UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, September 13, 2024

Albanian Language Media:

Osmani: Vucic wants to annex the north according to Putin’s scenario (media)
Police confirm pamphlets ‘inciting hatred and division’ in north of Kosovo (media)
Haliti: Govt decided to give time to allies on the opening of bridge (Telegrafi)
VV MP says bridge will be opened: We never mentioned a date (media)
Police seize 6 million dinars, US$ 57,000, €10,000 in raid in Leposavic (Koha)
“Serbs in north concerned by reports in media controlled by Vucic” (media)
Knaus: The blindness of the West is remarkable (media)
Rohde congratulates Osmani on receiving M100 Media Award (media)
“The truth” about Kosovo in Serbia (Radio Free Europe)
“Social Media: from the “Magic Bullet” to the “Tragic Bullet” (media)

Serbian Language Media:

Vucevic: Measures we will take will be aimed at keeping peace and protecting Serbs in Kosovo (Radio Mitrovica sever, RTS, media)
Serbia’s path to resolve Kosovo crisis unveiled by Serbian ambassador to Montenegro (KoSSev)
Simic: Situation in Kosovo has never been worse, Serbs live in a situation similar to apartheid (Tanjug, RTS)
New dialogue round on Tuesday, Pristina refuses trilateral meeting (Tanjug)
Stano didn’t confirm date of next chief negotiators meeting (N1, media)
Orav with representatives of Serb parties and civil society; Vokrri: “No incident is provoked without the support of international bureaucrats” (N1, KoSSev)
Photo from filming a movie is reason for new discrediting of Arsenijevic (Radio KIM, KoSSev, Radio Kontakt plus, social media)

International:

“We had an impact”: Kosovo war photographer says images affected West’s policies (Prishtina Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

‘Dream come true’: Kosovo’s paralympic pioneer recalls making history in Paris (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media

Osmani: Vucic wants to annex the north according to Putin’s scenario (media)

Albanian Post covers an interview that Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani gave to German newspaper Taggesspiegel, highlighting her remarks that by waging propaganda that the Serb community is allegedly being discriminated against in Kosovo, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic is attempting to annex the north of Kosovo. She argued that this scenario follows that of Russian President Vladimir Putin in Ukraine. “He [Putin] accused Ukraine of ignoring the rights of the Russian minority. He used that as an excuse for the illegal annexation of territories. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic is trying to do the exact same thing. His goal is to annex the north of Kosovo. He cares about territories not people,” she said.

Claiming that the propaganda is not true, Osmani cited several reports by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) “which show that there is a continuous decrease of crimes against Serbs in Kosovo, and interethnic crimes in general”.

Asked if there is a possibility for peace and reconciliation between Kosovo and Serbia in this phase, Osmani said “it is impossible to achieve that while policies in Serbia are decided by people that were part of Milosevic’s regime”. “I am certain that Vucic’s policies represent one of the biggest threats in the long-term plan – not only for the Western Balkans, but for all of Europe. Serbia in essence serves as a Russian proxy in the Balkans. Europe must seriously address the threat that comes from autocrats like Vucic who are supported by Russia,” she argued.

Police confirm pamphlets “inciting hatred and division” in north of Kosovo (media)

Several news websites report that one day after the Special Prosecution of Kosovo filed an indictment about the Banjska case, pamphlets were seen in different locations in Zubin Potok, Mitrovica, Zvecan and Lesapovic, which read “We are all Milans [referring to Milan Radoicic who claimed responsibility for the attack in Banjska] and brothers from Banjska. You occupiers, awaken the wild in us, we are waiting for you in the north”. “Commander [referring to Radoicic] just say the word and we will fly like bullets,” the pamphlets also note. The news agency also reports that pictures showing the pamphlets were posted on Telegram by a Serbian channel named Koridor.

Kosovo Police Deputy Director for the north, Veton Elshani, confirmed to media that the pamphlets were found in several locations in the north of Kosovo. “Following the order of the Special Prosecution, a case of inciting hatred and division has been initiated. We have no suspects or arrests. Police are working to resolve the case,” he said.

