Student Movement Demands Resignation of RTS Public Broadcaster’s Management

Serbian Public Broadcasting Service (BETAPHOTO/AMIR HAMZAGIC)

The Student Movement on Oct. 27 demanded resignations of the general director of the RTS public broadcaster, his deputy and the editorial staff of the service’s news program, as well as the appointment of an interim management.

In an open letter to the RTS management, the Council of the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media (REM), and the Serbian Assembly, the Student Movement stressed that citizens have a right to truthful, comprehensive and impartial information on matters of public importance. They also demand the accountability of institutions and freeing the public broadcaster from political pressure or interference.

“We demand the appointment of an interim administration, which should be proposed by the Student List and representative RTS trade unions, and appointed in accordance with the law,” the students aid. From REM, they demand independent conduct, transparent decision-making process and an explanation of the procedure in the case of TV Informer. “We request that you provide a public, reasoned statement within seven days of receiving this letter,” it is said in the open letter.

The Student Movement also called on all candidates for MPs on the election ticket Students Win to refuse communication with media outlets which have previously labeled them as Ustasha (WW II-era Croatian fascists) and terrorists. “We are asking everyone to refrain from giving any statements - whether written or oral, on the street or anywhere else, on any topic - to tabloids and pro-regime TV channels, including Alo, Kurir, Srbija Danas, Politika, Vecernje Novosti, Blic, Prva, and B92,” the movement said in its message.