Kosovo media commission fines Bota Sot daily

PRISTINA, 3 September 2002 - The Temporary Media Commissioner (TMC) of Kosovo imposed a new sanction of EUR 17,500 against the newspaper Bota Sot following numerous violations of UNMIK Regulation 2000/37 and its associated Code of Conduct. The office of the TMC has also received numerous complaints directed against the newspaper 24 ORË. The TMC will shortly convene the Media Hearing Board (MHB) which will determine whether a violation of the media laws by 24 ORË has occurred.

The decision taken against Bota Sot arises out of two cases brought against the newspaper pursuant to the authority granted to the TMC under UNMIK Regulation 2000/36. Specifically:

• By publishing on 7 and 8 June 2002 the articles entitled "UNMIK Police Arrests Three People Who Tried to Kill Vesel Muriqi" and "The Case of the 'Prefect' and the Minister Ethem Ceku"; and
• By publishing on 11 June 2002 the article entitled "Exclusive: Who is Behind the Case 'Prefect' in Peja When Four KLA Fighters, Supporters of Rugova Were Killed on June 1999?" - "Ekrem Lluka and the SHIK (National Secret Service of Dukagjini)."

The decision follows the findings of the Media Hearing Board (MHB) of 24 July that Bota Sot had violated UNMIK Regulation 2000/37 Section 4.1 and its associated Code of Conduct in both cases.

In accordance with the authority granted to the TMC under UNMIK Regulations 2000/36 and 2000/37 and accepting the findings of the MHB, consistent with the principles of reasonableness and proportionality and the need to deter future similar violations of the applicable law, the TMC requires the owners and operators of Bota Sot to pay a fine of EUR 17,500.