Press Release
13 May 2010Board of the Press Council of Kosovo, reviewed and approved at today's meeting Makifete Saliuka`s (the Municipal Court judge in Pristina) complaint, against the newspaper "Kosova Sot" dealing with the publication of her reply-response over 8 articles that this newspaper published in the period of 13 to 22 April 2010.
It is the case of former employee of the printing house "Kosova Sot", Lulzim Rexha who in 2004 had suffered a work accident where he lost one hand up under the elbow and since is disabled unable for job.
Injured worker sought compensation from the municipal court in Pristina. Regular judicial procedure went through the three steps of the judiciary including the Supreme Court, in which to the injured worker was recognized some rights for compensation.
During court proceedings, the newspaper "Kosova Sot", submitted complaints to the mentioned courts giving her explanations about the disaster (accident) and issues of compensation for damages to the injured worker.
The newspaper wrote these articles based solely on judicial decisions and other litigation documents, obtained by the defendant company's lawyer. Judge Makifete Saliuka sent to the newspaper "Kosova Sot", on April 26, 2010, a response giving her explanation of this judicial context, but the newspaper did not published it until today, which has violated Chapter 4 of the Press Councils Code that has to do with the right of response for the benefit of complete information.
The Council also found that in some parts was violated section 2 of the Code that has to do with reporting the truth, since the other side could not express its stand. (because the word has not been given to the other party). In the end it was concluded that this case has the elements of the conflict of interest since the injured worker was employed in this company.
Considering the following second case, the complaint by the Information Office of the Municipality of Drenas related the article published in Koha Ditore ", dated April 26, 2010, titled " Demaku gives to the Diocese three hectare without asking anyone ", the board of the Council stated that the newspaper in question has not violated the Code of Print Media since during the completion of this article has contacted all parties and published all positions, ranging from the complainant to the KPA (Privatization Agency).
Municipal Information Office of Drenas has sent a clarification to the newspaper, but that has no explanation about the contents of the article since it deals with the procedures of land exchange between public and municipal properties.