CONST. COURT:REPORT ON NGOS CONTRARY TO RULES FOR HRT COVERAGE OF ELECTION CAMPAIGN

ZAGREB, Dec 29 (Hina) - Croatia's Constitutional Court on Wednesday established that a report on certain non-governmental organisations, engaged in the election, which was aired by the Croatian Television in "the negative context" in the flagship information show "Dnevnik" on December 19, was contrary to the rules about the Croatian Radio and Television coverage of the run- up to the election. The Croatian Helsinki Committee (HHO) filed a request with the Constitutional Court to check whether the aforementioned report was in compliance with the Constitution and laws. This Committee alongside the Institute "Open Society" and "Voice 99" was cited in the contentious report. The HRT broadcast the report which suggested that certain NGOs were working against the law, after the December 17 warning released by the Ethics Commission that some NGOs should refrain from expressing their opinions about political parties and candidates for the coming parliamentary election and that they should nourish tolerance and the culture of dialogue in their public appearances. The aforementioned report also claimed that those NGOs used secret funds for political purposes. The Constitutional Court maintained that by airing the above- mentioned report the HRT did not take into the account principles of balance, fairness and impartiality, and the Court held that the contents of that report were contrary to the Rules of the HRT conduct during the electioneering, which specify that the HRT must particularly ensure the respect for those principles in information programmes. (hina) ms