May 17, 2000 - City Hall - Belgrade

Rally of Serbian opposition for freeing Studio B

Otpor!  NUNS SPO DSS DAN SD SZP: DS GSS DHSS SDP: LSV SDU FreeB92  FreeBgd

Rally "Stop the terror!"  May 15, '00 Defense of Pozarevac   May 15, '00 Opposition Rally   April 14, '00 Behind the news

20:52 CET (GMT+2) - Images fro this afternoon's IJAS protest gathering at Nusic's monument are avaliable our Photo Gallery. We expect more photo coverage of events this evening.

20:40 CET (GMT+2) - The protesters have blocked the crossroad between Kralja Milana and Kneza Milosa Street with garbage cans on fire. Our reporter says there is no police in this part of Kralja Milana Street.

20:35 CET (GMT+2) - The citizens gathered in front of City Hall started towards Red Star supporters a few minutes to 20:00, who were near Slavija Square at the time. The police intervened with police clubs and beat up fans and citizens alike. Everyone who started for Slavija Square turned back towards City Hall. Garbage containers have been set on fire along Kralja Milutina Street, the fans have created barricades. Traffic has been stopped in Kralja Milana Street.

20:26 CET (GMT+2) - A strong detonation echoed throughout Belgrade at 20:00. We cannot pinpoint the exact location of the explosion, but we are sure it did not happen in one particular place. FS reporters say the crowd in front of City Hall was only mumbling about where it could have come from.

20:24 CET (GMT+2) - Mayor of Nis Zoran Zivkovic was interviewed by FreeSerbia at the rally (the whole statement will be available later on) and stressed that "if Seselj or Bojic try to snatch Nis TV, they will be responsible for many human casualties and civil war in Serbia.

20:22 CET (GMT+2) - There were 10,000 people gathered at the rally at 19:30. A large contingent of Red Star supporters (around 20,000), who have celebrated a new championship title for their club, are moving towards City Hall chanting "Studio B!, Studio B!" and "Save Serbia and be a man, kill yourself Slobodan..."

20:15 CET - Declaration of the united opposition to citizens of Serbia -- The leaders have decided to address citizens of Serbia with the following Declaration after ending their meeting in City Hall:

The regime has introduced Martial Law into Serbia and endangered its stability. Arrests, beatings, termination of media and a verbal lynch of anyone who confronts their opinions show that the regime has decided to turn this country into private property of a handful of people, who are totally indifferent to the fate of Serbia, its citizens and democratic institutions.

Aware of our historical responsibility at this moment, we ask you, our fellow citizens, to raise your voice against this attempt to destroy our future and pride.

Therefore, we have decided the following:

1. We have scheduled a protest gathering for today, May 17, 200, at 19:00 in front of Belgrade City Hall where we shall perform a live broadcast of Studio B, Radio B2-92 and Radio Index regular programs.

2. Opposition authorities will hold sessions in all Serbian towns where they have power tomorrow, on May 18, 2000 at 17:00. After concluding them, the opposition representatives will start protest walks with their fellow citizens.

3. We call all Serbian citizens to resist the regime with all aspects of civil disobedience, such as: blocking traffic, protest walks and abandoning working positions, and try to defend remaining independent media.

Citizens of Serbia,
The Government has introduced open dictatorship. We have to confront this violence at once and with all we've got, since our future and the future of Serbia depends on what we choose to do. We have all got the chance and honour to defend our country from violence and create a new, democratic Serbia.

Belgrade, May 17, 2000. DEMOCRATIC OPPOSITION OF SERBIA

19:41 CET (GMT+2) - Our reporter tell us police forces are grouping around the Federal parliament building in greater numbers than in previous days. They have just received back up of 30 policemen.

19:38 CET (GMT+2) - The rally of the united opposition has started at 19:00 sharp. Some 5 - 10 thousand people have gathered in front of City Hall. The rally was officially opened by deputy Commander of Belgrade Civil Defence, Avram Izrael. Studio B 19 seven o'clock news speakers read out the Declaration of the united opposition . News at seven are about to end. A helicopter is cruising over Belgrade.