Haliti: Govt decided to give time to allies on the opening of bridge (Telegrafi)

MP from the ruling Vetevendosje Movement, Enver Haliti, said in a TV debate on Thursday that the main bridge over Iber river should be opened and that the Kosovo government has finished all preparations for this. He also said that the government was right to give time to international allies to decide when the best time is to open the bridge. “I think the government made the right decision to give time to internationals to say when the timing will be right for them too. We have seen statements by [Kosovo President Vjosa] Osmani mentioning the end of the year as a possible time for opening the bridge, and I think this is sufficient,” he said.

Haliti also argued that the opening of the bridge should not be politicized and that whenever it is opened it should be done without pomposity.

VV MP says bridge will be opened: We never mentioned a date (media)

MP from the Vetevendosje Movement, Agon Batusha, in an interview with Radio Prishtina, reiterated the position of the Kosovo government that the main bridge over Iber will be opened for vehicle traffic. “The government has not backed down from the opening of the bridge. The bridge will be opened. We never mentioned a specific date. There was a lot of noise while the bridge was being tested, but it [the opening of the bridge] was part of the Brussels agreement. While the bridge is open for pedestrians, why should it not be open for vehicle traffic too, it makes no sense,” he said.

According to Batusha, “Serbia is trying to impose a situation where the bridge is not opened with the aim of territorially dividing Kosovo”.

Police seize 6 million dinars, US$ 57,000, €10,000 in raid in Leposavic (Koha)

Kosovo Police, during an anti-money laundering operation in Leposavic, seized 6 million dinars, US$ 57,000, €10,000. The raid was carried out in an office of a Serbian bank and the branch of the Serbian Treasury. Police also seized computers, DVRs of security cameras, and seals and documents that prove the illegal operation of these institutions.

“Serbs in north concerned by reports in media controlled by Vucic” (media)

Nacionale and Gazeta Express quote a reporter of Serbian media N1 as saying that Serbs in the north of Kosovo are concerned with the situation surrounding a press conference announced for today by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. The main topic in Mitrovica North is reported to be speculation published by some pro-government media in Serbia according to which Vucic could announce the invasion of one part of Kosovo. “Currently the people are concerned if this will really happen or if this is a way for Serbia to attract the attention of the international community to what, according to claims, the government of Kosovo is doing and that it is not in line with the dialogue aimed for resolving these issues,” the reporter is quoted as saying.

Knaus: The blindness of the West is remarkable (media)

Gerald Knaus, chairman of the European Stability Initiative (ESI), shared a post on X by Ivana Stradner, research fellow with the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, who said that Serbian and Russian media are spreading claims about “the ethnic cleansing of Serbs” in Kosovo. Knaus argued in his post that these are “the same lies as those that prepared Putin’s aggression against Ukraine”. He also shared several studies by the ESI on Kosovo. See more at: https://t.ly/49niy

Rohde congratulates Osmani on receiving M100 Media Award (media)

German Ambassador to Kosovo, Jorn Rohde, congratulated Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani on receiving the M100 Media Award in Potsdam, Germany. “This honor not only recognizes your dedication to media freedom - a key pillar of every democracy - but also highlights the strong expectation of continued engagement in safeguarding it!” Rohde wrote in a post on X.

“The truth” about Kosovo in Serbia (Radio Free Europe)

“I don’t think anyone in Serbia has a full picture of what is happening in Kosovo. One part of the truth you got from different places,” Dragana Kanjevac from Belgrade told Radio Free Europe. She believes that the media do not report enough objectively and comprehensively about the position of the Serb community in Kosovo and other developments in Kosovo. “No one gives all the information. It is like a long-term Gordian Knot, which instead of being resolved and calmed, has always been made tougher by everyone. The people living there are unfortunately the victims of this,” she said.

Vlada Lesic from Belgrade also says he doesn’t have a full picture of the situation and the developments in Kosovo. “The only picture we can create is if someone knows someone in Kosovo or has relatives there, and then we find out from first hand or perhaps from second hand,” he said.

Velko Nesic, also from Belgrade, thinks similarly and says that he learned about the arrest of four youths in the north of Kosovo on September 10 from social media. “I know there were several arrests in the north of Kosovo. Some were arrested because of a verbal altercation, and we didn’t really understand what happened,” he says.

