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» Media Watch » (E) Lies about VUKOVAR on BBC and reply by B. Gallagher
| (E) Lies about VUKOVAR on BBC and reply by B. Gallagher |
| By Nenad N. Bach |
Published
11/25/2001
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Media Watch
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(E) Lies about VUKOVAR on BBC and reply by B. Gallagher
Misinformation on BBC and reply to the BBC by B. Gallagher
Here is the full correspondence I have had with the BBC, including their
comments:
Thank you for replying. The reason you can't find the reference (nor the bit
about the woman giving a Nazi salute) is because the items has been amended,
as you probably are aware. Sadly, I kept no copy.
However, the original report is still on your website at:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/europe/newsid_1662000/1662480.stm
And it says this: "A candlelit vigil took place on Saturday night at
Vukovar's hospital from where hundreds of patients, mostly soldiers, were
taken away and killed in November, 1991. "
and again "While hundreds of hospital patients, mostly soldiers, were
executed, the rest of the remaining inhabitants were forced to march to the
next Croat-controlled town"
So yes, an attempt was made to play down the civilian deaths.
Also, Ms Kroeger said
"The town had a majority Serb population."
Completely untrue. It does however, tie in with Serb propaganda of the time
that parts of Croatia are 'really' Serbia.
The fact that some 22, 500 Croats and non-Serbs were forced out of Vukovar
and thousands of civilians were killed was also not mentioned. Which would
put into context the Mayor's remarks.
Anyone unfamilar with the situation would think that "mostly soldiers" died
at Vukovar and that Croats are preventing Serbs from returning to their city
where they were the "majority".
Croat bashing? Yes it certainly is. What next from the BBC? Serbs the true
victims of Srebrinica?
On the second item
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/europe/newsid_1662000/1662896.stm),
which was later revised to omit the "mostly soldiers" drivel, unusual
attention is paid to Croat "neo-Nazis". This staggering quote appears: "The
relationship between Croatian nationalism, Nazi sympathisers and the war 10
years ago is an uneasy one."
Would you say such a thing if a small group of British National Party
supporters appeared at Remembrance day ceremony? I suspect not. The quote
clearly implies that patriotic Croats - "nationalists" - have fascist
leanings and the war in 1991 was something to do with Croat fascists.
Is it a coincidence that the same line was given by the Serbs in 1991?
Indeed, the hospital atrocity at Vukovar and the destruction of the city was
justified in precisely those terms. The crass insensitivity of Ms Kroeger's
comments beggars belief. If the BBC were covering a Holocaust remembrance
ceremony, would you include Nazi propaganda drivel about Jews bringing about
German decline etc etc. Quite rightly you would not. The BBC are happy
however to lend credence to the sick excuses the Serbs gave for their crimes
against Croats.
I invite you to examine the following line from the Hague Milosevic
indictment for crimes in
Croatia.(http://www.un.org/icty/indictment/english/mil-ii011008e.htm)
"26 m) controlled, contributed to, or otherwise utilised Serbian state-run
media outlets to manipulate Serbian public opinion by spreading exaggerated
and false messages of ethnically based attacks by Croats against Serb people
in order to create an atmosphere of fear and hatred among Serbs living in
Serbia and Croatia. The propaganda generated by the Serbian media was an
important tool in contributing to the perpetration of crimes in Croatia. "
The propaganda mentioned was of the "Croats are fascists" variety.
Milosevic, you will note, was also charged for the hospital crime at Vukovar.
How fascinating that the BBC are mouthing similar sentiments to Milosevic's
propaganda machine from 1991. The insensitivity of the BBC is beyond compare.
So yes, the BBC do indulge in Croat bashing. And has a pro-Serb streak.
Certainly, if Mr Milosevic read those two items I am sure he would have
toasted to Ms Kroeger's good health.
I also believe the BBC's - frankly sick - reporting on Vukovar requires wider
attention. I do not pay my license fee for such drivel.
Yours faithfully
Brian Gallagher
NewsOnline <newsonline@bbc.co.uk> wrote:
I am unable to see the reference to which you refer, that the victims were
"mostly" soldiers. I am also unable to accept your assertion that we are
pro-Serb, or indulging inC roat-bashing. It is not the way we operate and I
am disappointed that you should think it is.
Regards
BBC News Online
http://news.bbc.co.uk/
-----Original Message-----
From: Brian Gallagher [mailto:brigall@yahoo.co.uk]
Sent: 18 November 2001 19:55
To: NewsOnline
Subject: "Croat town remembers fall"
Dear Sir
Re: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/europe/newsid_1662000/1662896.stm
I wish to complain about the above story by Alix Kroeger.
