BIJAČA, 03.07.2018. – The Steering Committee of BHJA and Free Media Help Line report a public protest to the Police Administration Ljubuški and its commander Tomo Šarić for threats to journalists, their harassment and the disincentives to report professionally and safely on the protest of demobilized fighters held on Monday at the cross border Bijača.
Commander Tomo Sarić has tried to forbid journalists to record and take statements from protesters and threatened journalists to mark them as organizers of that gathering and be name them as responsible for blocking traffic near the cross border. Commander Šarić was especially brutal to the jorunalist from the news portal Bljesak.info, threatening them he will subdact all journalistic material, and file misdemeanor reports against journalist.
The Steering Committee of BHJA considers the behavior of the commander Tomo Šarić unacceptable, illegal and unprofessional dealing of police offices towards journalists and media, who have the right to record and report from events of public interest, including the protest of demobilized fighters. At the same time, this act is a major attack on freedom of expression, as well as the right on safe and dignified journalist’s work– protected through national laws and international documents. In this regard, The Steering Committee of BHJA reminds commander Šarić that in the OSCE Police Guidelines in Dealing with the Media it has been strictly stated that “police cannot be involved or cannot punish journalists during their performing of tasks“, as well as that „journalists have right to take photos, to record, make notes, observe, make interviews and/or make reports without asking for promotion of government or police….”
The Steering Committee of BHJA request urgent and official apologize of the Police Administration Ljubuški to all journalists and media who were yesterday inappropriately attacked by Tomo Šarić, and from the Ministry of Interior Affairs of this Canton to efficiently investigate this cases and undertakes legally prescribed measures towards the arrogant police commander.