Croatian investigative journalism under attack

13/06/2008

A recent attack on a journalist sparks bloggers' responses regarding freedom of the press, free speech, the judicial system and the police apparatus in Croatia.

By Davor Konjikusic for Southeast European Times in Zagreb -- 13/06/08

A Croatian reads Jutarnji list. [Getty Images]

Dusan Miljus, a longtime Croatian crime journalist, suffered a severe beating on June 2nd in Zagreb. Assailants brandishing metal sticks attacked Miljus, who investigates crime and corruption for the Croatian daily Jutarnji list, in front of his house. He remains hospitalised with injuries including a concussion and a broken hand.

"Street attacks, fights and knifings of people who speak different dialects are destroying all of Zagreb's good manners, with an unusual 'dark fashion' happening on the streets that seems to be taking us towards a dark future," writes Aida on the Jutarnji list website.

"I agree with the European Commission's criticism of the attack," she continues. "I also agree with its demand that the state needs to find the perpetrators …The attack on Miljus is an attack on the freedom of speech, so it is also an attack on my personal freedom."

As an expression of solidarity, Croatian journalists protested in front of a government building, demanding the arrests of mafia bosses and those who assault members of the press. Journalists found especially offensive the reaction of Croatian Interior Minister Berislav Roncevic, who simply asked, "Who is Dusko Miljus?"

"Instead of going out onto the streets with baseball bats, as some of the representatives of the Association of Croatian Journalists proposed, I support the idea of a general journalists' strike," writes Zeljko Peratovic, also an investigative journalist, in his blog 45 lines. "The mafiosi whom Miljus wrote about got their money from weapon, drug and human trafficking," he adds.

Croatia's popular Mracni blog devoted an entire section to the incident under the headline "The pen is stronger than a sword, if the sword is short and the pen is sharp enough".

Lauding Miljus as "one of the rare people who have the determination to write about criminal activities and their effect on our country", the blog laments that retaliation from mobsters is all too common. "Some time ago, during the time of Igor Radjenovic, the director of the Zagreb Roads company was beaten up as he was about to investigate shady business dealings within his own company."

Miljus, the blog adds, has also felt "the power of the stick", proving he must be a thorn in somebody's side.

"Until the state and its institutions start working properly, until the courts start to work fairly, and until the consequences of criminal activity are severe enough to discourage those contemplating it, all those who want to live in a slightly better and nicer society will get beaten," Mracni blog concludes.