January 17, 1994 Vreme News Digest Agency No 121

Krajina

The Struggle for Television

by Filip Svarm

Apart from political pluralism, the Republic of Serb Krajina can boast about television pluralism as well.

There are Serbian regional parties (e.g. the Serb Democratic Party of Krajina) besides trans-state parties like the Serbian Radical Party (SRS) or the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS). Accordingly, one can watch local TV stations like TV Knin, TV Petrova Gora and TV Beli Manastir, but also Radio Television Serbia. The local parliamentary and presidential elections held in a unique way have seriously upset the political and television life in Krajina. Firstly, the elections have enabled a political come-back of Milan Babic and his supporters who disregard the interests of the Serbian people. Secondly, but not less importantly, it proved that Belgrade Television which tried to convince the people of Krajina that Milan Martic is the only presidential candidate and there can be no other candidate was beaten by the local TV Knin which, according to the journalists of Radio Television Serbia, was usurped by the president of the municipality of Knin (Babic). In any case, those who are in charge of the Serbian interests had to do something. They prolonged the elections ad infinitum and founded the Serb Radio Television of Krajina in the state ownership.

Milena Tanjga, the Information Minister in the still current Government of Prime Minister Djordje Bjegovic, once a model for over-weight ladies according to "Globus", said that the founding of the Serb Radio Television of Krajina in Plitivice had nothing to do with the local elections, but stood as a final effort in uniting the Serbian television space. Therefore, the fact that it went on air when it did is a pure coincidence. However, only few believed her since she keeps saying that Milan Martic simply must win.

In the meantime, Radio Television Serbia assessed that the problem raised by the elections in Krajina was too big for Krste Bjelic, the leading journalist of Radio Television Serbia covering Krajina, and his team so that reinforcement was sent from Television Novi Sad. They were to help make election broadcasts produced by TV Knin more professional the way it is done on Radio Television Serbia. However, their cooperation failed when Krste Bjelic was to become an executive producers. In a nutshell, Krste Bijelic and the people from Novi Sad Television were chased away and the crews of Radio Television Serbia subsequently became victims of verbal attacks in the streets of Knin.

But, the advocates of the Serbian interests and the supporters of presidential candidate Milan Martic never gave up for a moment. At first, the special police units took control of transmitters Celavac and Pljesevica, for which they provided reasons of legal and ownership nature: the transmitters are the ownership of the state and a studio of TV Knin is the ownership of the municipality. Then a team of journalists and technicians of Novi Sad Television arrived in Plitvice where they started a state television together with a group of locals. It went on air on January 2, 1994, and can be watched on the territory of Krajina as well as in some parts of the Banjaluka region and the Republic of Croatia.

As far as media are concerned everything is ready for the second round of the presidential election in Krajina scheduled for January 23 with Babic and Martic as candidates. The state television of Krajina and its professional leadership of journalists from Novi Sad has at its disposal two OB vans, expensive television equipment, vast quantities of petrol, and should they need a car the local police will provide them one...In the meantime, TV Knin stopped broadcasting altogether. A transmitter on the hill of Konj was put out of use by Martic's policemen thus ending the broadcasts of this station that were watched in the town's inner area. If one assumes that what is not on TV never took place at all, then the one who does not appear on TV screens does not exist, it follows that Babic stands no chance in the presidential election.

However, the situation is slightly different. Local journalists and presenters on the Serb Radio Television of Krajina have refused on several occasions to read reports prepared by their colleagues from Novi Sad as they considered they failed to meet professional standards. A good example is a commentary about Madeline Albright where she was described as a "lady who is past blossoming" which was only one of the epithets.

Finally, what will happen in Krajina on December 23? Cynics claim that the elections will be repeated all until Maric wins. Nevertheless, Babic is a favourite and there are many things to prove it. He needed only little over one percent of the votes to win the first round. He proved he was familiar with all mechanisms of the elections the Serb way. The latter assessment is according to many confirmed by power-cuts in the Serb Radio Television of Krajina in Plitvice since the center for distribution of electricity in Krajina is located in Knin. In any case, it is certain that a future President of the Republic of Serb Krajina will try to get hold of the newly-founded state television - Babic will go for the equipment and Martic both for the equipment and people. Therefore, it is not in anybody's interest to make too much waves on television. The majority of parties in Krajina which issue regular statements regarding everything and anything did not find it necessary to comment on the work of this TV.

The events regarding television in Krajina could easily have two goals. One is to soften Babic and force him to accept a compromise. There is a story according to which he was offered to give up his people and appoint Djordje Bjegovic mandator again in a framework of a political modus vivendi. The other, should Babic refuse to cooperate, is the announcement by Martic that the situation is under control, appealing to the citizens to preserve peace and stay in their homes - until a further notice.