I note that the earlier version of the story, to which I had telephoned a
complaint to your duty office earlier today has been changed.
The earlier version, amongst other things, had the utterly obscene remark
that Vukovar had a majority Serbian population prior to the war. That was of
course, a complete untruth. It's rather like saying Belgrade has a majority
Croat population. A mistake, or a bit of Serbian propaganda? And where was
the apology for such an insensitive comment, to which I think the city of
Vukovar deserves?
Your updated version is little better. Ms Kroeger correctly points out that a
massacre occurred at the hospital in Vukovar. But then makes the claim that
the victims were "mostly soldiers". Of course, that in itself is crime, but
the reality is that a great deal of civilians were murdered in that episode.
Here are two extracts from the International War Crimes indictment on the
matter (http://www.un.org/icty/indictment/english/mrk-ii951107e.htm)
8. On the afternoon of 19 November 1991, JNA units arrived at Vukovar
Hospital and took control of it. Those inside offered no resistance. Early
the following morning, Major SLJIVANCANIN ordered the nurses and doctors to
assemble for a meeting. While the medical staff was attending this meeting,
JNA and Serb paramilitary soldiers hurriedly removed about 400 men from the
hospital. Among those removed in this way werenglishemrk> htmiehtm, hospital
staff, soldiers who had been defending the city, Croatian political
activists, and other civilians. By the time the medical staff meeting with
Major SLJIVANCANIN concluded, the soldiers had removed almost all of the men
who were at the hospital.
and:
14. Of the 300 men taken from Vukovar Hospital on the morning of 20 November
1991, 261 remain missing. All of these men were alive after the end of
hostilities in Vukovar, and all of these men were taken under JNA guard first
to the JNA barracks and then to the Ovcara farm. They have not been seen
alive since that time.
There is nothing in the indictment about "mostly soldiers" being the victims.
What is it Ms Kroeger knows the War Crimes Tribunal does not?
Furthermore, how is it that Ms Kroeger completely fails to mention that the
three men indicted by the Tribunal are at large - and protected - in Serbia?
How is it also that the deaths of thousands of Croats - and others, such as
Hungarians - slaughtered during the Serbian assault on Vukovar was not
mentioned? It was not just the hospital massacre. This was a war by the
Serbs against civilians, not soldiers, as Ms Kroeger implies.
Ms Kroeger also points out that one individual gave a Nazi salute. Given
that no-one else apparently did, what was the point of mentioning it? To
imply many Croats are fascists? Given that the justification used by the
Serbs to destroy Vukovar and commit various massacres including the hospital
slaughter was precisely that, Ms Kroeger's comments were wholly unnecessary,
crass and insensitive. I find it remarkable that the BBC is utilising
Serbian propaganda techniques from 1991.
The piece conveys a number of messges. That what happened at Vukovar was one
massacre of "mostly soldiers" - implying that civilians did not overly suffer
and were not targeted by the Serbs - and that many Croats are fascists.
Vukovar was one of the most appalling atrocities of the twentieth century. A
crime by the Serbs against Croat civilians and indeed, humanity. Thousands of
civilians died and many more lost their homes.
Trust the BBC to play that down and turn a memorial to what happened into a
Croat bashing item.
I would be interested in your comments.
Yours faithfully
Brian Gallagher
Here is the full correspondence I have had with the BBC, including their
comments:
Thank you for replying.The reason you can't find the reference (nor the bit
about the woman giving a Nazi salute) is because the items has been amended,
as you probably are aware. Sadly, I kept no copy.
However, the original report is still on your website at: <A
HREF="http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/europe/newsid_1662000/1662480.stm
">http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/europe/newsid_1662000/1662480.stm</A>
And it says this: "A candlelit vigil took place on Saturday night at
Vukovar's hospital from where hundreds of patients, mostly soldiers, were
taken away and killed in November, 1991. "
and again "While hundreds of hospital patients, mostly soldiers, were
executed, the rest of the remaining inhabitants were forced to march to the
next Croat-controlled town"
So yes, an attempt was made to play down the civilian deaths.
Also, Ms Kroeger said "The town had a majority Serb population." Completely
untrue. It does however, tie in with Serb propaganda of the time that parts
of Croatia are 'really' Serbia. The fact that some 22, 500 Croats and
non-Serbs were forced out of Vukovar and thousands of civilians were killed
was also not mentioned. Which would put into context the Mayor's remarks.
