BH CRO REPORTERS ASSOCIATION CONDEMNS ATTACK ON CRO COLLEAGUES

MOSTAR, May 10 (Hina) - An association of Croat journalists in Bosnia-Herzegovina (BH) on Monday most resolutely condemned an attack on two of their colleagues from Croatia's Rijeka-based daily paper Novi List which took place in Mostar on May 7. "Since the freedom of public performance is the fundamental right of every man, but of the media too, the Association of Croat Journalists of BH opposes every form of limiting that fundamental right," read a statement signed by association chairman Miljenko Karacic. "We see the attack on our colleagues journalists as an attack on the journalistic profession and on freedom in general, while simultaneously seeing it as an attack on us as well. The Association of Croat Journalists of BH therefore expects the competent security services will find and punish the attackers on the journalists and thus contribute to the development of the freedom of the media in BH," the statement said. Novi List journalists Robert Frank and Ronald Brmalj were abducted on Friday morning from the Mostar "Ero" hotel by unidentified persons who wore civilian clothes. The reporters were taken to a location about 15km west of Mostar, near Siroki Brijeg, where they were beaten up and ordered to return to Croatia via the border crossing Metkovic. (hina) ha