Criticism Exiled From Media Scene

The seizure for a million kunas of debt has stopped the publication of the respected political satire newspaper.

After fourteen years of regular publications, Feral Tribune will not appear in kiosks tomorrow. The reason for this situation is the recent bank account block by a foreign country. The payment of half a million kuna of unpaid debt for value added tax, financially totally destabilized the company, so the journalists have not received salaries for months.

- Truth-loving media such as Feral, are systematically ignored, are stripped of their income by plan, and left to financial destruction. A media racket of enormous proportions, corruption which has turned into the system – said Viktor Ivancic, the responsible editor of Feral Tribune.

Croatian Journalists Association in action

The president of the Croatian Journalists Association, Dragutin Lucic is, despite pessimistic prognoses, hopes that this is not the end of Feral.

- In the hardest times for freedom in Croatia, Feral brought a taste of new times – said Lucic, and added, like many freedoms, those media ones as well as human, are enjoyed because of Feral.

- The satirical note of the newspaper contributed to breaking the view of politics as something that is pompous and untouchable, and brought it closer to the citizens – concluded Lucic.

Lucic talked to the head people of Feral and has announced a joint statement, as well as sending a letter to premier Sanader with which he intends on seeking financial help for Feral.

United in the battle to help Feral

- IDS (Istrian Democratic Assembly) proposed that Feral pay the debt throughout a number of months. It is not important how many rates, 24 or 36, but it is important that Feral continues to be published – said Damir Kajin.

Kajin feels that without Feral, there would have been no changes in 2000, and stresses that it was Feral who reported on themes considered to be controversial in our society, like corruption and political affairs, and events connected to the Croatian War of Independence.

- However, I think that the Cabinet will help Feral, if for nothing else, then because of the announced screenings for the media in the European Union – said Kajin, adding that the country helped football clubs and pro-regime media, so they can also help Feral.

SDP (Social Democratic Party) also support the claim about the bias of the Cabinet in the case of financially helping the media.

- We want to point out the selective approach of the Ministry of Finance to publishers and the unacceptable practice of freeing some companies from tax debts, and not helping others. This creates the impression that the government considers some favourable for their ideological character, and others unfavourable for their criticism – it says in an SDP report.

Despite the editorial politics of Feral Tribune, which never spared anyone, even SDP members, the party feels that Feral is an important link for democracy in Croatia.

- We are sorry that Feral is closing, and call upon the Ministry of Finance to equalize the collection of tax payments for all its debtors – concluded SDP.