbelievable lack of political culture in BiH.

TI BiH appeals to authorized institutions to react on such attacks to journalists, and to penalize this continuous pressure on the media. Media has its main significance in monitoring the work of the authorities, and since the basic human rights are violated, office holders are proving once again that BiH still cannot be considered as a democratic society.