The OSCE, under the guise of “freedom of speech,” wants to sow panic in the Republika Srpska
The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, and the Head of Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kathleen Kavalek, called on the Republika Srpska to repeal the regulation on countering the spread of false news and panic during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Balkan media reported this, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
Harlem Désir and Kathleen Kavalek wrote a letter to Republika Srpska President Zeljka Cvijanovic, expressing concern that the decree prohibiting the dissemination of false information that would promote panic and unrest during the state of emergency “could lead to censorship and self-censorship, as well as arbitrary and disproportionate punishments." And also “jeopardize media freedom and the fundamental human right to freedom of expression.”
"While fully understanding the goal of combating the spread of 'fake news' that may pose a risk to public health or create panic and unrest during a health crisis, we nonetheless believe it is important to ensure the free flow of information," the representatives said in a statement. OSCE. “And to allow the media to operate without any pressure to provide essential information to the public, including information on key measures to protect public health.”
Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina Kathleen Kavalek.
The authors of the appeal called on the RS to cancel the resolution and stated that they are always ready to help the state authorities (BiH) and entities by providing expert analysis on any aspect of media freedom.
The resolution to counter the spread of false news and panic during the coronavirus epidemic was adopted by the Government of Republika Srpska at the proposal of the republican Ministry of Internal Affairs. Subsequently, the greater effectiveness of the measures of the Serbian entity and the discipline in their implementation compared to similar actions of the federal leadership were repeatedly noted in the Federation of BiH, in particular by the leader of the Bosnian Croats, Dragan Covic.
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