TemA editor beaten by businessman

TIRANA, Nov 3 – Mero Baze, a prominent Albanian journalist and newspaper editor, was hospitalized after being beaten in an incident condemned by the country’s authorities, the United States embassy and the OSCE.
Baze, editor of the TemA independent newspaper, has become increasingly critical of conservative Prime Minister Sali Berisha.
Berisha on Tuesday strongly condemned the attack, which he described as a “shameful, grave and unacceptable act to the free society.”
A colleague of Baze who was present during the incident said he had been beaten unconscious. Andi Bushati said Baze was punched and kicked by his attackers for up to five minutes. Together with a third colleague they had gone to the coffee bar at the end of a talk show Baze holds at a private television station where he also criticized Taci.
Police said two bodyguards of an Albanian businessman, Rezart Taci, had been detained over the incident that occurred late Monday in downtown Tirana.
In recent months Baze’s newspaper has repeatedly accused Taci of failing to pay adequate taxes following his company’s purchase last year of an 85-percent stake in the former state oil company ARMO. He had repeatedly accused him of exploiting Berisha’s family members to avoid taxation and also other illegal acts.
In a statement mailed to the local media, Taci denied he had any physical contact with Baze and spoke of his readiness to cooperate with justice officials.
The incident sparked a reaction from the whole journalist community in the country. Three media associations urged the government to assist police inquiries.
“Such acts demonstrate that the Albanian journalist is under threat from violence and criminal brutality at every moment,” said one of their statements.
Ironically the journalists’ associations set a reward of 10,000 Euros for information on the where-about of Taci.
In January, the government evicted Baze’s newspaper from its offices, saying it wanted to use the facility as a passport office.
Albanian journalists frequently complain of harassment by authorities.
The U.S. Embassy in Tirana said it was “appalled” by the assault.
“Physical attacks on journalists and other forms of media intimidation cast a shadow over freedom of the press. All forms of pressure and intimidation of the media are unacceptable,” an embassy statement said.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe also condemned the violent attack on the editor.
“We condemn all forms of physical violence, especially attacks targeting the media. All journalists, irrespective of their perceived political hue, must be allowed to carry out their daily work without fear of physical reprisals,” said OSCE Ambassador to Albania Robert Bosch said. “Freedom of the media is a crucial tenet of any modern, democratic and free society.”
Albanian President Bamir Topi also condemned the “vandal act and violence” urging all political factors to guarantee media freedom and independence.
“Direct or indirect violence and pressure on the Albanian media and journalists is a turn-back in the democracy we all wish to build,” he said.
Foreign Minister Ilir Meta, leader of the Socialist Movement for Integration which is part of the government coalition, also condemned the attack on Baze and said everyone should be accountable to the law for such acts of violence.