The news website recalls that four youths were arrested in Mitrovica North for “assaulting an officer”. On September 10, they were ordered to a one-month house arrest. Kosovo Police said they insulted and assaulted two police officers, injuring one of them, and that they then fled the scene. Some political activists from Mitrovica North published on social media a video of the arrest claiming that police used excessive force. Kosovo Police, on the other hand, said “the minimal required force was used to arrest the persons and bring them under control”.

On September 10, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti visited the north of Kosovo. On the same day, two representatives of the Serbian Democracy, Aleksandar Arsenijevic and Ivan Orlovic, were arrested for breaking public order and quiet, after they protested against Kurti’s visit. They were later released. Most media in Belgrade reported on thus, mainly relying on statements by Serbian officials and their interpretation of what happened. On the same day, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said without specifying that Serbia “would not allow the pogrom and persecution of the Serb people and it is very clear that this is the only objective of Kurti’s government”.

Some of the headlines that could be seen later in Serbian tabloids and news websites on the internet said “Kurti shows offs in Kosovo and makes arrests”, “Kurti does not stop terrorizing the Serbs”.

Rade Velanovski, professor at the Faculty of Political Sciences in Belgrade, told Radio Free Europe that “in Serbia everyday there a narrative is produced that someone wants to expel the Serbs and completely destroy the Serb community in Kosovo”. “Tabloids and media with national coverage are part of the Serbian government’s propaganda apparatus. They know what their job is, and this is completely ignoring professional and ethical standards of journalism,” he said.

“We rarely hear the other side”

Velanovski said that especially when it comes to issues related to Kosovo it is exceptionally rare for the Serbian public to hear the other side and its arguments. “And this should be the basic rule of journalism, regardless of the interest at stake,” he said. “When four Serb youths were arrested by the police, someone tells you that happened because they provoked and even physically assaulted a police officer. On the other hand, someone keeps it silent”.

Velanovski said that from certain media one can learn what Kosovo authorities think and have to say about a problem. But he says that these media usually do not have great influence in Serbia. “These are usually the media that cannot be heard, seen, or read in the entire territory of Kosovo and they have less influence than the media that report biasedly and practically allow for only one side to be heard, and this is the Serbian side, which is sometimes right and sometimes not right at all”.

Aleksandar Popov from the non-governmental organization Centre for Regionalization, says that pro-government media are not un-objective only when it comes to Kosovo. “We have biased reporting about everything that happens in Serbia and the region too. They publish what the representatives of our government think, but we don’t get the other side of the medal too,” he said.

How is the situation in Kosovo presented?

Velanovski believes that the majority of people in Serbia don’t get the real information about what happens in Kosovo. “The situation in Kosovo in its entirety, and especially the circumstances of the Serb community there, are presented in a way that is aimed to mobilize the public here in Serbia for absolute solidarity with those people even when that is not entirely principal,” he says.

He adds that pro-government media “talk exclusively about the sufferings of the Serbs” but not about the reasons that led to that. “What happened in the late 1980s, especially what happened in the 1990s, is ignored. The responsibility and fault of Serbia for this situation gets ignored”. “Everyone forgets about that and then they say: ‘look at what they are doing to our people,” he adds.

Popov from the Centre for Regionalization says that the goal of the Serbian government is to darken the real picture of what happened, to balance the government, to send one message to the local public and other messages to the west. “As a result we have extremist statements, mainly by people who have never been to Kosovo. All this creates an atmosphere in the public that does not go toward a real assessment of the situation but incites something that is not realistic … It would be good for the public in Serbia to get both sides … The view from Belgrade, the view from Pristina and then draw conclusions about the truth and the real situation in all this,” he says.

“Social Media: from the “Magic Bullet” to the “Tragic Bullet” (media)

Several news websites cover an analysis by the Pristina-based Institute for Hybrid Warfare Studies Octopus, titled “Social Media: from the “Magic Bullet” to the “Tragic Bullet”.