Anyone unfamilar with the situation would think that "mostly soldiers" died
at Vukovar and that Croats are preventing Serbs from returning to their city
where they were the "majority". Croat bashing? Yes it certainly is. What
next from the BBC? Serbs the true victims of Srebrinica?
On the second item (<A
HREF="http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/europe/newsid_1662000/1662896.stm
">http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/europe/newsid_1662000/1662896.stm</A>
), which was later revised to omit the "mostly soldiers" drivel, unusual
attention is paid to Croat "neo-Nazis". This staggering quote appears: "The
relationship between Croatian nationalism, Nazi sympathisers and the war 10
years ago is an uneasy one."
Would you say such a thing if a small group of British National Party
supporters appeared at Remembrance day ceremony? I suspect not. The quote
clearly implies that patriotic Croats - "nationalists" - have fascist
leanings and the war in 1991 was something to do with Croat fascists.
Is it a coincidence that the same line was given by the Serbs in 1991?
Indeed, the hospital atrocity at Vukovar and the destruction of the city was
justified in precisely those terms. The crass insensitivity of Ms Kroeger's
comments beggars belief. If the BBC were covering a Holocaust remembrance
ceremony, would you include Nazi propaganda drivel about Jews bringing about
German decline etc etc. Quite rightly you would not. The BBC are happy
however to lend credence to the sick excuses the Serbs gave for their crimes
against Croats.
I invite you to examine the following line from the Hague Milosevic
indictment for crimes in Croatia.(<A
HREF="http://www.un.org/icty/indictment/english/mil-ii011008e.htm">
http://www.un.org/icty/indictment/english/mil-ii011008e.htm</A>)
"26 controlled, contributed to, or otherwise utilised Serbian state-run media
outlets to manipulate Serbian public opinion by spreading exaggerated and
false messages of ethnically based attacks by Croats against Serb people in
order to create an atmosphere of fear and hatred among Serbs living in Serbia
and Croatia. The propaganda generated by the Serbian media was an important
tool in contributing to the perpetration of crimes in Croatia. "
The propaganda mentioned was of the "Croats are fascists" variety.
Milosevic, you will note, was also charged for the hospital crime at Vukovar.
How fascinating that the BBC are mouthing similar sentiments to Milosevic's
propaganda machine from 1991. The insensitivity of the BBC is beyond compare.
So yes, the BBC do indulge in Croat bashing. And has a pro-Serb streak.
Certainly, if Mr Milosevic read those two items I am sure he would have
toasted to Ms Kroeger's good health.I also believe the BBC's - frankly sick -
reporting on Vukovar requires wider attention. I do not pay my license fee
for such drivel.
Yours faithfully
Brian Gallagher
NewsOnline <newsonline@bbc.co.uk> wrote:
I am unable to see the reference to which you refer, that the victims were
"mostly" soldiers. I am also unable to accept your assertion that we are
pro-Serb, or indulging in Croat-bashing. It is not the way we operate and I
am disappointed that you should think it is.
Regards
BBC News Online
<A HREF="http://news.bbc.co.uk/">http://news.bbc.co.uk/</A>
--
From: Brian Gallagher [mailto:brigall@yahoo.co.uk]
Sent: 18 November 2001 19:55
Subject: "Croat town remembers fall"
</DIV>
Dear Sir
Re: <A
HREF="http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/europe/newsid_1662000/1662896.stm
">http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/europe/newsid_1662000/1662896.stm</A>
I wish to complain about the above story by Alix Kroeger.
I note that the earlier version of the story, to which I had telephoned a
complaint to your duty office earlier today has been changed.
The earlier version, amongst other things, had the utterly obscene remark
that Vukovar had a majority Serbian population prior to the war. That was of
course, a complete untruth. It's rather like saying Belgrade has a majority
Croat population. A mistake, or a bit of Serbian propaganda? And where was
the apology for such an insensitive comment, to which I think the city of
Vukovar deserves?
Your updated version is little better. Ms Kroeger correctly points out that a
massacre occurred at the hospital in Vukovar. But then makes the claim that
the victims were "mostly soldiers". Of course, that in itself is crime, but
the reality is that a great deal of civilians were murdered in that episode.
Here are two extracts from the International War Crimes indictment on the
matter (<A HREF="http://www.un.org/icty/indictment/english/mrk-ii951107e.htm">
http://www.un.org/icty/indictment/english/mrk-ii951107e.htm</A>)
Brian Gallagher
distributed by CROWN (Croatian World Net) - CroworldNet@aol.com
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