KOSOVO: ETHNIC SERB EDITOR DESCRIBES DIFFICULTIES FACING SERB JOURNALISTS
BBC Monitoring International Reports - October 28, 2004

Glas Juga is an independent monthly magazine, whose editorial office is in Caglavica, near Gracanica. According to Glas Juga's editor, the problem of the magazine's editorial staff, witnesses who record daily developments in Kosovo, is not just that they risk their lives doing their jobs, but also that they can barely survive. Serbian newspaper Glas javnosti has interviewed Zivojin Rakocevic, editor in chief of Glas Juga and KiM (Kosovo and Metohija) Radio, about the daily problems that non-Albanians in Kosovo encounter, including journalism. The following is the text of an interview by Sladjana Majdak entitled "Quest for truth at risk of one's life" published by Glas javnosti on 26 October.

(Majdak) In what kind of conditions do Glas Juga 's editorial staff work?

(Rakocevic) All Serb institutions and those that are accessible to the Serbs work in conditions below any civilized level. It is no point talking about material conditions, as you need an escort if you have to go and get a personal computer repaired or buy a paper, unless you are ready to endure 40 kilometres of fear until you get to Kosovska Mitrovica. Life in encirclement produces patterns of behaviour that are not normal. Freedom is replaced by surrogates and lies and values are gradually lost in the monotony of waiting for something to change.

(Majdak) Who came up with the idea of starting this kind of magazine and when?

(Rakocevic) When a community is being wrecked like this, it instinctively tries to defend itself, to testify about itself, to save what can be saved using the energy of ruin. That is how the idea of founding such a medium emerged out of the many actions and ideas that have been initiated by Bishop Artemije. The first issue came out on 1 April 2001.

(Majdak) How many journalists are working and under what security conditions?

(Rakocevic) If we consider the extent of the problem, then we can say that a few people are properly concerned with the Kosovo issue. Everything boils down to coverage of crisis and war areas and the truth concealed behind that is information or, if you like, the truth is provided at the risk of one's life. Our general lack of concern is also reflected in the fact that we do not have more people specifically dealing with the most important national issue. We have left too much to the politicians and I do not see anyone among them with an encyclopedic education who would seriously testify about all this.

(Majdak) Why do the state and media have so little interest in Kosovo and Metohija?

(Rakocevic) We are interesting only when a 17 March (reference to ethnic unrest in March 2004) happens and when tensions are built up by populist methods. You are interesting when you introduce live fire into somebody's programme in a Belgrade editorial office, when shooting is heard around you. Once that subsides, they wait for some fresh chaos. We have produced hundreds of reports, photographs, footage and a documentary. Glas Juga is found in all the larger libraries in the country, as testimony of everything that has happened and with proposals for what needs to be done next. I am not saying that we should be protected, but I do know that an institution that devotes its energies, knowledge and part of its life to Kosovo and Metohija should be preserved.

(Majdak) What is a working day of a Serb journalist in Gracanica like?

(Rakocevic) The first problem is security, both for oneself and those that one writes about, because a single word can kill them. We recently visited a multi-ethnic village, where we underwent a security check by former OVK (Kosovo Liberation Army - UCK in Albanian) members. That is not a problem for us. It is a misfortune for those who live in that village, because they are alone and always inadequately protected.

(Majdak) How is Glas Juga currently managing?

(Rakocevic) Glas Juga is currently housed in a rented building in Caglavica. We kept going in recent years only thanks to donations, which are the only way to survive. We also contacted institutions of our state, as we consider that our work deserves both support and assistance.
 

Source: Glas javnosti, Belgrade, in Serbian 26 Oct 04 p5

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