The analysis notes that “the transformation of the media as a result of information and communication technology (ICT) has brought back Lasswell’s ‘magic bullet’ to the scene as a calculated effect of media messages. Alongside the positive side of the digital revolution, with easier and faster access to information and the empowerment of marginalized groups in political communication, social media has become a ‘tragic bullet’ in the context of hybrid warfare. The trend of increasing their use as a source of information, their ability to generate, analyze analyses, and detect false content has favored the ‘devil of truth.’ In the new age of being ‘bombarded’ by information, journalism, whose primary obligation is the truth (Kovach & Rosenstiel, 2007, p.35), has failed to withstand the ‘explosion’ that the digital technological environment has caused. The challenge of adaptation imposed commercialization speed on the media, causing them to “forget” the duties of balance and verification. In the new terrain, to fulfill their aspirations of rule dictation, various actors, states, or their groups have sophisticated manipulation through fake news in content, such as false texts, images, or videos, and those determined by purpose, such as clickbait, propaganda, framing, etc”.

Read more at: https://shorturl.at/8PInC

Serbian Language Media

Vucevic: Measures we will take will be aimed at keeping peace and protecting Serbs in Kosovo (Radio Mitrovica sever, RTS, media)

Challenging days are ahead of us when it comes to Kosovo, Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic told RTS this morning, adding that the measures taken by the state will be aimed at preserving peace and protecting the Serbs, reported radio Mitrovica sever.

Vucevic points out that in today's address to the nation, Serbian President Aleksandar will explain exactly what is happening in Kosovo, as well as what the state will do about those events.

He stated that the arrest and persecution of Serbs in Kosovo was a daily occurrence, and that the ultimate goal of all Albin Kurti's actions was the ethnic cleansing of Serbs from that area.

"I am sure that Kurti will not stop with his political agenda, especially since he is in the election campaign. He cannot talk about the economy, progress, but only about Serbs," said Vucevic.

He recalled that there was no embassy or institution in the EU, which at least did not condemn Pristina's unilateral moves with a statement, but Kurti still continued with his plans.

"Enough statements and messages from the international community to Pristina to stop unilateral actions, but at the same time they are discussing whether restrictive measures against Albin Kurti should be lifted. I don't get the impression that anyone is ready to react more harshly against Kurti, except on paper. There are no essential measures," Vucevic claimed.

When it comes to the continuation of the dialogue, Vucevic said that that ''we will always preserve peace and stability, but that the essential things that were achieved in the dialogue between Serbs and Albanians in Kosovo have been rendered meaningless by the actions carried out by the Pristina regime'', reported Radio Mitrovica sever, citing RTS.

Serbia’s path to resolve Kosovo crisis unveiled by Serbian ambassador to Montenegro (KoSSev)

Amid growing tensions and instability in northern Kosovo, Serbia has outlined a set of demands aimed at addressing the ongoing crisis in the region. The official stance, presented by Serbian Ambassador to Montenegro, Nebojsa Rodic, reflects Serbia’s strategy to restore normalcy and protect the rights of ethnic Serbs in Northern Kosovo, reported KoSSev in English.

The current crisis intensified earlier this summer when Kosovo authorities accelerated the takeover of Serbian institutions, effectively shutting down key administrative offices linked to the Republic of Serbia. This move has led to increased tensions, further straining relations between the two sides.

In a meeting held two days ago with Montenegro’s Speaker of Parliament, Andrija Mandic, Rodic shared Serbia’s official position on the matter. The Serbian ambassador highlighted the discriminatory policies that Serbia believes are being enacted against ethnic Serbs in Northern Kosovo, blaming Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti for exacerbating the situation.

“The only goal Mr. Albin Kurti has is to make life impossible for Serbs not only in the northern municipalities but across the entire territory,“ Rodic reportedly stated during the meeting, as outlined in a report published on the Montenegrin parliament’s official website.

Serbia’s Six Key Demands for Resolving the Crisis

The official Serbian position includes six main points aimed at resolving the growing tensions and restoring stability in northern Kosovo:

1. Immediate Elections: Serbia is calling for the swift organization of free elections in northern municipalities, currently governed by officials who, according to Serbia, lack the legitimacy of the local population’s vote.

2. Return of Serbian Police Officers: The demand for the reinstatement of 700 Serbian police officers to Kosovo’s provisional institutions is seen as a critical step to restoring safety and peace in the region, where basic human rights are reportedly being undermined.

3. Judicial Reform: Serbia has expressed concerns over the lack of dialogue concerning the return of Serbian judges and prosecutors to Kosovo’s judicial system, a key issue since Albin Kurti assumed power. This demand is tied to the 2013 Brussels Agreement, which was meant to ensure Serbian participation in Kosovo’s judicial processes.

