Gordana Katana: BanjaLuka has become a particularly rigid environment

Journalist and activist Gordana Katana has been in journalism for 28 years, and in her decades-long career, she has worked for several domestic and international media: Oslobođenje, BHT, BIRN, VOA, RFERL, IWPR, Anadolu Agency, Reuters. She is currently editing the portal Živi ljudi. She uncompromisingly fights for the rule of law, and the democracy of society, and tirelessly warns about the failures of responsible public officeholders. In her career, she was attacked, labeled, and marked. However, she bravely continues her journey in journalism.

In an interview with Politicki.ba, Katana says that politicians in Republika Srpska obstruct the work of journalists in various ways, but they are not particularly innovative when it comes to putting pressure on journalists.

"So, we usually witness insults, questioning of their professional credibility, and in the RS, a special category of national traitors. Of course, Milorad Dodik, president of the RS and leader of the SNSD, undoubtedly went the furthest there. But the inability to access information, the refusal to answer questions is also a hindrance to our work," Katana begins her interview with Politicki.ba.

The current pressures on journalists are systemic, legal, and focused on narrowing the space of freedom of speech and freedom of the media, but Katana has been under pressure from the authorities for almost 30 years. Many politicians changed, but she was a thorn in everyone's side because of her independent work.

"As I was among the first 2-3 journalists who immediately after the war started working for the media outside the RS, specifically Oslobođenje, then Glas Amerika, I can speak freely about the 28 years of continuous pressure, insults, and even threats against me. Starting from that government led by SDS in 1996/97 supported by radicals and led by Nikola Poplašen and Ognjen Tadić when I was declared a national traitor, and then Alija’s or a foreign hireling. The authorities changed, and I remained a thorn in the side. But realistically, although all the verbal attacks, threats, and insults had an alleged national connotation, the problem was actually in my work," Katana told Politicki.ba.

She did big stories and talked about important topics.

"The problem was in opening up issues that were not talked about: from war crimes, ethnic cleansing, obstruction of return, discrimination against the non-Serb population. And, I will repeat, these are topics that none of the Serbian politicians like and do not want to discuss."

When asked why the authorities in Republika Srpska are so bothered by free media and independent journalists, Katana says that it is very simple to explain.

"When we listen to representatives of the government and the media under its control, first and foremost RTRS, then we wonder if we and they live in two parallel realities. Because the government claims that all socio-economic problems have been solved and that the defense of RS from foreign and domestic enemies is the only problem. However, independent, free media day after day points to the gloomy reality in which we live, and they bring evidence of corruption, crime, and nepotism in which the government is steeped. And that's why they should be silenced. So that they don't "make waves" and increase the awareness among lethargic citizens that they are being cheated and stolen from "in the name of the people", answers Katana.

Gordana's video statement you can see HERE.

President of the Republika Srpska entity in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Milorad Dodik, very openly targets journalists and certain media. When asked how absurd it is that he even manages to find the time to deal with the selection of "enemy" media, which he often does, Katana answers:

"Actually, Milorad Dodik, ostracized from the democratic world, any ostracized from any affirmative story when it comes to the whole of Bosnia and Herzegovina, has plenty of time to deal with the media and specific selections. It should be kept in mind that he, that is, the SNSD, together with a handful of political satellites, has long since put all money flows, institutions, and natural resources under their control. And to be able to abuse them, the only hindrance that remains is the media and political dissidents in general. Which should be intimidated, discredited, silenced..."

The problem, explains Katana, is that Dodik and the narrative with which he goes public still has a large number of followers.

"Among which is undoubtedly a sufficient number of those who might feel called "to take justice into their own hands" and deal with "traitors and enemies of the RS", warns Katana.

This is very worrying, Katana believes, noting that there are no institutions that are ready to oppose Dodik. That is why journalists have no protection.

"I think that institutionally, journalists have no protection in BiH. Both the police and the judiciary system respond to attacks slowly or not at all, and that is the key, the key guarantee that you can do your job freely. Public condemnations of the attacks and appeals that we can work in a safe environment are of little use," says Katana.

The overall situation places journalists in an unenviable situation where being a journalist in all of Bosnia and Herzegovina is both great and bad at the same time.

"When you report from an environment that is challenging, then you can also prove your worth. Another problem is that Banjaluka, and to a large extent the RS, has become a particularly rigid environment in which an increasing number of free-thinking people feel unsafe. But with journalism come certain risks, and they are greater than when you work in some other professions, but that is in our job description. Anyone who is not ready for that should leave journalism. We have at our disposal, symbolically speaking, "a heart and a pen", we have the opportunity to speak on behalf of all those whose voices cannot reach the public. And therefore, it doesn't matter where we work, it's just important not to falter, not to give up", concludes Katana.

The article was realized as part of the Transition program of the Government of the Czech Republic and with the financial assistance of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Bosnia and Herzegovina @CzechiainBiH. The content reflects the views of the interlocutors who are the choice of the editorial staff of Politicki.ba and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Czech government.