19:38 CET - IJAS hold protest gathering at Nusic's monument -- Independent media representatives, Dragan Kojadinovic (Studio B), Veran Matic (B2-92) and syndic leaders addressed the largest yet crowd at the protest in front of Branislav Nusic's monument in Liberty Square.

Aside from inviting citizens to take part in the gathering in front of City Hall this evening, Dragan Kojadinovic said: "We have to come to terms with the fact that there will be more victims. There have been a lot of casualties already. Our media are closed down, our reporters are punished and murdered, our citizens are beaten up. These casualties oblige us to hold on and overcome our fear:, said Dragan Kojadinovic.

Slobodan Milosevic's regime has removed the mask of "law and order" hiding its face for more than ten years. We all know this highly transparent mask caused much sorrow during its reign. However, the regime has always tried to give some legal pretext for all lawless and repressive acts it has made up to now. After violently capturing RTV Studio B, Radio B2-92, Radio Index and the obstructing Blic daily editorial, the regime has opened a chapter of dictatorship and brutality over its own people,: said Veran Matic.

19:11 CET - Web coverage of the opposition rally in Belgrade -- Opposition scheduled protest rally at 7PM CET, in front of Belgrade City Hall.

18:28 CET - Otpor activists arrested in Krusevac, TV Trstenik transmitter disabled -- Solicitor Miodrag Djidic reports that several Otpor activists were arrested in Krusevac around noon. TV Trstenik could not be viewed in neighbouring Krusevac around 15:00, after it broadcasted information concerning the Studio B takeover on the hour. Unofficial reports say the electricity supply to the transmitter was cut off and police were preparing to enter the premises. We have confirmation that both TV Kragujevac channels are functioning normally. A protest gathering is scheduled for 20:00 at the Cross, in light of the events in Belgrade.

18:28 CET - Nenad Canak operated in Novi Sad -- Nenad Canak, President of the League of Social Democrats of Vojvodina, was operated at the Novi Sad Clinic this morning. The operation lasted 3.5 hours. Canak had a multiple fracture of his left thigh bone and left hip joint. Doctor Goran Ercegan, member of the surgical team that operated Canak, said the patient was on his way to full recovery.

17:52 CET - The Student Union condemns the taking over of independent media -- The Student Union of Serbia has most sharply condemned the taking over of radio and TV station Studio B and the disabled operation of "Blic" newspaper, radio B292 and radio Index. By closing the only existing independent media in Belgrade the territory of the "Forbidden City" has expanded from the Dedinje neighborhood to the entire city of Belgrade. It seems that the arrests and beatings of "Otpor" activists, journalists and political party leaders are not enough to keep the regime in power, and that it is necessary for night to fall upon Serbia, it is said in the statement of the largest independent student organization in Serbia. It ends with the words: "for a free University, free media, free elections and free Serbia! - The Student Union of Serbia".

17:52 CET - Kostunica wrote Milosevic: Elections or foreign intervention -- Vojislav Kostunica, president of the Democratic Party of Serbia has stated in an open letter to the president of FRY Slobodan Milosevic and the president of Serbia Milan Milutinovic that Serbia and Yugoslavia are on the brink of civil war. "You know very well that you cannot remain in power very long that way... If you do not schedule elections you will neither preserve the state nor a fragment of personal dignity... If you do not schedule elections, you will be enabling foreign political circumstances, i.e. an external factor to organize the country that we will have a hard time saying is ours. Regardless of Dayton and Kumanovo, I cannot believe, or will not believe that this is what you want."

17:52 CET - Obstruction of Radio Pancevo has started -- The program of Radio Pancevo is being obstructed, following the television program. The program of Radio Beograd is being transmitted on the frequency of Radio Pancevo, and the program of pro-regime Radio B92 of the Belgrade Youth Council is now being transmitted in the range of 91-93MHz. Let us remind you that the program of Radio Pancevo can be received on the frequency of 92.1 MHz FM stereo.