4. Formation of the Association of Serbian Municipalities (ASM)

5. Release of Political Prisoners: The Serbian government insists on the release of individuals it claims have been detained for political reasons, noting that many detainees were imprisoned before any charges were brought against them.

6. Lifting the Ban on Serbian Goods: Serbia has called for an end to the 14-month-long blockade on the import of Serbian products into Kosovo. This issue has been a significant point of contention, as Serbia criticizes the European Union for failing to enforce the principles of free movement of goods and services.

Simic: Situation in Kosovo has never been worse, Serbs live in a situation similar to apartheid (Tanjug, RTS)

Pension and Disability Fund (PIO) Director and Serbian List Presidency member Igor Simic said today that the situation in Kosovo has never been worse, it is deteriorating day after day and Serbs live there in a situation similar to apartheid, Tanjug news agency reported.

He added it is a consequence of “systematic plans of provisional Pristina institutions’ prime minister Albin Kurti to expel and ethnically cleanse Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija, and not individual incidents or provocations”.

“it is part of a wider, organized, institutional violence with the ultimate goal to ethnically cleanse Serbs from Kosovo and everything Serbian there. It has particularly intensified over the last couple of months, and most directly at the moment Kurti took over the power in Pristina”, Simic told RTS morning programme.

New dialogue round on Tuesday, Pristina refuses trilateral meeting (Tanjug)

A new round of dialogue at the level of Belgrade and Pristina chief negotiators will take place next week in Brussels and is planned to be on Tuesday, Tanjug news agency reported.

Although Belgrade offered and expressed readiness to have a trilateral meeting as well, Pristina’s chief negotiator Besnik Bislimi has refused that, Tanjug said citing diplomatic sources.

According to Tanjug, one of the topics that Belgrade suggested to be on the agenda is the Ibar River bridge issue and establishment of the Community of Serbian Municipalities.

Stano didn’t confirm date of next chief negotiators meeting (N1, media)

Tanjug news agency reported on Friday that the next meeting of chief negotiators from Belgrade and Pristina would take place on Tuesday next week, but European Commission spokesman Peter Stano did not confirm the meeting would take place on that day.

“The next meeting in the framework of the (Belgrade-Pristina) dialogue will be at the level of chief negotiators as indicated by (European Union envoy Miroslav) Lajcak. The agenda and the timing will be communicated as appropriate. I have nothing more specific to say at this stage”, Stano told a regular media briefing in Brussels, N1 added.

Orav with representatives of Serb parties and civil society; Vokrri: “No incident is provoked without the support of international bureaucrats” (N1, KoSSev)

The new head of the EU office in Kosovo, Aivo Orav, had several meetings with representatives of political parties and civil society from the Serbian community yesterday in the North of Kosovo, reported N1, citing KoSSev.

"I am committed to close cooperation with my colleagues in order to ensure that Kosovo's obligations to all communities are fully fulfilled," the EU ambassador said on platform X, reported KoSSev.

Orav also met with the leaders of the Serbian List, and the representatives of non-governmental organizations from the Serbian community and other representatives of the Serbian community.

According to a photo published by the EU Office in Kosovo, this meeting was attended by, among others, Marko Jaksic, Milija Bisevac from the Serbian People's Movement, as well as the president of Serbian Democracy, Aleksandar Arsenijevic.

Serbian Democracy announced that their president pointed out to the EU ambassador the "very difficult, unbearably bad situation in which the Serbian people in Kosovo are".

At the same time, he asked him to stand up for the EU's next steps not to be just "political pamphlets" and that "these should be strong political decisions that will influence the Kosovo government to stop repressing our population."

Marko Jaksic said that he pointed out to Orav "systemic discrimination'', as well as everyday problems of Serbs:

"Especially in the North after all the unilateral actions taken by the authorities in Pristina in the last two years."

Vokrri: “No incident is provoked without the support of international bureaucrats”

Photos of the EU Office from all the meetings, except for the one with the president of the Serbian List, were published on his FB profile last night by the Deputy Minister of Local Self-Government Administration of Kosovo, Arber Vokrri, who was also visiting the North of Kosovo yesterday.

