The Independent Trade Union of Journalists and Media Workers (SSNM) has condemned the frequent violence against journalists and has called the institutions to stop and blindly follow the unambiguous attempts to undermine the journalists' professional dignity.
"Someone to forbid the journalists to report is scandalous, as it was the case regarding our colleague with Kanal 77 Radio, Vanja Micevska, who was banned from attending the protest organized by the GDOM movement in Stip. However, the most concerning fact is that the police did not provide any protection and have not guaranteed her right to report," the SSNM press release issued on Wednesday reads.
An individual or a group can think they have the right to determine which journalist can report on a protest, and which one cannot, but the police have to react to these incidents and provide the journalists conditions to do their job, the press release adds.
"Additionally, we are appalled by the performance of the representatives of the Retirees' Association from Veles, who also took part in the protest held on Monday and who dared to qualify our colleagues as foreign collaborates and mercenaries. This public attack over the professional dignity of our colleagues is the result of constant disqualifications that journalists in Macedonia suffer for years, and very often by other journalists of radio and televisions stations with national concessions or employed at print media," the response stresses.