17:52 CET - The government of Montenegro is without official reaction -- Sources in the Montenegrin ministry of information say that the government of Montenegro will not officially comment the events in Serbia. The regular session of the government is to be held tomorrow, but it is not expected that these issues will be in the agenda.

17:52 CET - The city public defender's office has no information regarding the -- Studio B lawsuit "The City public defender has not been informed that the Third Municipal court has convened regarding charges by Studio B and the City of Belgrade, nor have we received any word from the court regarding this matter", our journalist was told by the public defender's office, which is representing the City of Belgrade and Studio B in the lawsuit against the Republic of Serbia for the illegal taking over of the offices of this television station.

17:12 CET - Bakers in strike because of Studio B? -- The baker industry of Serbia has announced that it will cease bread delivery because of the taking over of Studio B. They have stated that "for a long time there have been no work conditions, but at least we received some support by the independent media in Serbia".

17:12 CET - The police are making rounds according to lists in Zrejnanin -- As FreeSerbia is informed, the police in Zrenjanin have started going door to door following certain lists. Up to now one opposition activists has been taken in, but quickly released. A meeting of all NGOs, opposition representatives and "Otpor" in Zrenjanin has been announced for tonight, for coordinating further moves.

17:02 CET - The opposition has made a decision about the reaction following today's -- events The meeting of the crises committee of the opposition and "Otpor" regardin further action started around 1 p.m. The following decisions were made at teh meeting of the opposition:

1) Tonight at 7 p.m. the democratic opposition will organize a protest in front of the City Hall in Belgrade. The news program of Studio B will be screened using a video-beam.

2) All municipal assemblies in Serbia are invited to hold irregular sessions and join citizens in protest.

3) All citizens are invited to perform different forms of civic disobedience, e.g. blocking traffic, walking in the streets and ceasing all work.

We have received the announcement of the democratic opposition, given at today's meeting and we are currently preparing it for publication. Stay with us.

17:02 CET - Tijanic: The radicals and Yugoslav Unified Left have executed a coup -- (Belgrade, Beta) - Journalist Aleksandar Tijanic stated today that the "radicals and the Yugoslav Left have committed a coup d'etat in Serbia". In a statement for the Beta news agency regarding the taking over of radio and TV station Studio B by the Serbian government, Tijanic said that this is the "final act by the government of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, who has made it impossible for a non-violent resolution of the crises in Serbia.

Tijanic said that the taking over of Radio and TV station Studio B by the Serbian government "sets the frame for how Milosevic intends to rule Serbia in the next two to three years".

"He will not directly instigate civil war, but will induce fear into the citizens and wants to prevent any effective opposition, free media. He will finally and irrevocably warn the Serbs that there can be no peaceful parting between Milosevic and the Serbs" said Tijanic.

16:30 CET - Protest in protection of RTV Pancevo -- Opposition parties and NUNS (Independent Journalist Association of Serbia) invited citizens to gather in the vicinity of the RTV Pancevo studio - in front of the Modern Gallery, in order to specify how they can protect this, currently largest independent media establishment in Serbia.

15:29 CET - News from Otpor HQ in Belgrade -- Our reporter brings news from Otpor HQ. League of Social Democrats of Vojvodina activists have blocked the entrance to Radio 021 prevent police forces from entering the building.

Police raided Otpor premises in Smederevska Palanka at 22:00 last night. Milos Starcevic was arrested and Otpor material was confiscated. A protest was staged in front of the local police department.

Otpor activist Branislav Milosevic was arrested in his flat in Paracin at 11:00. Police searched the house of Municipal Vice President of Paracin, Sasa Paunovic, and the apartment of Otpor activist Aleksandra Stojanovic. Otpor activist Nebojsa (surname unknown) was arrested in Pancevo. The police used violence to arrest Otpor activist Srdjan Milivojevic in Krusevac.

