Sanita Konjalić a journalist of FederalnaTV the bosnian public broadcasting network has been fired after reporting on the dramatic situation of the dogs detained in the kennel of Praça, 40 km south of Sarajevo. Officially, Sanita has been dismissed because not inclined to work in team.
Sanita's dismissal came after a courageous report broadcasted on the 3rd of November by Federalna, concerning the harsh life conditions of the dogs kept in Praça. The former Fedalna Tv journalist showcased tha activity of 20 volunteers who are trying, in a degraded context, to ease the living conditions of the animals detained in that facility. Fahrudin Bravo, one of the volunteers interviewed by Sanita Konjalić, said that more than one thousand dogs have been killed in Praça through the years.
After Sanita's news report, the prime minister of the Canton of Sarajevo – one of the ten member States of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina which, together with the Republika Srpska, forms Bosnia and Herzegovina – reacted vigorously stating that those figures had been inflated. Soon after those words came Sanita's dismissal.
Last Saturday 2,000 rallied in Sarajevo urging the protection of animals and of their rights. Under the slogan “Every dog in every city, on every street is OUR dog” the public demonstration received the support of the Enpa, Prijedor Emergency e Sapa U Srcu – Zampa nel Cuore, that have been working for years in Bosnia and Herzegovina to enforce animal rights.
“Sanita Konjalić must be reinstated in her post in the public broadcasting company because her way of making journalism is very important non only for animals but also for her country, Bosnia and Herzegovina, that needs truth. The bosnian government wants Bosnia and Herzegovina to become a part of the European Union and we give full support to this aspiration. However, bosnians politicians must remember that among the requirements foreseen to join the EU, there are those concerning animal protection and freedom of press. Namely, the right of citizens to receive objective informations, un-manipulated and not easily influenced", says the president of Enpa, Carla Rocchi.