"It follows that no incident by northern clowns - not even supported by their own settlement - is provoked without the support of international bureaucrats," Vokrri wrote.

Along with photos from yesterday's meetings of the head of the EU Office, Vokrri said: "Today's whistles came from these tables."

This Pristina official claims that the majority of Serbs are interested in integration, and that "this strange approach discourages them."

At the same time, Vokrri advises Orav to meet with "legitimate representatives of the Serbs", without specifying who these people are.

"Aivo Orav should meet with the legitimate representatives of the Serbs, instead of encouraging the extremists who were isolated and boycotted by the Serb citizens themselves. This does not help either peace or democracy," claimed the Pristina official.

Photo from filming a movie is reason for new discrediting of Arsenijevic (Radio KIM, KoSSev, Radio kontakt plus, social media)

Radio KIM reported yesterday that Vudi Xhymshiti, a Kosovo photographer, presenting himself as a journalist, supporter of Self-determination Movement recently published a photo of Aleksandar Arsenijevic carrying an automatic rifle in his hands, along with the claims that this Serbian politician from northern Kosovo “took part in clashes following the end of the war in the north of Kosovo”. Full Xhymshiti’s post about Arsenijevic on X social platform can be read at: rb.gy/hkya0t

However, Radio KIM continues, this photo was made more than ten years ago, during filming a fictional movie titled “Misunderstanding” by director Nenad Todorovic, in which Arsenijevic played one of the roles, while Arsenijevic himself said he was 7-year old when the conflict in Kosovo ended.

Plastic rifle bought in Pristina in service of dehumanization and discreditation

Movie director Nenad Todorovic told Radio KIM that the automatic rifle in the photo was a plastic replica purchased for the movie in a shop in Pristina. Aleksandar Arsenijevic said it is not the first time that Xhymshiti targets him on social media.

"He did the same in April. After the war, I was seven years old and had about 30 kilograms, so I doubt I could have carried such a rifle at that age. As for the film I helped then, it was the shooting of the first Serbian film in Kosovo after the war", he said.

Arsenijevic added that this is a campaign directed against him. "It's a campaign coming from the Kosovo Government, it's an attempt to dehumanize my personality and discredit me, that is, to arrest me or to incite someone to kill me", he said.

An unfinished but dangerous story

The film titled "Misunderstanding" was recorded from 2012 to 2013. However, it has never been completed.

"Due to lack of funds, it is in the post-production phase. Thank you everyone for reminding me that this film needs to be finished, and Xhymshiti will be invited to the premiere in Gracanica in due course", Todorovic told Radio KIM. Asked about a scene with a rifle, Todorovic replied that Arsenijevic played one of the dozen main roles.

Speaking of Xhymshiti, Todorovic said "as I see it, he is financed by the Kosovo government with donations. It reminds me very much of the millions of euros that go to Informer (infamous Serbian tabloid) and other inciting newspapers. It is about incitement, until the moment when someone's head may fall. This is a really dangerous thing, at times when people are arrested and beaten for blowing their whistles in broad daylight. This authority has brought (the situation) to a fever pitch with such media," concluded Todorovic.

International

“We had an impact”: Kosovo war photographer says images affected West’s policies (Prishtina Insight)

Alan Chin, a photojournalist for the New York Times who covered the war in Kosovo said that powerful images of civilian suffering in the conflict 'perhaps had influence on policies in the US and London'.

New York-based photojournalist Alan Chin said during a lecture at BIRN’s Reporting House in Prishtina on Monday that images published in the media during the 1998-99 Kosovo war affected Western attitudes to the conflict.

“Kosovo was one of those places where the work we did had an impact. Perhaps our work influenced policies in the US and London,” Chin told the audience.

Chin reflected on his work documenting funerals, protests and the refugee crisis in Kosovo, emphasising how photographs of the war’s human toll, such as the haunting image of Ali Pacarizi, a slain Kosovo Liberation Army, KLA fighter, helped attract international attention and hastened intervention.

“This is a very powerful photo of a young man killed by Serbian forces, which later became widely recognised. We attended many funerals. I consider that it’s very difficult to take meaningful photos. I’ve always been more interested in the impact that photos would have,” he said.

“In this case, the body was already prepared for burial. People saw that maybe if foreign media could document the situation, it would lead to some kind of change,” he added.