15:29 CET - TV Pancevo signal jammed -- TV Pancevo's signal, the only one reaching some parts of Belgrade, is jammed since 12:00. TV Pancevo is almost completely unviewable in Belgrade

14:50 CET - NIs Town Hall in permanent session? -- Chairman of the Executive Board of Nis Town Hall, Branislav Jovanovic, proposed a permanent session of this institution after the takeover of Studio B.

14:50 CET - Studio B seven o'clock news to be "broadcasted" from Belgrade Town Hall -- balcony Unofficial reports say Studio B will "broadcast" news at 19:00 this evening, from the balcony of Belgrade Town Hall.

14:26 CET - Veran Matic for FreeSerbia on Studio B takeover -- After 11 years of B92 and B2-92, the name we have been forced to use for the past year, I certainly could not expect to wake up and find out that Belgrade Palace and all the media inside had been seized. It was clear, though, that the repression in Serbia towards democratic forces was stepping up, especially towards independent media who are the thorn in the regime's side that hurts most. They are aware of the fact that they can uphold absolute dictatorship only by eliminating free information flow. This is what they are trying to do now, to terminate the most popular media and their biggest problem at the same time. Several hours after being forced out of our premises, we managed to issue first reports via satellite. We are on SAT TV now, calming down viewers in other regions in Serbia, to prevent the panic and fear the regime wants to generate with latest repressive actions. I think we shall manage to organise regular news editions on the Internet and satellite TV until the end of the day, as well as find solution for FM radio coverage of certain Belgrade districts. This is what we are working on as we speak. The most important thing to us is returning information flow through regular channels. This is the cornerstone for future activities in the country. On the other hand, we are not the people who can land the final blow at some time in the future. This is a call to the whole opposition, the ones who have an army of members behind them, to create one large front for permanent action. everything else will fail and be a signal to the regime to continue with repression. There is not much to forecast. The regime will continue in the same fashion. I heard the Serbian Government is holding a session to discuss the takeover of Belgrade Town Hall, and other towns and independent media or next in line if what I mentioned earlier does not happen - democratic forces have to unite and set aside their vanity and disagreements which have proved to be of great help to Milosevic's regime in the past and a disrupting factor to democratic activities.

14:01 CET - IJAS: Call for protest against regime strike in independent media -- We have finally received an official statement confirming that NUNS will stage a protest at Branislav Nusic's monument in Liberty Square at 17:00. We quote a part of the statement:

IJAS and the largest private media in Belgrade condemn the Government takeover of Studio B Radio and Television and the obstruction of Radio B2-92, Radio Index, Blic editorial and the Studio B office in Mladenovac. We summon all colleagues and citizens to join us in protest at Nusic's monument in Liberty Square at 17:00 today. The regime has deprived Belgrade of all non-government electronic media. We deem this the harshest blow to freedom of speech by the Government, says the IJAS official statement.

13:45 CET - Ljubisav Aleksić new editor in chief of Studio B -- Ljubisav Aleksic, former RTS correspondent is the new chief editor of Studio B. He is known for participating in the 1993 witch hunt of RTS employees who disagreed with the editorial policy at the time.

13:44 CET - Latest reports on protests in Belgrade -- Radio Pancevo reports that Otpor denied announcing a protest at 15:00 in front of Belgrade Palace. Otpor will join the opposition after a decision is made concerning further action. The IJAS gathering is scheduled for 17:00 at Nusic's monument in Liberty Square. A meeting is held by opposition leaders at Belgrade Town Hall to determine further actions. Around 100 people, mainly youth, are in front of Belgrade Palace, while neighbouring Masarikova Street is blocked for traffic.

13:44 CET - IJAS calls to protest aganist the attack on media -- We received the confirmation of IJAS protest at Nusic's today, at 5 p.m. This is the complete statement by IJAS: The Independent Journalists Association of Serbia (IJAS) and the largest independent and private media in Belgrade, condemn this morning's takeover of RTV Studio B by the government preventing also the operation of Radio B2-92 , Radio Index , daily Blic and Studio B correspondents office in Mladenovac. We call upon all colleagues and the democratic public to join us in protest today at 5 p.m. in front of Nusic's monument at the Republic Square. The takeover of Studio B and prevention of the operation of the above-mentioned media leaves Belgrade without a single electronic media outside government control. We believe that this is thus far the strongest attack of the authorities on the freedom of the public word.

