General information

Call No.:

350-1-1:85/8

Part of series

HU OSA 350-1-1 Records of the International Monitor Institute: Europe: Balkan Archive

Located at

VHS PAL #85 / No. 8

Digital ver. identifier

HU_OSA_00000085

Original Title

Demokratie im Krieg

Date of air

1993-03-30

Date

1993

Level

Item

Primary Type

Moving image

Language

German

Notes

Destruction Civilian Property • Ethnic Cleansing • Military/Para-Military • Refugee/Ex-Pow ID

Content

Form/Genre

Documentary film

Contents Summary

Report talks about the freedom of speech in Croatian media. There is a plethora of newspapers which all serve various interests. Many journalists were fired after the HDZ (ruling party in Croatia) came to power; their colleagues suspect it was because they were former communists. The report also talks about the HDZ losing power to new opposition parties which serve various interest groups. Opposition parties are very small, generally serve various interest groups, and are in constant disagreements. Croatia is experiencing deep economic divisions and many minorities fear Croatian nationalism. The question of personal ID and minority discrimination is also discussed. The economy is further burdened by the 700,000 Bosnian refugees. Interviews are conducted with Franjo Tudjman, Drazen Budisa, Marinko Bozic, Ruza Jokic, Milan Djukic, and several other civilians. Franjo Tudjman, Croatia's president, states that many newspapers criticize him and his party, but that nothing happens to the journalists. He states that the people who write those articles are journalists who used to work for the old communist newspapers. Marinko Bozic, a journalist, states that Croatian TV is heavily censored. Bozic also notes that TV has helped HDZ get into power and win the election. Furthermore, this TV censorship has damaged Croatia's image in the world, Bozic explains. Several passersby are interviewed, giving brief opinions about Croatia. Overall, they state that the political structure has changed, and that Croatia is working towards democracy and on a road to success. Drazen Budisa, a member of the Croat Social Liberal Party, states that the HDZ is not what it used to be and that people are showing support for other parties. Ruza Jokic, a Serb by nationality, gives an account of having her Croat citizenship taken away without any explanation. She talks about the difficulty of not having ID papers. Milan Djukic, a member of the Serbian Democratic Party, explains the problem of minority discrimination in the acquisition of personal ID papers. He states that it is not the government who discriminates, but that low-ranking clerks use their position to discriminate against minorities. He believes that this must end as Croatia's goal is not to create a state of terror, but that of democracy. Footage of Bosnian refugees, streets of Zagreb, people waiting in line, Zagreb newsstands, and a cabaret performance are available.

Context

Associated Names

ORF (Copyright holder, Producer)