Journalists prevented from reporting on migrant rights

Association

On 1st December 2020, the Constituent Session of the Advisory Body of the Council of Ministers of BiH for Cooperation with Non-Governmental Organisations was held, signaling a significant step towards the development of institutional cooperation between Bosnian authorities and NGOs. The Advisory Body aims to create an enabling legal, institutional and financial environment for Bosnian NGOs. It includes several members from NGOs who were chosen via a public call, with experience in creating, monitoring and implementing public policies.

Peaceful Assembly

During the reporting period, several demonstrations were held:

• Students at the University of Sarajevo held a demonstration against the lack of classes in the Faculty of Health Studies on 5th November 2020. The President of the Association of Students of the Faculty of Health Studies said the students would demonstrate in the streets in order to seek basic rights. There were further demonstrations held by students at the University of Mostar to protest against study conditions and to demand a reduction in tuition fees. The protestors called for the rector of the university to resign due to non-compliance with the demands of students.
• Opposition parties demonstrated over claims of election theft taking place. The protests took place in Doboj during the opening of a new polling station, which led to intervention from the Ministry of Interior. Local residents directed their protests to the Central Election Commission, arguing they did not confirm the results of the election in their city.

• On 28th December 2020, farmers protested against the import of agri-food products. They blocked two customs terminals near Bijeljina in an attempt to garner the attention of state institutions which deal with protecting domestic production.
• Health workers in Mostar gathered with banners and sounded emergency medical sirens to demand a collective agreement. The President of the health trade unions said that the protest was necessary after the line minister ignored their pleas. An additional 2,600 health workers also gathered in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton for a general strike. The Minister responded by condemning the protests and urged the union representatives to contact him in writing. After his statement, an SKB Mostar trade union representative called for the Minister to resign.
• Janjići locals held a protest against the construction of a hydroelectric power plant. Despite their efforts, the power plant project was approved on 30th December 2020.
• USC veterans gathered outside a local government building to protest against the non-adoption of a law on the supplementary rights of war veterans and members of their families. The protestors called for the removal of a Cantonal Minister.
• Environmental activists organised a peaceful protest to call for the urgent adoption of the Law on Environmental Protection. This was the third protest of its kind since the pandemic.
• There are many cases where citizens across the country staged anti-migrant protests. Notably, Blažuj locals protested against the planned arrival of 350 migrants, saying that the migrants create problems for the local community. Similar actions also took place in Bira, Bihać and Hadzic.
• On 23rd December 2020, the refugee camp at Lipa was destroyed in a fire. The lack of appropriate response by state institutions triggered public attention. Protests demanding responsibility and action by institutions took place across several towns and cities. Refugees staged protests on 1st January 2021, calling on the local authorities to re-house them. On 12th January 2021, Amnesty International, Jesuit Refugee Service Europe, Medecins du Monde Belgique, and Refugee Rights Europe called for immediate humanitarian support for the refugees, migrants and asylum seekers currently in Bosnia.

“Leading human rights organisations urge the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina to ensure immediate humanitarian support, including suitable shelter and assistance, to migrants and asylum-seekers on its territory. Beyond this, BiH must comply with its international obligations and enforce its own laws, including taking full responsibility for securing and managing accommodation and protection of people in need and developing an effective asylum system. BiH also has an obligation to facilitate safe and unhindered access to humanitarian organisations providing assistance to refugees and migrants.”

Expression

On 6th January 2021, Zinaida Djelilovic, a journalist with the Zurnal portal, contacted Adnan Cakalovic, senior expert associate of the Sector for Refugees and Displaced Persons at the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of BiH, to provide comment on a story she was writing. Cakalovic initially responded that she should not “dig further”. He later called the journalist back and asked for her full name and surname so he could “Give it to the Serbs”, stating “If you are here (in Sarajevo), I will find you. Trust me, you will be mine.” When she warned him that the call was being recorded, he responded: ‘Go ahead, I’ll f**** you and the police!” Even after reporting the matter to her editor and the police, Djelilovic continued to face harassment.

“Cakalovic continued to call my private number and harass me by sending vulgar messages”

Safe Journalists Network condemned the threats and harassment against the journalist and called for an investigation by Bosnian authorities. Borka Rudic, Secretary General of BH Journalists, Safe Journalists Network member, said:

“Public officials should be the first to defend media freedom and create a safe environment for journalists to work. In reality, such attacks by public officials are frequently repeated without any sanctions, indicating a level of protection the officials enjoy by the judiciary and the presence of targeted impunity”, said Rudic, and added: “This seriously questions the impartiality and professional conduct of judicial institutions and existing lack of access to justice for journalists – victims of violence.”

The OSCE and the British Ambassador also strongly condemned the attacks against the media in Bosnia and Herzegovina, demanding that threats against journalists should be thoroughly investigated.

According to the BH Journalists Association and the Free Media Help Line (FMHL), as reported by Mapping Media Freedom, during December 2020 and January 2021, journalists were prevented from reporting on the developments at the “Lipa” migrant camp on several occasions. There have been five cases reported to FMHL where journalists’ movements were restricted and where there were attempts to confiscate footage or cellphones from journalists. The organisations said:

“With the abuse of police powers, some police officers harassed journalists, tried to take the recorded material from them or, with abusive words, drove them as far as possible from the Lipa camp.”

The poor living conditions of around 700 migrants in an emergency camp in BIH has garnered media attention. In December 2020, the “Lipa” camp was abandoned for safety reasons and then destroyed by a fire. After concerns were raised by the EU and UN, a new reception centre was created under the mediation of the BiH Armed Forces while the Lipa camp is being rebuilt.