13:20 CET - Studio B office in Mladenovac seized -- Beta agency reports that police forces took over the Studio B office in Mladenovac at 04:00 this morning. Ljubislav Aleksic has been appointed as new Editor in Chief.

12:39 CET - Radio Pancevo only free info source in Belgrade -- The only free electronic media audible in Belgrade is Radio Pancevo at 92,2 MHz. We appeal to all our viewers to inform relatives and friends in Belgrade on events concerning the latest crisis, since may are left in the dark after Radio B2-92 and Radio Index have been forced off air.

12:30 CET - Batic and Djindjic on B2-92 (SAT): Premonitions of civil war -- President of the Demo Christian Party of Serbia, Vladan Batic, says Serbia is under unofficial Martial Law with premonitions of civil war. "Instead of easing tensions and pursuing political compromise, the regime is doing exactly the opposite", said Batic. He added the regime has hindered free and unbiased information flow by neutralising the media.

Zoran Djindjic also spoke for Radio B2-92 SAT. "The regime has apparently decided to go a step further from verbal terror and provocation of civil war to start something with unforeseeable consequences. It all started with beating of Otpor activists in Pozarevac. It is rather ironic the outcome of the crisis in Serbia will have been initiated in Pozarevac, but it seems as if the events were really sparked there. "I think danger is imminent now. An opposition meeting will soon determine our reactions in these conditions. This changes the whole situation. We are facing a media war now, challenging the whole opposition in redefined political conditions in accord with the latest verbal aggression", said Djindjic.

When asked what kind of reaction would be organised today, Djindjic said it was too early to say, since opposition leaders have not discussed the issue yet, but stressed that the only proper reaction would have to involve the whole of Serbia in one great wave of response.

11:56 CET - Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia in front of Beogradjanka at -- 17:00, protests in Kragujevac at 20:00 The chief executives of independent and private media have agreed to organise an IJAS protest against the seizure of Studio B at 17:00 in front of Belgrade Palace. FreeSerbia sources say a protest gathering is scheduled for 20:00 in Pozarevac "at the Cross" (square).

11:50 CET - Protests scheduled for 15:00 -- Radio Pancevo, the only free electronic media available to citizens of Belgrade, has announced protest gatherings in Front of Belgrade Palace at 15:00 organised by Otpor.

11:45 CET - Radio B2-92 on air via satellite -- Radio B2-92 started broadcasting its programme via satellite, on BBC World (HOT BIRD 5, Vertical polarisation, Video 11114, Audio 7.74). ANEM was the first to issue a statement.

The Association of Independent Electronic Media condemns the police raid of Studio B. ANEM appeals to citizens of Yugoslavia and the international public to take all possible measures and stop this illegal act. ANEM stressed the latest takeover of Studio B is unprecedented in Serbia, since it is the first time the regime decided to capture an independent Radio and TV station without an intelligible legal explanation or any intent, as in previous cases, to create an illusion of legality.

The Government has obviously violated the Constitution and the law with this act transparently directed to obstruct the activity of the largest and most influential Radio and TV station in Serbia that is not under their control. The Serbian Government was politically motivated to snatch Studio B from citizens of Belgrade, and that is precisely what they did.

ANEM says the Government actions are not only illegal, but also dangerous, considering the tension in Serbia. By seizing Studio B, they have automatically prevented Radio B2-92 from broadcasting their program, since the radio has been using a Studio B frequency after being banned three times and taken over by the Government. Radio Index and Blic offices are located in the same building. The result is a media blackout in Belgrade, since almost all Radio and TV stations free from regime influence are unable to operate.

Serbian Government is apparently aware of the fact it is loosing voters and decided to obstruct all political adversaries before the oncoming elections.

