"Tabloidization of police" seen as present-day danger

"Tabloidization of police" seen as present-day danger

BELGRADE -- Filip Švarm says that although the murder of a former Arkan bodyguard was reminiscent of the 1990s, "the danger now lies in the tabloidization of the police."

The Vreme weekly editor-in-chief spoke for B92 TV on Thursday to say that unlike during that decade, when similar murders occurred almost daily, "the times have now changed, as in the past years such killings have been significantly fewer."

This murder is reminiscent of the 1990s also because the same people are in power now as was the case then, he added.

However, this journalist noted, "it is important to stress that there is a significant difference":

"What is important, and I hope will not happen again, is that we did not know then where the authorities ended and the mafia began, because everything was bound together and even police generals were killed. I hope that this period is behind us and will not happen again."

Švarm added that "something else causes concern," and explained it was "various factions within the police fighting one another, while the tabloids are informed about police cases on a daily basis. Also, policemen are talking among themselves in strange ways. I'm not sure that the war among policemen (fighting) for various positions is not being abused."

According to him, "various sides have the support of the media and everyone is pushing their story."

"I was stunned when I read in the newspapers the questions that (BIA deputy director) Dragan Marković Markoni was asked, and which ones he failed in the polygraph test - how could the journalist have that, unless it was given to him," Švarm remarked.

He recalled that...