Circle 99 calls on the House of Peoples: Resist the policy of indulgence and the illegal election of the RTV FBiH Management Board

(Patria) - The Association of Independent Intellectuals Circle 99 issued a statement today regarding the upcoming session of the House of Peoples of the FBiH Parliament and the intention of illegally electing the Management Board (MB) of RTV FBiH.

"The undisguised intention to radically change the operation of the most professional public RTV service in BiH - Federal Television - outside the legal framework represents an arrogant blow to the democratic public and the public interest of viewers.

Because, Federal Television has built itself up over the past decade into a responsible and balanced service that has followed the principles of professionalism, as well as a high degree of managerial and editorial responsibility appropriate to our complex social and state environment.

This is evident in the public test every day and in all turbulent circumstances, acting as a reliable support not only for the information of citizens, but also for the affirmation of democratic values that Bosnia and Herzegovina should strive for.

Such results have been achieved independently of the successive depletion of the Management Board due to the inconsistency of the executive and legislative authorities in legally electing one new member each year.

Federal Television is not responsible for the years-long omissions and party failures in cases of filling the Management Board, nor should it be a victim of changing political forces in the FBiH Parliament and the House of Peoples.

Especially not by the illegal election of the majority structure in the Management Board for the next four years by the newly formed narrow parliamentary majority.

This would fundamentally undermine the hard-won principle of legally electing a new member each year with the support of domestic and international democratic and journalistic public.

The potential intention to create a new TV bastion of control over citizens' right to free and truthful reporting will not pass without resistance from free citizens and the democratic public.

The public already recognizes that even among state-building political forces, there are those who are willing to act outside the proclaimed principles and commitments for narrowly partisan interests.

We demand that the House of Peoples of FBiH resist the policy of indulgence and not accept the illegal election of the Management Board of RTV Federation of BiH.

RTV Federation of BiH must remain the property of subscribers and a public service for citizens," stated Circle 99.