Journalist Nikola Stevanovic from media “Bujanovacke” was removed from the session of the Emergency Situations Headquarters in Bujanovac today due to the fire at the city landfill, which has been going on for the third day. The president of the municipality of Bujanovac and other competent bodies should enable journalists to report unhindered on important issues, which fire recovery plan certainly is.
The decision to close the session to the public was announced by the municipal president, Nagip Arifi, a few moments after journalist Nikola Stevanovic arrived at the session.
Editor-in-Chief of “Bujanovacke” Nikola Lazic says that the fire has been going on for a long time and that they wanted to report on the plan of the Headquarters in a timely manner.
“The citizens have been on their feet for the last three days, and a petition was written. We wanted to report on what they were going to do. And now everyone has to wait for their announcement. There is no major public interest in the region at the moment,” said Lazic.
He also said that a journalist from “Bujanovacke” noticed that a journalist, who is also employed by the municipal authorities, was sitting in the hall where the Staff meeting was held.
We call on the president of the municipality of Bujanovac and other members of the Emergency Situations Staff to allow journalists to follow the future sessions so that they can inform the public on time about important issues that concern the quality of their lives, such as the plan for remediation of the fire at the municipal landfill. The fire that happened at the landfill in Bujanovac affects public health, so it is in the interest of the public to be informed about it.
Also, we remind that discrimination against journalists and the media is prohibited and demand that all journalists who are interested in monitoring the session be granted access.
Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (IJAS)
11.04.2024