ZAGREB, May 7 (Hina) - Croatian journalists on Friday staged a protest in front of the Yugoslav Embassy in Zagreb, demanding the release of Antun Masle, a reporter for the Croatian "Globus" weekly. Today's demonstration was the third
one since the arrest of the Croatian reporter by the Yugoslav army in Montenegro on April 20. The journalists will continue to stage protests every Friday at noon, until Masle is released. As on previous occasions, no one from the embassy received the protesters, but the president of the Croatian Journalists' Association (HND), Jagoda Vukusic, said the Yugoslav Ambassador, Veljko Knezevic, could receive a HND delegation this afternoon. The HND delegation will hand to Knezevic a protest letter by a committee for Masle's release, demanding that he be released and return to Croatia, as well as that a German reporter Pit Schnitzler be released as well, the HND president told
ZAGREB, May 7 (Hina) - Croatian journalists on Friday staged a
protest in front of the Yugoslav Embassy in Zagreb, demanding the
release of Antun Masle, a reporter for the Croatian "Globus"
weekly.
Today's demonstration was the third one since the arrest of the
Croatian reporter by the Yugoslav army in Montenegro on April 20.
The journalists will continue to stage protests every Friday at
noon, until Masle is released.
As on previous occasions, no one from the embassy received the
protesters, but the president of the Croatian Journalists'
Association (HND), Jagoda Vukusic, said the Yugoslav Ambassador,
Veljko Knezevic, could receive a HND delegation this afternoon.
The HND delegation will hand to Knezevic a protest letter by a
committee for Masle's release, demanding that he be released and
return to Croatia, as well as that a German reporter Pit Schnitzler
be released as well, the HND president told the gathered
journalists.
Vukusic also spoke about her visit to Montenegro. Although she did
not meet Masle, because it is military authorities who decide on who
can visit him, Vukusic received information on his condition from
his attorney Ranko Vukotic. According to Vukotic, Masle is detained
in a civil prison and is feeling well. He did not complain about his
treatment and the Montenegrin authorities are doing all they can to
set him free, Vukusic said. However, it is obvious that protest
letters should be sent to Belgrade, because Masle's release depends
on Milosevic's good will, she said.
The HND president expressed fears of possible deterioration of the
political and security situation in Montenegro, as in that case
Masle's fate would become uncertain. Vukusic added it was obvious
that two parallel systems of authority existed in Montenegro.
Attorney Vesna Alaburic, who accompanied Vukusic on her visit to
Montenegro, recalled that the investigation was still underway,
but an expert had estimated that the information Masle had revealed
constituted a military secret. The investigation, Alaburic said,
would be assisted by Montenegrin journalists whose articles Masle
used as his sources.
According to Alaburic, the foreign media in Yugoslavia are being
treated as spy organisations and anyone working for them can be
charged with espionage. In case he is convicted, Masle could face a
prison sentence of at least 10 years, she said.
An embassy official tried to stop today's protest asking the
journalists to "stop shouting and throwing leaflets into the
(embassy's) yard" because they were disturbing the talks that were
being held at the embassy. According to unofficial sources, an
Austrian delegation was visiting the embassy at the time the
protest took place.
(hina) jn rml