17. 02. 2011

JOURNALISTS EXPELLED FROM ASSEMBLY SESSION IN TOWN OF KULA

Kula, February 17, 2011 (Blic) - Seats for media representatives in the Kula Assembly Hall were empty for the first time because the journalists of the daily newspapers "Blic", "Novosti" and "Dnevnik" as well as journalist from the local TV station TV Kula had been expelled from the assembly session with the use of physical violence, insults and swears by the security workers of the private agency "Star security".  

This unusual incident occurred with the silent approval of the leaders of the ruling coalition, the DS-DSS-SVM, and apart from the assembly members, this incident was also witnessed by the Mayor Svetozar Bukvic, Assembly President Zeljko Kovac and the Head of the local administration Stevan Vakula. Journalists were not provided with an explanation by the municipal officials; it is believed that such treatment of journalist was announced by the recent adopting of the restrictive regulations on the procedure for ensuring transparency of the work of the Kula Assembly. It seems that the final goal of these new rules is excluding the public from the work of the local parliament and this is supported by the fact that the seats provided for journalists in the assembly hall remained empty.

Journalists' associations have condemned this violent act.