ANEM, therefore, appeals to the public at home and abroad to do everything in their power and stop the imminent media blackout and open dictatorship in Serbia. We call for all democratic forces in Serbia to unite in an effort to defend elementary rights - freedom of speech and free information flow.

11:08 CET - Veran Matic anticipates reaction by opposition -- Chief editor of Radio B2-92 reminded the opposition through Radio Free Europe of their agreement to organise a rally in Liberty Square one day after Studio B broadcast was not available to the public,

The opposition can and must react despite all its internal conflicts and initiate a joint action with all NGOs and independent media to force the Government to change its course of action.

The latest events are "abolition of the elementary right to freedom of speech in Serbia", says Matic.

10:57 CET - Beogradjanka still under siege -- FreeSerbia reporter on the scene says the reception desk in Belgrade palace (Beogradjanka) has a list of Studio B staff members are forbidden entrance to their premises. The ban does not apply to B2-92, Index or Blic daily staff and to some Studio B employees, probably technicians.

Four Studio B employees are still in the building. The police encountered them when entering the building, around 02:00 am. There are broadcasting and editing technicians and one night shift journalist. Only the first five floors are open to citizens of Belgrade, the sixth is occupied by the Studio B Information Service.

Witnesses say the police first cut off a phone line in a garage across Belgrade Palace and then the telephone operator for the whole building.

The opposition technical team for organisng public gatherings has scheduled a meeting for 10:30

10:41 CET - Kojadinovic expects an arrest -- Studio B managing executive Dragan Kojadinovic stated for Radio Free Europe he expects to be arrested after latest Government actions.

10:41 CET - Radio Index waiting for explanation -- "We will wait and see what is the "official" reason concerning Radio Index. Are we banned, terminated, taken over, or something else? We are waiting for some official statement. Right now, all I see is people waving police badges. When we see the first official document we'll know what to do," said Aleksandar Vasic, Radio Index editor in chief, for FreeSerbia.

10:19 CET - A hundred people, mostly Studio B and Radio Index staff, gathered in front -- of Beogradjanka There are around 100 people in front of Beogradjanka, mainly Studio B and Radio Index staff members thrown out of their premises after the police raid.

This is a common act of fascism, signed and approved by two vice presidents, one red and the other black. "A radio station with legally sound activities has been captured and turned into an RTS (official regime media) branch office" said Milorad Roganovic, one of Studio B editors, to our reporter on the scene.

Roganovic stressed that the staff thrown out of Studio B premises will remain in front of Beogradjanka and wait for a decision from the Town Hall, which has started an emergency session several minutes ago to determine further actions.

10:12 CET - -- Our reporter in front of Belgrade palace says special police forces have taken over Studio B, Radio B2-92 and Radio Index premisses between 02:00 and 03:00 am. Beogradjanka building is occupied by police forces as we speak, a score of them on each floor. The policemen who executed the raid had unbuttoned gun holsters and gas masks.

Studio B has been officially taken over by the Government, while Radio B2-92 and Radio Index are forbidden to broadcast information without any kind of explanation. The only staff member in Radio Index premisses in the DJ playing music. Music is the only thing to hear on Radio B2-92. Studio B is screening a film.

09:30 CET - Radio B2-92 is playing music, Seselj and Bojic on Studio B -- Music without jingles or any kind of commentary is currently broadcasted by Radio B2-92 at 99.1 MHz, the that frequency was officially issued to Radio Studio B Channel 3, who in turn rented it to Radio B2-92. Studio B TV is broadcasting a test signal with music regularly interrupted by a statement from Vice President of the Serbian Government which officially confirms the take over of this media house.

08:04 CET - SERBIAN GOVERNMENT TOOK OVER STUDIO B and B2-92 -- Serbian government took over the control of Belgrade opposition TV Studio B. "The Republic of Serbia took over the control of Studio B, because it called on the uprising against the authorities, on several times," it is said in a statement, signed by the government vice-presidents Vojislav Seselj and Milovan Bojic.

Editor-in-chief of Studio B said that it is a completely illegal taking of the Belgrade city TV, and that this move practically means the introduction of the state of emergency in the country.